An intra-oral device includes an upper splint, a lower splint and a pair of lateral connecting rods. Each connecting rod has a first rod end that connects to the lower splint and a second rod end that connects to the upper splint. The connecting rods are configured to maintain the mandible in an advanced position relative to the maxilla. The upper splint includes at least one upper gutter portion that retains the upper splint on the maxilla. The lower splint includes at least one lower gutter portion that retains the lower splint on the mandible. The thickness of the at least one upper gutter portion and/or the at least one lower gutter portion may vary across the profile of the teeth.

The new and improved mouth guard of the invention comprises a flexible mouth guard having a channel for one's teeth and an integral flexible bubble that protrudes from the upper or lower front teeth. The bubble is positioned around and under the upper two to four front teeth or around and above the lower two to four front teeth. The flexible bubble preferably of flexible polymer or plastic material prevents the upper and lower posterior teeth from engaging thereby preventing the clenching and grinding of bruxism. The multiple bubbles absorb shock and assists in preventing trauma and dental issues.

Devices for treating obstructive sleep apnea include appliances for securing to one or more teeth of a patient and connected to a lingual bridge configured to change shape and apply pressure to a patient's tongue, preventing backward movement of the tongue and blockage of the patient's airway. The lingual bridge is composed of a shape memory alloy to allow the bridge to change shape once deployed in a patient's oral cavity and exposed to increased temperature in the patient's mouth. Pulse generators and electrodes are included to electrically stimulate the nerves and muscles of the tongue to assist in keeping the tongue from moving backward in the mouth during sleep.

A mouthguard for protecting a wearer's teeth from bruxism, the mouthguard comprising: (a) a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a first row of teeth of the wearer; (b) a guide extending towards the wearer's second row of teeth, the guide being configured to guide the jaw of the second row of teeth such that in use, when the wearer brings their teeth together, front teeth of the opposed jaws are brought substantially into alignment with one another; and (c) a bite region at a base of the guide configured, in use, to abut the front teeth of the second row of teeth when the wearer brings their teeth together.

Disclosed herein are methods of manufacturing an oral appliance, the method comprising the steps of: a) importing into a computer aided design (CAD) computer program a digitized data set obtained from a three-dimensional scan of a patient's dentition; b) preparing a three-dimensional electronic model of the patient's dentition; c) subtracting the three-dimensional electronic model of the patient's dentition from an image of a solid block to obtain an appliance data set; and d) manufacturing a dental appliance in accordance with the appliance data set. Also disclosed are devices made by the above method, and methods of treating a condition, for example a sleep breathing disorder, by using a device made by the above method.

Methods of lowering heart rate during physical activity for a user in need of an increase in their smallest concentric airway cross-sectional area include providing the person with a mandibular repositioning device having a maxillary tooth covering having a driver flange protruding laterally outward on a right and left side proximate a backmost teeth mold and a mandibular tooth covering having a protrusive flange extending cranially therefrom positioned to have a posterior side engaged with the anterior side of each driver flange. The anterior side of each driver flange has a convex curvature, and the posterior side of each protrusive flange has a concave-to-convex curvature from its base toward its most cranial point and a convex portion of the concave-to convex curvature engages the convex curvature of the driver flange in a rest position, and downward movement of the mandibular piece moves the user's mandible forward as well.

An oral orthotic device includes a body having a left portion including an upper surface and a right portion including an upper surface. The upper surface of the left portion and the upper surface of the right portion define a plane positioned to extend above an irregular surface defined by teeth of a user. A bite block extends from the upper surface of one of the left portion or the right portion a distance above the plane such that the bite block is disposed on the oral orthotic device exclusively on either the left portion or the right portion. One or more springs extend from the body and are configured to buffer the body from the teeth of the user. A lingual portion is coupled to the left portion of the body and to the right portion of the body. The lingual portion encloses a helical wire.

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.

The invention relates to a method for producing a guided bite splint for a supporting jaw comprising at least one guide for an opposing jaw. A 3D model of an upper jaw and/or a 3D model of a lower jaw are available, wherein the 3D models of the upper jaw and the lower jaw are arranged relative to one another in an occlusal position and integrated into a virtual articulator model which simulates an articulation movement of the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw, wherein a 3D model of the bite splint is constructed using the 3D model of the upper jaw and/or the 3D model of the lower jaw, wherein the at least one guide for the opposing jaw is constructed automatically on the 3D model of the bite splint with the aid of a computer.

A retainer appliance includes a retainer body, a frame, a first clasp, and a second clasp. The retainer body is configured to contour a roof of a mouth of a patient and includes a bite block extending therefrom. The frame is secured to the retainer body and extends therefrom. The first clasp extends from a left portion of the retainer body and is configured to couple to a first tooth located in the mouth of the patient. The second clasp extends from a right portion of the retainer body and is configured to couple to a second tooth located in the mouth of the patient.