The solution for the respectful, non-invasive and convenient closing of the mouth after passing.
Functioning
Only one ClosureClip® is needed per deceased person. The ClosureClip® is easily placed in the ‘toothpick’ spaces between teeth or molars. One leg goes between two teeth of the upper jaw, the other between two teeth of the lower jaw. The spring middle section ensures a good fit for different tooth and jaw sizes, making the product ‘one-size-fits-all’. The spring steel wire is thin enough to fit everyone, yet strong enough to keep the mouth closed.
The ClosureClip® can be placed anywhere, as long as there are two adjacent teeth or molars opposite each other in the upper and lower jaw. After placing the ClosureClip® , the lips will naturally close.
Even for difficult dentitions, such as with an overbite, a suitable spot and placement method can usually be found. In challenging cases, the ClosureClip® can easily be stretched a bit more to achieve the desired fit, for example with a diagonal placement that spans several teeth or molars. It has also been used in children.
Since there is no space between the teeth with dentures, this requires a different approach. A good solution seems to have been found to still be able to place a ClosureClip® . We aim to offer this solution as soon as possible.
Below are some examples of placement possibilities. Here it is also clearly shown that the ClosureClip® can easily be stretched where necessary.
Our Story
When Ainée became a funeral director, it quickly became clear that closing the mouth by stitching is quite an invasive procedure. For the bereaved, this often turns out to be a distressing way to close the mouth. Searching for alternatives, which were not always optimal, Ainée turned to her technical brother Niels with the question of whether a non-invasive solution could be devised.
As said, as done. It was a long process, with trial and error. After many ideas and prototypes of various kinds and materials, tests on ourselves, family members, and the deceased, it led to the current product. A patent has meanwhile been applied for. Since producing and packaging each piece separate also turned out to be more complex than expected and manufacturers could not come up with the right solution, we now have specially designed machines to produce and package the ClosureClips® ourselves.
Reviews
Reviews
The ClosureClip! The exclamation mark says it all. In all its simplicity, the ClosureClip is the invention that we, funeral directors and mortuary caretakers, didn’t know we were waiting for. Usually, you quickly find a suitable spot in the teeth to place the ClosureClip, so the mouth is closed—and stays closed. So, no stitching! Really nice and friendly to work with. Friendly for us, but especially for the relatives. Thank you, Ainée and Niels!
Judit Meijer, Atente Uitvaartbegeleiding, Amsterdam
Almost immediately after Ainée told me about the ClosureClip, my curiosity was piqued. I couldn’t wait to use it. And it really does work! It’s nice that you can decide and try for yourself whether the jaws should be a bit looser or tighter together. This way, the mouth of the deceased is closed in a very beautiful, relaxed way.
Josche Ouwerkerk-Neven, Solace uitvaartbegeleiding
Made curious by colleague Josche, I received an explanation about the ClosureClip. I couldn’t wait to try it out. What an invention! No more fiddling with plastic chin supports or possibly stitching. The first time was in a mortuary, where the staff were watching my actions closely. They were very critical, ‘I would have placed it differently.’ Stay relaxed and, voilà. It’s in and stays in, and the mouth is closed in a natural way. I’m happy, and they remain critical. I suggested they practice with this beautiful product themselves. They have made an appointment.
Franca van de Kerkhof-Beeren, Coda Uitvaarten
Angelique and Veran from thedutchembalmers show in the video below how enthusiastic they are about placing a ClosureClip.
Instructions and Tips
To quickly understand the operation, insertion method, and pitfalls surrounding the placement of a ClosureClip®, it is recommended to take the short e-Learning course. You can find a more detailed explanation below.
Inserting a ClosureClip® is very simple. Still, we advise making the first placement on a relatively good set of teeth, to experience the actions as described here. Please take a few minutes to also read the instructions, besides viewing the video’s. Practice has learned that especially the basic principle gets overlooked, which can lead to a sense of ‘failed’ placements.
An important basic principle is to always carefully check after placement whether the spring-loaded part is “under tension” and the legs are pressed down firmly. You can check tension by moving the ClosureClip® somewhat with your nail or a tweezer. If the ClosureClip® doesn’t move, there is enough tension. Pay particular attention to movement at the legs. If it does move and there is play at the legs, the placement is not optimal. There is then a chance that the jaw will not close properly, or that over time it may open up again. This can especially occur in people with large gaps between their teeth or with small teeth. If this is the case, it is necessary to remove the ClosureClip® and reposition it over one or more additional teeth, as shown in the second video. Since the placement was not optimal, the ClosureClip® can easily be removed with tweezers by pulling on one of the legs. With more experience, the best placement option will become an assessment you can make in advance. View the e-Learning for more clarity.
The ClosureClip® is completely symmetrical, except for the length of the ends of the legs, and can be placed in any desired way, both at molars and teeth. Generally, it is advisable to place the long leg first for easier placement; this can be either on the upper or lower teeth. After positioning both legs in the correct spaces, you should then, with a bit of wiggling/massaging, firmly press the springy part so that the legs are pushed one by one between the teeth. The springy part will stretch a bit, which is part of the working principle. You can apply quite a bit of force where needed; this won’t do any harm. When placing, make sure you feel a kind of ‘click’ moment when pressing the legs. It’s wise to press both legs extra and check if they are fully deep between the teeth. Especially for the first placements, it’s advisable to gently pull both legs with a thin tweezer to feel that they are really well clicked in. Note that the ends of the legs can be sharp.
The first video shows a standard placement in the spaces directly opposite each other. This placement is very easy. Behind the upper canine is a nice standard spot to stay well out of sight if needed. While pressing, you may feel the springy part stretch a bit, which is completely normal. The ClosureClip® can handle quite a lot and, apart from some possible deformation, will never really break.
If, after a standard placement, there is still some unwanted play (e.g., with very short teeth or wide gaps between the teeth), the ClosureClip® can easily be removed and repositioned. Pull one of the legs with a nail or tweezer, and it will come loose. Then the ClosureClip® can be placed again, but this time with one of the legs at the next tooth space and thus diagonally, so that there is more tension on the springy part and it stays in place better. This is shown in the second video, where you can see that the ClosureClip® stretches a bit during placement, which is completely normal. You can also use quite a bit of force to massage in the second leg. Inserting the second leg is easiest by pushing the spring from the already placed leg towards the second leg in an ‘arcing motion‘, the second leg will then fall into place. By pressing directly onto the leg itself, deformation may take place.
NOTE: the direction of the angled placement preferably needs to be from upper front to lower back, or vice versa. Else, despite correct placement the jaw may open somewhat.
If, for any reason, a greater distance needs to be bridged, as shown in the last video, the ClosureClip® will need to be stretched considerably. It is then easier to pre-stretch the ClosureClip® by hand before placement to make insertion easier. To do this, pull both short bends of the springy part apart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions?
Feel free to contact us.
