US20140069441A1 - Mouthpiece for athletic performance enhancement - Google Patents
Mouthpiece for athletic performance enhancement Download PDFInfo
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- US20140069441A1 US20140069441A1 US14/077,883 US201314077883A US2014069441A1 US 20140069441 A1 US20140069441 A1 US 20140069441A1 US 201314077883 A US201314077883 A US 201314077883A US 2014069441 A1 US2014069441 A1 US 2014069441A1
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- Prior art keywords
- user
- lateral engagement
- mouthpiece
- engagement portion
- facilitation
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
- A63B71/08—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions
- A63B71/085—Mouth or teeth protectors
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
- B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- B33Y50/00—Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
Abstract
A bio-facilitation mouthpiece correlates a custom made mouthpiece with nervous system channeling to facilitate optimal physiologic activity. The mouthpiece may be a single, unitary part made from a flexible, resilient material, and the mouthpiece includes a base member, and a right and left flange member coupled to the base member. The base member is adapted to receive portions of a user's upper and lower teeth, and the base member includes an elongated right lateral engagement portion, an elongated left lateral engagement portion, and an arch-shaped forward portion disposed between the right and left lateral engagement portions. The base member additionally includes a skirt portion downwardly extending from the forward portion and the right and left lateral engagement portions.
Description
- This disclosure relates generally to dentistry, and, more particularly, to a custom fitted laboratory fabricated athletic mouthpiece and a method of making said mouthpiece.
- There are numerous mouthpieces that claim to enhance performance. The operative concept is that by enhancing muscle strength they can increase performance. The problem is that an oral appliance cannot increase muscle strength. Doctors can tell when a muscle is functioning at optimal levels and posturally position muscles to function at optimal levels but they cannot make the muscles stronger with a mouthpiece nor does increased strength necessarily reflect performance.
- There is a complex interrelationship between breathing, head posture, tongue function, swallowing, the position of the teeth in the mouth and where they touch in function. Placing any device in the mouth changes the tongue posture, the shape of the airway, and the posture of the head on the spinal column. Oral appliances placed in the maxilla, especially those that contact the palate, take up space for the tongue, cause a lowered and retruded tongue position, reduce airway patency, and alter normal swallow.
- Typical oral appliances used to enhance performance often extend entirely across the upper and lower dental arches. The resultant blocking of the anterior region of the mouth prevents a user from drinking liquids while wearing the oral appliance and also interferes with the user's ability to speak clearly and breathe easily while wearing the oral appliance. In addition, such oral appliances are bulky and uncomfortable, and users typically remove the oral appliances as often as practical. In oral appliances that have a reduced thickness to allow for greater ease of speaking and/or breathing while wearing the appliance, trauma protection is reduced and concussions resulting from the upper portion of the mandible contacting the brain may result.
- Accordingly, there is a need for a performance enhancing mouthpiece that allows physiologic and neurologic function at optimal levels while also being comfortable, protecting the user from concussions, and allowing a user to drink liquids, breathe, and speak clearly with the mouthpiece inserted.
- In accordance with one exemplary aspect of the present invention, a bio-facilitation mouthpiece includes a base member, a right flange member, and a left flange member. The base member is adapted to receive portions of a user's upper and lower teeth, and the base member includes an elongated right lateral engagement portion having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The right lateral engagement portion has a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion includes a plurality of surface impressions that correspond to the size and shape of a bottom portion of one or more of the user's upper right posterior teeth. The bottom portion includes a plurality of surface impressions that correspond to the size and shape of a top portion of one or more of the user's lower right posterior teeth. The base member also includes an elongated left lateral engagement portion having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the left lateral engagement portion having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion including a plurality of surface impressions that correspond to the size and shape of a bottom portion of one or more of the user's upper left posterior teeth. The bottom portion includes a plurality of surface impressions that correspond to the size and shape of a top portion of one or more of the user's lower left posterior teeth. The base member further includes an arch-shaped forward portion having a first end disposed adjacent to the first end of the right lateral engagement portion and a second end disposed adjacent to the first end of the left lateral engagement portion such that the forward portion, the right lateral engagement portion, and the left lateral engagement portion has a U-shape when viewed along a vertical axis. The base member additionally includes a skirt portion downwardly extending from each of the forward portion, the right lateral engagement portion, and the left lateral engagement portion. The skirt portion has an inside surface and an outside surface, and the outside surface generally conforms in shape to an inside surface of a plurality of lower teeth of the user and an upper portion of the lower gum line of the user. The surface impressions of the top portions of each of the right lateral engagement portion and the left lateral engagement portion are vertically spaced from the surface impressions of the bottom portion of the right lateral engagement portion and the left lateral engagement portion by a distance of at least 3 mm to absorb an upward impact force on the user's mandible in a manner that prevents concussions. The bio-facilitation mouthpiece also includes a right flange member coupled to the base member adjacent to the right lateral engagement portion and a left flange member coupled to the base member adjacent to the left lateral engagement portion.
- In accordance with another exemplary aspect of the present invention, a method of fabricating a bio-facilitation mouthpiece for a user includes identifying a user's maxillomandibular position of minimal nociceptive input and creating an impression of the user's upper and lower anterior teeth in the maxillomandibular position of minimal nociceptive input. The method further includes creating a bio-facilitation mouthpiece from the impression of the user's upper and lower anterior teeth in the maxillomandibular position of minimal nociceptive input, wherein the user's maxillomandibular position of minimal nociceptive input is maintained by the bio-facilitation mouthpiece when the user wears the bio-facilitation mouthpiece.
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FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of an embodiment of a bio-facilitation mouthpiece; -
FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a left side view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 disposed in a user's mouth; -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line 4-4 ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 5 is a left side view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 6 is a left side view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 disposed in a user's mouth with an upper component disposed over the user's upper teeth; -
FIG. 7 is a perspective top view of an embodiment of an upper component; -
FIG. 8 is a front view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 disposed in a user's mouth with an upper component disposed over the user's upper teeth; -
FIG. 9 is a rear view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 disposed in a user's mouth with an upper component disposed over the user's upper teeth; -
FIG. 10 is a front view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 without the upper component; -
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of upper and lower casts mounted to an articulator; -
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a first mold half and a second mold half with a cavity formed in each mold half; and -
FIG. 13 is a right side view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 disposed in a user's mouth. - The disclosed bio-facilitation mouthpiece correlates a flexible, custom made mouthpiece with nervous system channeling to facilitate optimal physiologic and neurologic activity. A method and device is provided for registering the appropriate head, mouth, pharyngeal and body posture to facilitate optimal performance of physiologic and neurologic movement, biomechanical balance, range of motion and airway patency for human beings. A custom laboratory fabricated mouthpiece is provided to establish this position of bio-neurologic facilitation.
- An embodiment of such a
bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 is illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 6 and 8 to 10, and thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 includes abase member 12, aright flange member 14 a, and aleft flange member 14 b. Thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 may be a single, unitary part made from a flexible, resilient material. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 , thebase member 12 is adapted to receive portions of a user's upper and lower teeth, and thebase member 12 includes an elongated rightlateral engagement portion 16 a having afirst end 18 a and asecond end 20 a opposite thefirst end 18 a. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 , 2, and 4, the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a has atop portion 22 a and abottom portion 24 a, thetop portion 16 a including a plurality ofsurface impressions 26 a that correspond to the size and shape of a bottom portion of one or more of the user's upper right posterior teeth. Thebottom portion 24 a includes a plurality ofsurface impressions 27 a that correspond to the size and shape of a top portion of one or more of the user's lower right posterior teeth. Thebase member 12 also includes an elongated leftlateral engagement portion 16 b having a first end 18 b and a second end 20 b opposite the first end 18 b, the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b having a top portion 22 b and a bottom portion 24 b, the top portion 22 b including a plurality of surface impressions 26 b that correspond to the size and shape of a bottom portion of one or more of the user's upper left posterior teeth. The bottom portion 24 b includes a plurality of surface impressions 27 b that correspond to the size and shape of a top portion of one or more of the user's lower left posterior teeth. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , thebase member 12 further includes an arch-shapedforward portion 28 having afirst end 30 disposed adjacent to thefirst end 18 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a and asecond end 32 disposed adjacent to the first end 18 b of the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b such that theforward portion 28, the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a, and the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b has a U-shape when viewed along a vertical axis. As illustrated inFIG. 3 , theforward portion 28 includes atop surface 60 disposed adjacent to a top edge of one or more of the user's loweranterior teeth 122 such that a vertical gap G exists between thetop surface 60 and a bottom edge of each of the user's uppercentral incisors 62. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 , 2, 4, and 5, thebase member 12 additionally includes askirt portion 34 downwardly extending from each of theforward portion 28, the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a, and the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b. Theskirt portion 34 has aninside surface 36 and anoutside surface 38, and theoutside surface 38 generally conforms in shape to an inside surface of a plurality of lower teeth of the user and an upper portion of the lower gum line of the user. As illustrated inFIG. 4 , thesurface impressions 26 a, 26 b of thetop portions 22 a, 22 b of each of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a and the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b are vertically spaced from thesurface impressions 27 a, 27 b of thebottom portion 24 a, 24 b of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a and the left lateral engagement portion 16 by a distance of at least 2 mm to absorb an upward impact force on the user's mandible in a manner that prevents concussions. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 , thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 also includes aright flange member 14 a coupled to thebase member 12 adjacent to the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a and aleft flange member 14 b coupled to thebase member 12 adjacent to the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b. - Configured as described, the
bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 provides an open anterior portion (illustrated inFIG. 3 ) that allows the user to drink liquids while wearing thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10. The open anterior portion also allows the user to talk and breathe comfortably and clearly, eliminating the need for the user to frequently remove thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 while participating in athletic activities. Thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 also has a relatively small size that increases tongue space in the user's mouth to allow the user to speak more clearly with thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 inserted. Moreover, thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 enhances athletic performance by facilitating optimal neurological function because it maintains an optimal maxillomandibular relationship that minimizes nociceptive input (or maximal neurological bio-facilitation). Thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 also provides protection against concussions. In addition, thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 may have profound effects on such a diverse and wide range of human physiologic functions or dysfunctions as TMJ pain, headaches, neck pain, daytime airway patency. Additionally, thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 may treat certain movement disorders, enhance isometric posture, head balance, and athletic performance by reducing nociceptive neurological interference. - Turning to the detailed structure of the
bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 4 , thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 includes abase member 12 that may be adapted to receive portions of a user's upper 40 andlower teeth 42, and thebase member 12 may include the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a and the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b. The rightlateral engagement portion 16 a may include thetop portion 22 a and thebottom portion 24 a, and thetop portion 22 a may include a plurality ofsurface impressions 26 a that correspond to the size and shape of a bottom portion of one or more of the user's upper right posterior teeth 44 a. For example, the top portion of the right lateral engagement portion may include a plurality of surface impressions that correspond to a bottom portion of each of the user's upper right third molar, the upper right second molar, the upper right first molar, the upper right second premolar, and the upper right first premolar. Thebottom portion 24 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a may be disposed opposite thetop portion 22 a, and thebottom portion 24 a may include a plurality ofsurface impressions 27 a that correspond to the size and shape of a bottom portion of one or more of the user's lower right posterior teeth 46 a. For example, the bottom portion of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a may include a plurality ofsurface impressions 26 a that correspond to a bottom portion of each of the user' s lower right third molar, the lower right second molar, the lower right first molar, the lower right second premolar, and the lower right first premolar. - The right
lateral engagement portion 16 a may have any suitable shape that accommodates the desired number ofsurface impressions 26 a. For example, the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a may be elongated and may have a slightly curved shape when viewed along a vertical axis (i.e., the Z-axis provided in the reference coordinate system ofFIG. 1 ) such that the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a generally conforms to the shape collectively formed by the upper and lower right posterior teeth 44 a, 46 a (i.e., the molars and premolars) when viewed along a vertical axis. The rightlateral engagement portion 16 a may be generally elongated along a longitudinally extending line L (illustrated inFIG. 2 ) generally disposed in a plane normal to the vertical axis, and the line L may be slightly curved to correspond to the general shape of an axis of symmetry that longitudinally bisects the upper and/or lower right posterior teeth 44 a, 46 a when viewed along a vertical axis. The elongated rightlateral engagement portion 16 a may have thefirst end 18 a and thesecond end 20 a opposite thefirst end 18 a. Thefirst end 18 a may be disposed at or adjacent to asurface impression 26 a that corresponds to the first or second premolars, and thesecond end 20 a may be disposed at or adjacent to asurface impression 26 a that corresponds to the first or second molars. The rightlateral engagement portion 16 a may have any suitable width that allows thesurface impressions top portion 22 a and thebottom portion 24 a. For example, an area of thetop portion 22 a that extends longitudinally along aninside edge 48 a of thetop portion 22 a may be free from surface impressions, and/or an area of thetop portion 22 a that extends longitudinally along anoutside edge 50 a of thetop portion 22 a may be free from surface impressions. In addition (or alternatively), an area of thebottom portion 24 a that extends longitudinally along aninside edge 52 a of thebottom portion 24 a may be free from surface impressions, and/or an area of thebottom portion 24 a that extends longitudinally along anoutside edge 54 a of thebottom portion 24 a may be free from surface impressions. Alternatively, the surface impressions on thetop portion 22 a and/or thebottom portion 24 a may extend to theinside edge outside edge -
FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a that is normal to the line L ofFIG. 2 . In such a cross-section, the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a may have a generally elongated shape extending generally along or parallel to the X-axis of the reference coordinate system ofFIG. 1 . Thetop portion 22 a and the surface that defines thesurface impressions 26 a in thetop portion 22 a may define an upper boundary of the elongated cross-sectional shape, thereby giving the upper boundary an irregular and generally contoured shape. Similarly, thebottom portion 24 a and the surface that defines thesurface impressions 27 a in thebottom portion 24 a define a lower boundary of the elongated cross-sectional shape, thereby giving the lower boundary an irregular and generally contoured shape. Thesurface impressions 26 a formed on thetop portion 22 a and thesurface impressions 27 a formed on thebottom portion 24 a may be vertically (i.e., along or parallel to the Z-axis provided in the reference coordinate system ofFIG. 1 ) separated by a minimum distance D to allow the resilient material comprising the mouthpiece to absorb an upward impact force on the user's mandible. The minimum distance D corresponds to the vertical distance between the lowermost (i.e., the portion of the surface impressions closest to the X-axis in the provided reference coordinate system ofFIG. 4 ) portion of thesurface impressions 26 a of thetop portion 22 a and the uppermost (i.e., the portion of the surface impressions closest to the X-axis in the provided reference coordinate system ofFIG. 4 ) portion of thesurface impressions 27 a of thebottom portion 24 a. The absorption of such an upward blow by the material between thesurface impressions 26 a formed on thetop portion 22 a and thesurface impressions 27 a formed on thebottom portion 24 a may prevent a rear portion of the user's mandible from perforating the brain, thereby preventing a concussion. The minimum distance D may be at least about 3 mm, and may be between about 3 mm and about 8 mm. Preferably, the minimum distance D may be between about 4 mm and 5 mm. - As discussed above and as illustrated in
FIGS. 1 to 3 , thebase member 12 may also include the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b. The leftlateral engagement portion 16 b may be a mirror-image (i.e., may be symmetrical or generally symmetrical about a central axis C that is parallel to or collinear with the Y-axis of the reference coordinate system provided inFIG. 1 ) of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a described above, but the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b may be adapted to receive a bottom portion of one or more of the user's upper leftposterior teeth 44 b and lower leftposterior teeth 46 b. Specifically, the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b has the top portion 22 b and the bottom portion 24 b, and the top portion 22 b includes a plurality of surface impressions 26 b that correspond to the size and shape of a bottom portion of one or more of the user's upper leftposterior teeth 44 b. For example, the top portion 22 b of the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b may include a plurality of surface impressions 26 b that correspond to upper left third molar, the upper left second molar, the upper left first molar, the upper left second premolar, and the upper left first premolar. The bottom portion 24 b of the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b may be disposed opposite the top portion 22 b, and the bottom portion 24 b includes a plurality of surface impressions 27 b that correspond to the size and shape of a bottom portion of one or more of the user's lower leftposterior teeth 46 b. For example, the bottom portion 24 b of the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b may include a plurality of surface impressions 27 b that correspond to the lower left third molar, the lower left second molar, the lower left first molar, the lower left second premolar, and the lower left first premolar. - The left
lateral engagement portion 16 b may have any suitable shape that accommodates the desired number of surface impressions. For example, the left lateral engagement portion may be elongated and may have a slightly curved shape when viewed along a vertical axis such that the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b generally conforms to the shape collectively formed by the upper and lower leftposterior teeth lateral engagement portion 16 b may include the first end 18 b and the second end 20 b opposite the first end 18 b. The first end 18 b may be disposed at or adjacent to a surface impression that corresponds to the first or second premolars, and the second end may be disposed at or adjacent to a surface impression that corresponds to the first or second molars. The leftlateral engagement portion 16 b may have any suitable width that allows the surface impressions to be formed on each of the top portion 22 b and the bottom portion 24 b, as explained in the discussion of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a. The leftlateral engagement portion 16 b may have a cross-sectional shape that is a mirror image of the cross-section of rightlateral engagement portion 16 a illustrated inFIG. 4 . As explained in the discussion of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a, the surface impressions 26 b formed on the top portion 22 b and the surface impressions 27 b formed on the bottom portion 24 b may be vertically separated by a minimum distance D to allow the resilient material comprising the mouthpiece to absorb an upward impact force on the user's mandible. The minimum distance D may be at least about 3 mm, and may be between about 3 mm and about 8 mm. Preferably, the minimum distance D may be between about 4 mm and 5 mm. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 1 to 3 , 5, 8, 9 and 10, the base member may also include aforward portion 28 that may have the general shape of an arch when viewed parallel to or along a vertical axis (the Z-axis of the reference coordinate system ofFIG. 1 ). Theforward portion 28 may include thefirst end 30 disposed at or adjacent to thefirst end 18 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a and thesecond end 32 disposed at or adjacent to the first end 18 b of the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b. So disposed, theforward portion 28, the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a, and the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b may have a U-shape when viewed parallel to or along a vertical axis. Aforward edge 56 of theforward portion 28 may be contoured to correspond to the shape of the interior surface of a user's lowerposterior teeth 58. More specifically, theforward edge 56 may be shaped to correspond to a rear surface of an upper portion of a lowerleft canine 70 b, each of thelower incisors 68, and a lowerright canine 70 a. So disposed, theforward edge 56 may contact or may be immediately adjacent to the rear surface of the upper portion of the lowerleft canine 70 b, each of thelower incisors 68, and a lowerright canine 70 a. Moreover, as illustrated inFIG. 3 , atop surface 60 of theforward portion 28 may be disposed adjacent to a top edge of one or more of the of the user's lower anterior teeth 122 (e.g., each of the lowerleft canine 70 b, each of thelower incisors 68, and the lowerright canine 70 a) when viewed along the central axis C that is parallel to or coaxial with the Y-axis such that when the user'supper teeth 40 andlower teeth 42 engage the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a and leftlateral engagement portion 16 b, a vertical gap G exists between thetop surface 60 of theforward portion 28 and a bottom edge of each of the uppercentral incisors 62 and each of the upperlateral incisors 64. Such a gap G allows the user to drink liquids with thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 inserted in the user's mouth. The gap G also allows the user to breathe and talk comfortably while thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 is inserted, thereby eliminating the need to frequently remove thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 during periods of physical exertion (such as a sporting event). - As illustrated in
FIGS. 1 , 2, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10, the base portion also includes askirt portion 34 that downwardly extends from each of theforward portion 28, the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a, and the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b. Theskirt portion 34 includes theinside surface 36 and theoutside surface 38, and theoutside surface 38 generally conforms in shape to an inside surface of the lower teeth and an upper portion of the lower gum line of the user. Theskirt portion 34 may include a rightrear edge 72, a leftrear edge 74, and alower edge 76 that extends between the rightrear edge 72 and the leftrear edge 74. The rightrear edge 72 may downwardly extend from theinside edge 52 a of thebottom portion 24 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a at or adjacent to thesecond end 20 a. The rightrear edge 72 may have a shape that follows the natural downward contour of the mouth interior. The leftrear edge 74 may downwardly extend from the inside edge 52 b of the bottom portion 24 b of the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b at or adjacent to the second end 20 b. The left rear edge may have a shape that follows the natural downward contour of the mouth interior. Thelower edge 76 may extend from a terminal end of the leftrear edge 74 and a terminal edge of the rightrear edge 72, and thelower edge 76 may be contoured to correspond with a bottom portion of the user's lower teeth at or adjacent to the user's gum line. Alternatively, thelower edge 76 may be contoured to correspond with a portion of the user's gums a desired distance below the user's gum line. With thelower edge 76 so disposed, the tongue is free to move in the bottom portion of the user's mouth, facilitating the ability of the user to speak clearly with thebiofacilitation mouthpiece 10 inserted. Theoutside surface 38 may includesurface impressions 78 that each corresponds to a portion of an inner surface of a corresponding lower tooth such that the portion of the inner surface of the corresponding lower tooth is received into a corresponding cavity of thesurface impressions 78. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 1 to 6 and 13, thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 includes theright flange member 14 a and theleft flange member 14 b, with theright flange 14 a member being coupled to thebase member 12 adjacent to the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a and theleft flange member 14 b being coupled to thebase member 12 adjacent to the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b. More specifically, theright flange member 14 a may include anupper flange portion 80 a and a lower flange portion 82 a. As illustrated inFIG. 1 , theupper flange portion 80 a may upwardly extend in a vertical or substantially vertical direction from theouter edge 50 a of thetop portion 22 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a. Theupper flange portion 80 a may have arear edge 84 a that upwardly extends from a point at or adjacent to thesecond end 20 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a, and therear edge 84 a may have a curved or contoured shape that is adapted to correspond to the shape of the user's mouth in the area between the user's upper right posterior teeth 44 a and an upper interior portion of the user's cheek. Therear edge 84 a may be disposed along or adjacent to the middle portion of the user's right upper third molar tooth. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 13 , anupper edge 86 a may extend from the terminal end of therear edge 84 a, and theupper edge 86 a may extend to a point at or adjacent to thefirst end 18 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a. So disposed, theupper edge 86 a may be vertically offset from theoutside edge 50 a of thetop portion 22 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a. The intersection of theupper edge 86 a and therear edge 84 a may be rounded to avoid sharp corners that may cause discomfort to a user when thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 is disposed in a user's mouth. Theupper edge 86 a may extend along or adjacent to the gum line of the user's upper right posterior teeth 44 a, and theupper edge 86 a may have a curved, irregular, or contoured shape that is adapted to correspond to the shape of the user's mouth in the area between the user's upper right posterior teeth 44 a and an upper interior portion of the user's cheek. Theupper flange portion 80 a may also have aforward edge 88 b that upwardly extends from a point at or adjacent to thefirst end 18 a of thetop portion 22 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a to a terminal end of theupper edge 86 a. Theforward edge 88 a may be disposed adjacent to the a rearmost portion of the user's rightupper canine tooth 66 a or the frontmost portion of the user's right upper first premolar tooth 90 b (as illustrated inFIG. 13 ). The intersection of theupper edge 86 a and theforward edge 88 a and the intersection of theforward edge 88 a and thefirst end 18 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a may also be rounded to avoid sharp corners that may cause discomfort to a user. - The
upper flange portion 80 a may have a uniform thickness or a generally uniform thickness such as 3 mm to 4 mm, for example. So configured, the upper flange portion 80 may have the shape of a contoured, rounded plate, and the upper flange portion may have aninside surface 92 a and anoutside surface 94 a. Theinside surface 92 a may includesurface impressions 96 a that each correspond to a portion of an outer surface of a corresponding upper right posterior tooth 44 a such that the portion of the outer surface of the corresponding upper right posterior tooth is received into a corresponding cavity of thesurface impressions 96 a. So configured, the user's mandible is prevented from lateral movement that would disengage the user's upper and/or lower teeth from thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 13 , theright flange member 14 a may also include the lower flange portion 82 a that may downwardly extend in a vertical or substantially vertical direction from theouter edge 54 a of thebottom portion 24 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a. The lower flange portion 82 a may have arear edge 98 a that downwardly extends from a point at or adjacent to thesecond end 20 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a, and therear edge 98 a may have a curved or contoured shape that is adapted to correspond to the shape of the user's mouth in the area between the user's lower right posterior teeth 46 a and an lower interior portion of the user's cheek. Therear edge 98 a may be disposed along or adjacent to the middle portion of the user's right lower third molar tooth. Abottom edge 100 a may extend from the terminal end of therear edge 98 a, and thebottom edge 100 a may extend to a point at or adjacent to thefirst end 18 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a. So disposed, thebottom edge 100 a may be vertically offset from theoutside edge 54 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a. The intersection of thebottom edge 100 a and therear edge 98 a may be rounded to avoid sharp corners that may cause discomfort to a user when thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 is disposed in a user's mouth. Thebottom edge 100 a may extend along or adjacent to the gum line of the user's lower right posterior teeth 46 a, and thebottom edge 100 a may have a curved, irregular, or contoured shape that is adapted to correspond to the shape of the user's mouth in the area between the user's lower right posterior teeth 46 a and an lower interior portion of the user's cheek. Thelower flange portion 82 b may also have aforward edge 102 a that downwardly extends from a point at or adjacent to thefirst end 18 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a to a terminal end of thebottom edge 100 a. Alternatively, theforward edge 102 a may downwardly extend from a point at or adjacent to thefirst end 18 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a to a terminal end of thebottom edge 100 a. Theforward edge 102 a may be disposed adjacent to a rearmost portion of the user's rightlower canine tooth 70 a or the frontmost portion of the user's right lowerfirst premolar tooth 104 a. The intersection of thebottom edge 100 a and theforward edge 102 a and the intersection of theforward edge 102 a and thefirst end 18 a of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a may also be rounded to avoid sharp corners that may cause discomfort to a user. - The lower flange portion 82 a may have a uniform thickness or a generally uniform thickness such as 3 mm to 4 mm, for example. So configured, the lower flange portion 82 a may have the shape of a contoured, rounded plate, and the lower flange portion may have an
inside surface 108 a and anoutside surface 110 a. The inside surface may includesurface impressions 106 a that each correspond to a portion of an outer surface of a corresponding lower right posterior tooth 46 a such that the portion of the outer surface of the corresponding lower right posterior tooth is received into a corresponding cavity of thesurface impression 106 a. Theinside surface 108 a of the lower flange portion 82 a of theright flange member 14 a may cooperate with the bottom portion of the rightlateral engagement portion 24 a and theoutside surface 38 of the skirt to form achannel 112 a that extends from theforward edge 102 a of the lower flange portion 82 a to therear edge 98 a of the lower flange portion 82 a, with thechannel 112 a adapted to receive one or more of the user's lower right posterior teeth 46 a (such as, for example, the lower right first premolar, the lower right second premolar, the lower right first molar, the lower right second molar, and the lower right third molar). So configured, the user's mandible is further prevented from lateral movement that would disengage the user's upper and/or lower teeth from thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 1 to 3 , 5, and 6, theleft flange member 14 b may be a mirror-image (i.e., may be symmetrical or generally symmetrical about a central axis C that is parallel to or collinear with the Y-axis of the reference coordinate system provided inFIG. 1 ) of theright flange member 14 a described above, but theupper flange portion 80 b of theleft flange member 14 b may include an inside surface 92 b having surface impressions 96 b that each correspond to a portion of an outer surface of a corresponding upperleft posterior tooth 44 b such that the portion of the outer surface of the corresponding upper left posterior tooth is received into a corresponding cavity of the surface impressions 96 b. In addition, thelower flange portion 82 b of theleft flange member 14 b may include an inside surface 108 b having surface impressions 106 b that each correspond to a portion of an outer surface of a corresponding lowerleft posterior tooth 46 b such that the portion of the outer surface of the corresponding lower left posterior tooth is received into a corresponding cavity of the surface impressions 106 b. So configured, the inside surface 108 b of thelower flange portion 82 b of theleft flange member 14 b may cooperate with the bottom portion 24 b of the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b and theoutside surface 38 of theskirt portion 34 to form a channel 112 b that extends from theforward edge 102 b of thelower flange portion 82 b to therear edge 98 b of thelower flange portion 82 b, with the channel 112 b adapted to receive one or more of the user's lower leftposterior teeth 46 b (such as, for example, the lower left first premolar, the lower left second premolar, the lower left first molar, the lower left second molar, and the lower left third molar). - The
bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 may be fabricated as a single, unitary piece, or may be an assembly or two or more pieces that are fixed by any method known in the art, including using adhesives, ultrasonic welding, or mechanical fastening, for example. Thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 may be comprised of any suitable material. For example, thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 may be made from a soft, flexible silicone material or copolymer material. Alternatively, thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 may be made from a heat cured flexible resin. For example, thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 made be made from SR Ivocap elastomer or Odontosil silicone. - An upper component 114 (illustrated in
FIG. 7 ) may be used along with thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 to provide protection to a user's upper anterior teeth. Theupper component 114 may be configured to be received on a user's upper (maxillary) teeth and is formed to substantially conform to the contours of the user's upper teeth. Theupper component 114 may include anupper edge 116 that is contoured to replicate a user's gum line. In certain embodiments, theupper edge 116 is configured such that it will not contact the user's gums. Theupper edge 116 may includecurved apexes 118 that occur toward the middle of each tooth, andcurved valleys 120 that occur between teeth. Thecurved apexes 118 andcurved valleys 120 may avoid tearing associated with pointed apexes and valleys. Theupper component 114 may span a user's entire upper dental arch, including the rearmost molars. However, in certain embodiments, anupper component 114 may not span a user's full upper dental arch. Theupper component 114 may be made of any suitable material. For example, theupper component 114 may be made from a soft, flexible copolymer or silicone, or the upper component may be made from a polypropylene/ethylene copolymer material. - The
upper component 114 may be formed as a separate and distinct component from thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10, and a user may optionally position theupper component 114 over the user's upper teeth prior to inserting thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10. So positioned, as illustrated inFIGS. 6 , 8, and 9, portions of theupper component 114 that correspond to the bottom portions of the user's right and left upperposterior teeth 44 a, 44 b may be received into correspondingsurface impressions 26 a, 26 b formed in thetop portion 22 a, 22 b of each of the rightlateral engagement portion 16 a and the leftlateral engagement portion 16 b, and portions of theupper component 114 that correspond to the outside portions of the user's right and left upperposterior teeth 44 a, 44 b may be received into correspondingsurface impressions 96 a, 96 b formed on theinside surface 92 a, 92 b of each of the rightupper flange portion 80 a and the leftupper flange portion 80 b. Theupper component 114 may be used when a user is participating in a contact sport to provide extra protection for the upper anterior teeth that are not protected by thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10. - To fabricate the
bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10, manual muscle testing is employed to identify a user's unique maxillomandibular position of minimal nociceptive input. It has been found that an optimal maxillomandibular relationship (i.e., the positioning of the mandible, or lower jaw, relative to the maxilla, or upper jaw) exists that enhances neurological function by channeling the nervous system to eliminate nociceptive input. That is, with the maxilla and mandible in an optimal position, neurological clutter is minimized and, as a result, neurological performance, and thus athletic performance, is enhanced. - Manual muscle testing may be employed to identify when nociceptive input is minimized. Generally speaking, manual muscle testing is used to assess changes in muscle function brought about in the central integrative system of the brain's anterior horn motoneurons. The regulation of muscle function is accomplished at a subconscious level. Function and movement are generated by the premotor and motor cortex of the brain and sent to the reticular activating system, hypothalamus and limbic system. A manual muscle test is conducted by having the user resist a challenge to the target muscle or muscle group while a clinician applies a force. Maximum performance of a muscle in response to manual muscle testing demonstrates low nociceptive input (called “facilitation” or “bio-facilitation”) to the central integrative system of the brain.
- Manual muscle testing, therefore, allows a clinician to identify an optimal maxillomandibular relationship that results in enhanced athletic performance. That is, when the maxillomandibular relationship is optimized, the user's head is placed in a balanced physiological position on the spinal column that reduces neck stress, and nociceptive input is minimized. Correspondingly, maximum performance of a muscle in response to manual muscle testing demonstrates low nociceptive input. Accordingly, by varying the maxillomandibular relationship and performing related manual muscle testing, a maxillomandibular position (i.e., the optimal maxillomandibular position) can be identified that corresponds with maximum neurologic performance by the user based on facilitation of the central integrative system.
- A commonly known and very basic manual muscle test is the isometric deltoid press, where the user resists as the clinician exerts a downward force on an extended arm. Proper positioning is paramount to ensure that the muscle in question is isolated or positioned as the prime mover, minimizing interference from adjacent muscle groups. The ability of the user to maintain the test position against the pressure exerted in the manual muscle test (e.g., the downward force on the extended arm) is an indicator of maximum performance. Instead of the isometric deltoid press, any strong, healthy muscle may be tested to identify performance facilitation of a muscle.
- To identify the user's optimal maxillomandibular position, a practitioner may insert a first bite registration device (also known as a bite shim) between the anterior teeth of the user, and the user may move the upper and lower anterior teeth into contact with (or immediately adjacent to) a top surface and a bottom surface, respectively, of the bite shim. The bite shim may be identical to that disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/014,848, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. The bite shim may be a plastic, arcuate wafer having a predetermined, uniform thickness (such as, for example, 1.5 mm) and the bite shim may be dimensioned and shaped to correspond to the user's anterior dental arch.
- With this first bite shim so disposed, the clinician may initiate the manual muscle test, such as the isometric deltoid press, on the user. Accordingly, the user may stand up straight, place the dorsal portion of the user's tongue against the roof of the mouth, and extend a right arm away from the user's body such that the right arm is substantially horizontal. In this position, the clinician may exert a downward force on the user's extended right arm. While the bite shim is designed to maintain a constant and known vertical separation between the upper and lower jaw, the clinician may vary the user's lateral and protrusive maxillomandibular position (i.e., varying the relative lateral position and the relative longitudinal position, respectively, of the user's upper and lower jaw) while performing the manual muscle test to identify the user's optimal vertical, lateral, and protrusive maxillomandibular position. If the clinician identifies a maximum performance in response to the manual muscle test (e.g., adequately resisting the downward force in the isometric deltoid press), an impression (that will be described in more detail below) will be taken of the user's upper and lower anterior teeth relative to the bite shim to record the user's optimal vertical, lateral, and protrusive maxillomandibular position.
- If the clinician notes that maximum performance has not been achieved, a second bite shim may be vertically stacked on the first bite shim. The stacked first and second bite shims may be inserted between the anterior teeth of the user, and the user may and the user may move the upper and lower anterior teeth into contact with (or immediately adjacent to) a top surface and a bottom surface, respectively, of the stacked first and second bite shims. The first and second bite shims may be identical, and surface features may be provided on each of the adjacent surfaces of the first and second bite shims to prevent mutual lateral displacement. With this first and second bite shims so disposed, the clinician may again vary the user's relative lateral and protrusive maxillomandibular position and perform the manual muscle test, such as the isometric deltoid press, on the user. If the clinician identifies a maximum performance in response to the isometric deltoid press, an impression will be taken of the user's upper and lower anterior teeth relative to the stacked first and second bite shims. However, if the clinician notes that maximum performance has not been achieved, a third bite shim may be stacked on the first and second bite shims, and the isometric deltoid press is repeated. Additional bite shims may be added in successive isometric deltoid presses until the clinician identifies a maximum performance.
- As explained above, when the clinician identifies a maximum performance in response to the manual muscle test, an impression will be taken of the user's upper and lower anterior teeth relative to the bite shim(s) that corresponds to the user's optimal vertical, lateral, and protrusive maxillomandibular position. To take such an impression, wax or any other suitable material is applied to the upper surface of a top bite shim (i.e., the surface in contact with the upper anterior teeth) and a lower surface of a bottom bite shim (i.e., the surface in contact with the lower anterior teeth) or a lower surface of the top bite shim if only a single bite shim is required. The bite shim(s) may then be positioned in the mouth of the user, and the user may position the upper and lower anterior teeth into contact with (or immediately adjacent to) a top surface and a bottom surface, respectively, of the bite shims(s) in the same position in which the upper and lower anterior teeth were disposed during the maximum performance in the manual muscle test. After a suitable amount of curing time (such as 90 seconds, for example), the bite shim(s) and the hardened wax impressions that are secured to the bite shim(s) may be removed from the user's mouth and may be stored prior to beginning the next fabrication step.
- The fabrication of the
bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 may also require the creation of a plaster cast of the user's dental arches. To make such a cast, a dental model using a type-4 dental plaster conforming to ISO standard 6873:1998, such as Hydrocal 105, for example, is poured into an upper impression and a lower impression of the user's teeth. Once the impressions set, they become casts. As illustrated inFIG. 11 , theupper cast 130 andlower cast 132 are then secured to an articulator 134 (as illustrated inFIG. 11 ), and the hardened wax impression and bite shim(s) (not shown) are positioned over the appropriate corresponding teeth. By way of thearticulator 134 and the hardened wax impressions, the user's upper and lower casts are positioned to replicate the user's optimal maxillomandibular position that corresponds to the maximum performance in response to the isometric deltoid press. The hardened wax impressions and/or the bite shim(s) are removed, and wax may then be applied to the upper andlower casts bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10, as illustrated inFIG. 11 . The clinician may apply the wax to produce asacrificial wax mouthpiece 136 that exactly corresponds to the shape and thickness of thefinal bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10. Alternatively, the clinician may apply the wax to produce asacrificial wax mouthpiece 136 that has excess material (e.g., covers a greater area then the final bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10) such that he clinician may trim away material on thefinal bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 to correspond to the contours of the user's mouth. The wax is allowed to dry, and the hardenedsacrificial wax mouthpiece 136 is removed from the upper andlower casts - A mold is then made from the hardened
sacrificial wax mouthpiece 136 by embedding the hardenedsacrificial wax mouthpiece 136 in plaster. The mold is cut along a central longitudinal plane, and the hardened sacrificial wax mouthpiece is then boiled out of the mold, leaving acavity bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 may be removed from the mold halves. Because the material may be resilient and flexible, undercuts formed on the surface of the teeth will not affect the removal of the bio-facilitation mouthpiece from the mold. Additional finishing procedures, such as, for example, trimming, smoothing, deburring, polishing, and/or lacquering, may then be completed. - Instead of using a mold to fabricate the mouthpiece, the
bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 may be generated suing three-dimensional scanning and printing. Specifically, a prototype mouthpiece (not shown) may be created using wax (or any other suitable material) in a manner identical to the creation of the sacrificial wax mouthpiece described above. The prototype mouthpiece may exactly correspond to the shape and thickness of thefinal bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10. When the prototype mouthpiece has properly cured, the prototype mouthpiece may be removed from the upper andlower casts final bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 may be generated by the three-dimensional printer using a desired material. Additional finishing procedures, such as, for example, trimming, smoothing, deburring, polishing, and/or lacquering, may then be completed. Any suitable method or type of three-dimensional scanning and/or three-dimensional printing or model generation (such as, for example, stereolithography, selective laser sintering, and fused deposition modeling) may be used to fabricate thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10. - In an additional manufacturing step, the upper component 102 may be vacuum formed over the cast of the user's upper dental arch and trimmed as needed to form the curved apexes and curved valleys described above.
- The
bio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 described above provides a custom laboratory fabricated non-thermoplastic mouthpiece of either soft, silicone type material or flexible resin whose design allows the user to speak clearly, easily breathe orally, drink liquids with the device in place, while offering concussion protection and tooth protection. Wearing thebio-facilitation mouthpiece 10 facilitates neurological performance of the user by reducing neurological clutter, and the user's head is placed in a balanced physiological position on the spinal column that reduces neck stress. Such a custom laboratory fabricated appliance brings about bio-facilitation of a wide range of human physiologic functions or correction of dysfunctions such as temporomandibular joint pain, headaches, neck pain, daytime airway patency, treatment of certain movement disorders, enhance isotonic head, neck, and body posture, head balance, and enhances neurological performance by reducing nociceptive clutter. - While various embodiments have been described above, this disclosure is not intended to be limited thereto. Variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments that are still within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (13)
1. A bio-facilitation mouthpiece adapted to facilitate optimal neurological function, the bio-facilitation mouthpiece comprising:
a base member adapted to receive portions of a user's upper and lower teeth, the base member comprising:
an elongated right lateral engagement portion having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the right lateral engagement portion having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion including a plurality of surface impressions that correspond to the size and shape of a bottom portion of one or more of the user's upper right posterior teeth and the bottom portion including a plurality of surface impressions that correspond to the size and shape of a top portion of one or more of the user's lower right posterior teeth;
an elongated left lateral engagement portion having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the left lateral engagement portion having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion including a plurality of surface impressions that correspond to the size and shape of a bottom portion of one or more of the user's upper left posterior teeth and the bottom portion including a plurality of surface impressions that correspond to the size and shape of a top portion of one or more of the user's lower left posterior teeth;
an arch-shaped forward portion having a first end disposed adjacent to the first end of the right lateral engagement portion and a second end disposed adjacent to the first end of the left lateral engagement portion such that the forward portion, the right lateral engagement portion, and the left lateral engagement portion has a U-shape when viewed along a vertical axis, wherein the forward portion includes a top surface disposed adjacent to a top edge of one or more of the user's lower anterior teeth such that a vertical gap exists between the top surface and a bottom edge of each of the user's upper central incisors, with the vertical gap adapted to facilitate breathing and talking; and
a skirt portion downwardly extending from each of the forward portion, the right lateral engagement portion, and the left lateral engagement portion, the skirt portion having an inside surface and an outside surface, and the outside surface generally conforms in shape to an inside surface of a plurality of lower teeth of the user and an upper portion of the lower gum line of the user,
wherein the surface impressions of the top portion of each of the right lateral engagement portion and the left lateral engagement portion are vertically spaced from the surface impressions of the bottom portion of the right lateral engagement portion and the left lateral engagement portion by a distance of at least 3 mm to absorb an upward impact force on the user's mandible in a manner that prevents concussions;
a right flange member coupled to the base member adjacent to the right lateral engagement portion; and
a left flange member coupled to the base member adjacent to the left lateral engagement portion.
2. The bio-facilitation mouthpiece of claim 1 , wherein a forward edge of the forward portion is contoured to correspond to the shape of the interior surface of a user's lower posterior teeth.
3. The bio-facilitation mouthpiece of claim 1 , wherein the right flange member includes an upper flange portion and a lower flange portion, and the left flange member includes an upper flange portion and a lower flange portion.
4. The bio-facilitation mouthpiece of claim 3 , wherein the upper flange portion of the right flange member upwardly extends in a vertical direction from an outer edge of the right lateral engagement portion and the upper flange portion of the left flange member upwardly extends in a vertical direction from an outer edge of the left lateral engagement portion.
5. The bio-facilitation mouthpiece of claim 4 , wherein the upper flange portion of the right flange member has an upper edge extending along the gum line of the user's upper right posterior teeth and the upper flange portion of the left flange member has an upper edge extending along the gum line of the user' s upper left posterior teeth.
6. The bio-facilitation mouthpiece of claim 4 , wherein the upper flange portion of the right flange member has a forward edge that upwardly extends from a point adjacent to the first end of the right lateral engagement portion, and wherein the upper flange portion of the left flange member has a forward edge that upwardly extends from a point adjacent to the first end of the left lateral engagement portion.
7. The bio-facilitation mouthpiece of claim 6 , wherein the forward edge of the right flange member is disposed adjacent to the a rearmost portion of the user's right upper canine tooth or the frontmost portion of the user's right upper first premolar tooth, and wherein the forward edge of the left flange member is disposed adjacent to the a rearmost portion of the user's left upper canine tooth or the frontmost portion of the user's left upper first premolar tooth.
8. The bio-facilitation mouthpiece of claim 3 , wherein the upper flange portion of each of the right flange member and the left flange member has the shape of a contoured, rounded plate.
9. The bio-facilitation mouthpiece of claim 8 , wherein the upper flange portion of each of the right flange member and the left flange member has an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface including surface impressions that each correspond to a portion of an outer surface of a corresponding upper posterior tooth.
10. The bio-facilitation mouthpiece of claim 3 , wherein the lower flange portion of the right flange member downwardly extends in a vertical direction from an outer edge of the right lateral engagement portion and the lower flange portion of the left flange member downwardly extends in a vertical direction from an outer edge of the left lateral engagement portion.
11. The bio-facilitation mouthpiece of claim 3 , wherein the lower flange portion of each of the right flange member and the left flange member has a bottom edge that extends along the gum line of the user's lower posterior teeth.
12. The bio-facilitation mouthpiece of claim 10 , wherein an inside surface of the lower flange portion of the right flange member cooperates with the bottom portion of the right lateral engagement portion and the outside surface of the skirt to form a channel adapted to receive one or more of the user's lower right posterior teeth, and wherein an inside surface of the lower flange portion of the left flange member cooperates with the bottom portion of the left lateral engagement portion and the outside surface of the skirt to form a channel adapted to receive one or more of the user's lower left posterior teeth.
13. The bio-facilitation mouthpiece of claim 1 , further comprising a separate upper component configured to be received on a user's upper teeth.
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US20130213412A1 (en) | 2013-08-22 |
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