Mandibular stabilizer

Claim 2

An orthopedic appliance for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance, comprising: a flexible, preformed structure having an arcuate first portion adapted to extend along and be adjacent to the surface of the mandibular teeth, and two flange portions each integrally connected to a respective end section of the first portion and adapted to overlie the tops of a respective set of either the mandibular premolar teeth or the mandibular molar teeth, or both, and two moulded inserts, each bonded to a respective one of the flange portions and adapted to extend from that flange portion toward the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, each insert having a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, said flange portions and moulded inserts, in use, being disposed between such set of mandibular teeth and the corresponding teeth in the upper jaw, and providing a selected spacing between the mandible and the upper jaw, and, over an extended period of use, providing for stabilization and normalization of the position of the mandible relative to the upper jaw.

Claim 3

An orthopedic appliance for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance, comprising: a flexible, preformed structure having an arcuate first portion adapted to extend along and be adjacent to the surface of the mandibular teeth, and two flange portions, each integrally connected to a respective end section of the first portion and adapted to overlie the tops of a respective set of either the mandibular premolar teeth or the mandibular molar teeth, or both, and two mouldable inserts, each bonded to a respective one of the flange portions and adapted to extend from that flange portion toward the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, each insert adapted to be moulded under pressure to create therein a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, said flange portions and mouldable inserts, when adapted for use, being disposed between such set of mandibular teeth and the corresponding teeth in the upper jaw, and providing a selected spacing between the mandible and the upper jaw, and, over an extended period of use, providing for stabilization and normalization of the position of the mandible relative to the upper jaw.

Claim 4

An orthopedic appliance for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance, comprising: a flexible, preformed structure having an arcuate first portion adapted to extend along and be adjacent to the surface of the mandibular teeth, and two flange portions, each integrally connected to a respective end section of the first portion and adapted to overlie the tops of a respective set of either the mandibular premolar teeth or the mandibular molar teeth, or both, and two mouldable inserts, each bonded to a respective one of the flange portions and adapted to extend from that flange portion toward the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, each insert adapted to be moulded under pressure to create therein a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, said flange portions and mouldable inserts, when adapted for use, being disposed between such set of mandibular teeth and the corresponding teeth in the upper jaw, and providing a selected spacing between the mandible and the upper jaw, and, over an extended period of use, providing for stabilization and normalization of the position of the mandible relative to the upper jaw.

Claim 5

An orthopedic appliance for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance, comprising: a flexible, preformed structure having an arcuate first portion adapted to extend along and be adjacent to the surface of the mandibular teeth, and two flange portions each integrally connected to a respective end section of the first portion and adapted to overlie the tops of a respective set of either the mandibular premolar teeth or the mandibular molar teeth, or both, two moulded inserts, each bonded to a respective one of the flange portions and adapted to extend from that flange portion toward the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, each insert having a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, and two additional moulded inserts, each bonded to a respective one of the flange portions and adapted to extend from that flange portion toward the respectively associated set of teeth in the upper jaw, each additional insert having a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of teeth in the upper jaw, said flange portions, moulded inserts, and additional moulded inserts, in use, being disposed between such set of mandibular teeth and the corresponding teeth in the upper jaw, and providing a selected spacing between the mandible and the upper jaw, and, over an extended period of use, providing for stabilization and normalization of the position of the mandible relative to the upper jaw.

Claim 6

An orthopedic appliance for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance, comprising: a flexible, preformed structure having an arcuate first portion adapted to extend along and be adjacent to the surface of the mandibular teeth, and two flange portions each integrally connected to a respective end section of the first portion and adapted to overlie the tops of a respective set of either the mandibular premolar teeth or the mandibular molar teeth, or both, two moulded inserts, each bonded to a respective one of the flange portions and adapted to extend from that flange portion toward the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, each insert having a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, and two additional moulded inserts, each bonded to a respective one of the flange portions and adapted to extend from that flange portion toward the respectively associated set of teeth in the upper jaw, each additional insert having a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of teeth in the upper jaw, said flange portions, moulded inserts, and additional moulded inserts, in use, being disposed between such set of mandibular teeth and the corresponding teeth in the upper jaw, and providing a selected spacing between the mandible and the upper jaw, and, over an extended period of use, providing for stabilization and normalization of the position of the mandible relative to the upper jaw.

Claim 7

The orthopedic appliance of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the arcuate first portion of the preformed structure extends along the inner surface of the mandibular teeth.

Claim 8

The orthopedic appliance of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the preformed structure is of a unitary size and shape adapted to fit all wearers.

Claim 9

The orthopedic appliance of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the preformed structure is formed from acrylic.

Claim 10

An orthopedic appliance for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance, comprising: a flexible, preformed structure having an arcuate first portion adapted to extend along and be adjacent to the surface of the mandibular teeth, and two flange portions, each integrally connected to a respective end section of the first portion and adapted to overlie the tops of a respective set of either the mandibular premolar teeth or the mandibular molar teeth, or both, two mouldable inserts, each bonded to a respective one of the flange portions and adapted to extend from that flange portion toward the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, each insert adapted to be moulded under pressure to create therein a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, and two additional mouldable inserts, each bonded to a respective one of the flange portions and adapted to extend from that flange portion toward the respectively associated set of teeth in the upper jaw, each additional insert adapted to be moulded under pressure to create therein a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of teeth in the upper jaw, said flange portions, mouldable inserts, and additional mouldable inserts, when adapted for use, being disposed between such set of mandibular teeth and the corresponding teeth in the upper jaw, and providing a selected spacing between the mandible and the upper jaw, and, over an extended period of use, providing for stabilization and normalization of the position of the mandible relative to the upper jaw.

Claim 11

An orthopedic appliance for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance, comprising: a flexible, preformed structure having an arcuate first portion adapted to extend along and be adjacent to the surface of the mandibular teeth, and two flange portions, each integrally connected to a respective end section of the first portion and adapted to overlie the tops of a respective set of either the mandibular premolar teeth or the mandibular molar teeth, or both, two mouldable inserts, each bonded to a respective one of the flange portions and adapted to extend from that flange portion toward the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, each insert adapted to be moulded under pressure to create therein a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, and two additional mouldable inserts, each bonded to a respective one of the flange portions and adapted to extend from that flange portion toward the respectively associated set of teeth in the upper jaw, each additional insert adapted to be moulded under pressure to create therein a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of teeth in the upper jaw, said flange portions, mouldable inserts, and additional mouldable inserts, when adapted for use, being disposed between such set of mandibular teeth and the corresponding teeth in the upper jaw, and providing a selected spacing between the mandible and the upper jaw, and, over an extended period of use, providing for stabilization and normalization of the position of the mandible relative to the upper jaw.

Claim 12

An orthopedic appliance for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance, comprising: a mouldable structure having an arcuate first portion adapted to extend along and be adjacent to the surface of the mandibular teeth, and two flange portions, each integrally connected to a respective end section of the first portion and adapted to overlie the tops of a respective set of either the mandibular premolar teeth or the mandibular molar teeth, or both, each flange portion being adapted to be moulded by closing of the jaws to create in the flange portion a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, said flange portions, when adapted for use, being disposed between such set of mandibular teeth and the corresponding teeth in the upper jaw, and providing a selected spacing between the mandible and the upper jaw, and, over an extended period of use, providing for stabilization and normalization of the position of the mandible relative to the upper jaw.

Claim 13

An orthopedic appliance for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance, comprising: a mouldable structure having an arcuate first portion adapted to extend along and be adjacent to the surface of the mandibular teeth, and two flange portions, each integrally connected to a respective end section of the first portion and adapted to overlie the tops of a respective set of either the mandibular premolar teeth or the mandibular molar teeth, or both, each flange portion being adapted to be moulded by closing of the jaws to create in the flange portion a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth, said flange portions, when adapted for use, being disposed between such set of mandibular teeth and the corresponding teeth in the upper jaw, and providing a selected spacing between the mandible and the upper jaw, and, over an extended period of use, providing for stabilization and normalization of the position of the mandible relative to the upper jaw.

Claim 14

An orthopedic appliance for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance, comprising: a mouldable structure having an arcuate first portion adapted to extend along and be adjacent to the surface of the mandibular teeth, and two flange portions, each integrally connected to a respective end section of the first portion and adapted to overlie the tops of a respective set of either the mandibular premolar teeth or the mandibular molar teeth, or both, each flange portion being adapted to be moulded by closing of the jaws to create on one surface of the flange portion a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth and on an opposite surface of the flange portion a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of teeth in the upper jaw, such flange portions, when adapted for use, being disposed between such set of mandibular teeth and the corresponding teeth in the upper jaw, and providing a selected spacing between the mandible and the upper jaw, and, over an extended period of use, providing for stabilization and normalization of the position of the mandible relative to the upper jaw.

Claim 15

An orthopedic appliance for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance, comprising: a mouldable structure having an arcuate first portion adapted to extend along and be adjacent to the surface of the mandibular teeth, and two flange portions, each integrally connected to a respective end section of the first portion and adapted to overlie the tops of a respective set of either the mandibular premolar teeth or the mandibular molar teeth, or both, each flange portion being adapted to be moulded by closing of the jaws to create on one surface of the flange portion a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of mandibular teeth and on an opposite surface of the flange portion a surface contour corresponding to that on the respectively associated set of teeth in the upper jaw, such flange portions, when adapted for use, being disposed between such set of mandibular teeth and the corresponding teeth in the upper jaw, and providing a selected spacing between the mandible and the upper jaw, and, over an extended period of use, providing for stabilization and normalization of the position of the mandible relative to the upper jaw.

Claim 16

The orthopedic appliance of claim 7, 8, or 9, wherein the arcuate first portion of the mouldable structure extends along the inner surface of the mandibular teeth.

Claim 17

The orthopedic appliance of claim 7, 8, and 9, wherein the mouldable structure, prior to moulding, is of a unitary size and shape adapted to fit all wearers.

Claim 18

The orthopedic appliance of claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the mouldable structure is formed from thermoplastic resin mouldable under pressure at an elevated temperature.

Claim 23

A method for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance as in claim 13 or 14, wherein the arcuate first portion of the preformed structure extends along the inner surface of the mandibular teeth during use.

Claim 24

A method for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance as in claim 13 or 14, wherein the preformed structure is of a unitary size and shape adapted to fit all wearers.

Claim 25

A method for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance as in claim 13 or 14, wherein the preformed structure is formed from acrylic.

Claim 26

A method for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance as in claim 17, and, prior to the step of periodically reinserting the structure between the jaws, additionally comprising the steps of: spreading a further amount of the malleable polymer mixture onto the other side of each flange portion of the flexible, preformed structure from that side on which polymer mixture was first placed; closing the jaws to conform the shape of the further amount of the malleable polymer mixture to the shape of the biting surfaces of the corresponding teeth on the upper jaw and to promote bonding between the preformed structure and the further amount of the malleable polymer mixture; and, removing the preformed structure with the further amount of the malleable polymer mixture bonded thereto after commencement of hardening of that further amount of mixture, the surfaces of that further amount of mixture retaining the contour of the biting surfaces of the corresponding teeth on the upper jaw.

Claim 27

A method for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance as in claim 18, and, prior to the step of periodically reinserting the structure between the jaws, additionally comprising the steps of: spreading a further amount of the malleable polymer mixture onto the other side of each flange portion of the flexible, preformed structure from that side on which polymer mixture was first placed; closing the jaws to conform the shape of the further amount of the malleable polymer mixture to the shape of the biting surfaces of the corresponding teeth on the upper jaw and to promote bonding between the preformed structure and the further amount of the malleable polymer mixture; and, removing the preformed structure with the further amount of the malleable polymer mixture bonded thereto after commencement of hardening of that further amount of mixture, the surfaces of that further amount of mixture retaining the contour of the biting surfaces of the corresponding teeth on the upper jaw.

Claim 28

A method for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance as in claim 18 or 19, wherein the arcuate first portion of the preformed structure extends along the inner surface of the mandibular teeth during use.

Claim 29

A method for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance as in claim 18 or 19, wherein the preformed structure is of a unitary size and shape adapted to fit all wearers.

Claim 30

A method for relieving maxillo-mandibular imbalance as in claim 18 or 19, wherein the preformed structure is formed from acrylic.