Disclosed are applicators and methods injecting of a liquid anesthetic into a dental patient with no or minimal pain. In accordance with one embodiment the applicator is for intraligamentary injection and includes an elongated, thin member having an open distal free formed of a resilient and somewhat conformable material suitable for producing a substantially fluid-tight interface with the anatomic structures at the gingival sulcus to inject the anesthetic therein. In another embodiment the applicator includes a flexible skirt surrounding a sharpened cannula, with the cannula being movable with respect to the skirt. The skirt is arranged to receive the anesthetic to anesthetize the gum, whereupon the cannula can then pierce the gum to inject the anesthetic into the underlying anatomic structure.

An intraosseous tack device is configured to puncture alveolar bone or other human or animal bone at a targeted site of the mouth or body to provide an access point for the delivery of local anesthesia or other medicament. The device includes a tack having a head member and an elongate member extending from the head member. The elongate member is inserted into a sleeve, and the sleeve is coupled to a handle. At least a portion of the sleeve is collapsible, so that when a compressive force is applied to the head member of the tack, the sleeve partially collapses to a shorter length, allowing the distal end of the tack to pass out of the opposite end of the sleeve for puncturing the alveolar bone at the targeted site.

Apparatuses and methods for improving airway patency are provided. A medial surface of the patient's tongue is constrained with a tongue constraint of an oral device placed in the oral cavity to generate a clear region between the medial surface and the hard palate. The clear region is in fluid communication with the soft palate. The tongue constraint has superior surface and inferior surfaces configured to generate the clear region. Negative pressure is applied within the oral cavity to hold the soft palate in a position in which the airway is at least partially open. The negative pressure is applied through one or more ports of the oral device. The one or more ports remain unobstructed by the tongue when the negative pressure is applied. The applied negative pressure causes the soft palate and tongue form a seal whereby the patient's airway is substantially fluidly isolated from the clear region.

A mouthpiece for controlled delivery of a breathing gas including oxygen, preferably an increased ratio of oxygen with respect to ambient air, to the respiratory tracts of a user which includes a valve having two modes: a closed default mode, which substantially impedes any flow of the breathing gas through the valve; and an active open mode, which allows for a substantial flow of the breathing gas through the valve, wherein the open mode can be activated by the user manipulating the valve with his/her mouth. Such a valve may be used in a device for delivery of breathing gas and in an apparatus for controlled delivery of the breathing gas to the respiratory tracts of a user. A method for controlled delivery of the breathing gas to the respiratory tracts of a user may include operating the valve.

Disclosed are applicators and methods injecting of a liquid anesthetic into a dental patient with no or minimal pain. In accordance with one embodiment the applicator is for intraligamentary injection and includes an elongated, thin member having an open distal free formed of a resilient and somewhat conformable material suitable for producing a substantially fluid-tight interface with the anatomic structures at the gingival sulcus to inject the anesthetic therein. In another embodiment the applicator includes a flexible skirt surrounding a sharpened cannula, with the cannula being movable with respect to the skirt. The skirt is arranged to receive the anesthetic to anesthetize the gum, whereupon the cannula can then pierce the gum to inject the anesthetic into the underlying anatomic structure.

An oral appliance and a method of making the oral appliance for delivering a medicament to an oral cavity are provided. The method comprises forming a non-porous material into a portion of the oral appliance; and applying a porous material to one or more discrete regions of the portion of the oral appliance to make the one or more discrete regions of the oral appliance porous thereby forming the oral appliance.

The invention features a pharmaceutical suspension containing drug particles, a drug delivery device anchored in the mouth for continuously administering the pharmaceutical suspension, and methods of their use.

The present disclosure generally pertains to an apparatus and method for locating the posterior palatal foramen of a human hard palate. The apparatus includes a guide with a curved base, an elongated tapered shaft and a head. The head further includes a channel positioned between two tabs of varying heights leading to a hole. The longer tab has a curved end. The apparatus is attached to a user's finger and slid along the patients gum. The practitioner receives a tactile sensation when the head of the apparatus contacts the groove of the posterior palatal foramen. The tab guides a needle through the hole in the channel to the exact site of the foramen. The apparatus may also be used to apply pressure at an injection site to reduce or eliminate injection pain.

A facial integrity oral appliance includes a lower member formed to fit over lower teeth and an upper member formed to fit over upper teeth. The lower member and the upper member each include a plurality of tooth impressions for receiving respective teeth of a dentition. The members may further include a facial surface on one side thereof and a lingual surface on the opposite side thereof. A connector connects the upper and lower members together. The connector has a rubber elasticity.

An oral appliance for use by a subject while wearing a nasal CPAP mask having an occlusal opening between a buccal portion and a lingual portion of a dental tray which allows centric occlusion. The upper and lower receptacle portions of the tray have interproximal protrusions to provide intimate contact between the appliance and a user's teeth to assist in retaining the user's jaws in place and prevent them from opening. The appliance includes buccal wall which extends into the vestibule of the user's mouth to assist in creating an intraoral seal.