Example embodiments of the present invention provide a multi-function oral appliance, comprising an elastomeric polymer, a hard non-elastic polymer, or a combination of the two fused together; formed using 3D printing or vacuum-forming; configured to engage all or part of the bottom and top teeth such that the lower jaw is advanced, e.g., 8 mm, anterior to its habitual resting position and opened, e.g., 8 mm, from its habitual resting position when the appliance is applied; and configured such that, e.g., 90%, or more, of airflow through the mouth is blocked by the appliance. In some embodiments, the appliance is configured to include gel-wells in the interior of the appliance.

An orthodontic appliance for repositioning a tooth of a dental patient includes: (a) an attachment dimensioned for being attached to the tooth; and (b) an aligner having a cutout therein defining a cutout edge, the cutout edge defining a projection dimensioned to resiliently engage the attachment during installation of the aligner such that the projection inhibits dislocation of the aligner after the aligner has been installed.

The installed aligner may impart a force on the tooth via the attachment by contacting at least a portion of the cutout edge. A slot between a beveled base and overhang of the attachment guides the projection during aligner installation. Opposing projections form a passage therethrough. The attachment body in cross-section may be diamond-shaped. More than one attachment may be employed for a given cutout. The aligner may have a secondary cutout or window dimensioned to not engage with any attachment.

An orthodontic appliance for repositioning a tooth of a dental patient includes: (a) an attachment dimensioned for being attached to the tooth; and (b) an aligner having a cutout therein defining a cutout edge, the cutout edge defining a projection dimensioned to resiliently engage the attachment during installation of the aligner such that the projection inhibits dislocation of the aligner after the aligner has been installed.

The installed aligner may impart a force on the tooth via the attachment by contacting at least a portion of the cutout edge. A slot between a beveled base and overhang of the attachment guides the projection during aligner installation. Opposing projections form a passage therethrough. The attachment body in cross-section may be diamond-shaped. More than one attachment may be employed for a given cutout. The aligner may have a secondary cutout or window dimensioned to not engage with any attachment.

An intraoral device (1) with a pair of dental aligners (10), each aligner having an outer shell (100) of rigid plastic in the shape of a rounded V defining branches joined at the front part (10a) of the outer shell. The front part has a truncated part in the form of an elongate notch (104), which confers flexibility on the outer shell in a plane orthogonal to the median sagittal plane of the aligners by bringing together or spacing apart the branches of the V. The outer shell includes an impression (106) formed in the front part on the outer face of the outer shell and extending on either side of the elongate notch. The notch cooperates with an attached wedge (50) which serves as a mechanical abutment for blocking flexion of the outer shell at a given curvature when the attached wedge (50) is fixed in the impression (106).

An intraoral device (1) with a pair of dental aligners (10), each aligner having an outer shell (100) of rigid plastic in the shape of a rounded V defining branches joined at the front part (10a) of the outer shell. The front part has a truncated part in the form of an elongate notch (104), which confers flexibility on the outer shell in a plane orthogonal to the median sagittal plane of the aligners by bringing together or spacing apart the branches of the V. The outer shell includes an impression (106) formed in the front part on the outer face of the outer shell and extending on either side of the elongate notch. The notch cooperates with an attached wedge (50) which serves as a mechanical abutment for blocking flexion of the outer shell at a given curvature when the attached wedge (50) is fixed in the impression (106).

An anterior guidance package (AGP) including: a mandibular guidance component attachable to a mandibular retentive piece configured to be placed about a mandibular arch of a user; and a maxillary guidance component attachable to a maxillary retentive piece configured to be placed about a maxillary arch of a user, the maxillary guidance component configured to mate with the mandibular guidance component for guiding a movement of the mandibular guidance component relative to the maxillary guidance component, wherein the mandibular guidance component is maintained in a correct orientation relative to the maxillary guidance component.

An anterior guidance package (AGP) including: a mandibular guidance component attachable to a mandibular retentive piece configured to be placed about a mandibular arch of a user; and a maxillary guidance component attachable to a maxillary retentive piece configured to be placed about a maxillary arch of a user, the maxillary guidance component configured to mate with the mandibular guidance component for guiding a movement of the mandibular guidance component relative to the maxillary guidance component, wherein the mandibular guidance component is maintained in a correct orientation relative to the maxillary guidance component.

A device including one or more preformed or customized eruption guidance appliances placed in an individual's mouth. The preformed appliances are vibrated with a pulsation device to encourage tooth eruption by increasing the force and efficiency of the eruption toward a preferred location and a preferred alignment as well as providing increased blood flow and blood oxygen flow to the muscles and tissues in and around the oral cavity of the individual. The preformed guidance appliance driven by the pulsation device is selected from a range of guidance appliances, each of which is selected by size and shape to fit an individual based on the individuals anticipated tooth and jaw size as well as the growth profile. The pulsation can increase the blood and oxygen flow to the many muscles that surround the appliances outside surfaces that can alter mouth breathing, prevent impingement of the oropharynx from the abnormal distalization of the tongue and mandible during sleep, the proper resting posture of the tongue, increased nasal breathing, prevent snoring, improve abnormal swallowing, correct thumb sucking and various abnormalities of speech.

A device including one or more preformed or customized eruption guidance appliances placed in an individual's mouth. The preformed appliances are vibrated with a pulsation device to encourage tooth eruption by increasing the force and efficiency of the eruption toward a preferred location and a preferred alignment as well as providing increased blood flow and blood oxygen flow to the muscles and tissues in and around the oral cavity of the individual. The preformed guidance appliance driven by the pulsation device is selected from a range of guidance appliances, each of which is selected by size and shape to fit an individual based on the individuals anticipated tooth and jaw size as well as the growth profile. The pulsation can increase the blood and oxygen flow to the many muscles that surround the appliances outside surfaces that can alter mouth breathing, prevent impingement of the oropharynx from the abnormal distalization of the tongue and mandible during sleep, the proper resting posture of the tongue, increased nasal breathing, prevent snoring, improve abnormal swallowing, correct thumb sucking and various abnormalities of speech.

Oral appliances that may include a supporting shell member having concave geometry for receiving at least a portion of a dental arch of a wearer into the concave geometry; and, a tongue guide member extending from said supporting shell member and into contact with an underside of a tongue of said wearer when the portion of the dental arch is received into the concave geometry. This oral appliance may be utilized in methods for treating various sleep and breathing disorders (“SBD”), for treating sleep apnea, treating airway obstruction, for upper and/or lower jaw reshaping, for airway reshaping, for mandibular advancement, for tongue-retaining, and for providing myofunctional therapy to encourage and help train the tongue to have the proper tongue posture for nasal breathing and discourage mouth breathing.