Patent ID: 11903868
Assignee: nan
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A method of treating jaw conditions in a patient; the jaw comprising a maxilla and mandible having a condyle, the method comprising a step of controlling the positioning the mandible relative to the maxilla and controlling movement of the mandible relative to the maxilla; the step of controlling the positioning and movement of the mandible relative to the maxilla comprising:
providing an appliance for the patient to use; the appliance comprising an upper assembly and a lower assembly;
the upper assembly being shaped and configured to be applied to teeth of the patient's maxilla; the upper assembly comprising an upper transition portion having an anteriorly facing sloped upper transition surface defining an upper reverse angle relative to an occlusal plane of between about 22 degrees to equal to or less than about 90 degrees wherein a lower edge of the sloped upper transition surface is anterior of an upper edge of the sloped transition surface, said upper transition portion being positioned in said upper assembly such that said upper transition portion is anterior of the first molar of the patient during use; and
the lower assembly being shaped and configured to be applied to teeth of the patient's mandible; the lower assembly comprising a lower transition portion having a posteriorly facing sloped lower transition surface defining a lower reverse angle relative to an occlusal plane of between about 22 degrees to equal to or less than about 90 degrees such that a lower edge of the sloped lower transition surface is anterior of an upper posterior edge of the sloped lower transition surface, said lower transition portion being positioned in said lower assembly such that said lower transition portion is anterior of the first molar of the patient during use;

wherein, the step of providing the appliance comprises steps of:
a) determining a condyle positioning area (CPA), the CPA being an area within a Posselt's movement border for the patient; wherein the appliance retains the patient's condyles within a determined desired movement area while the appliance is being worn;
b) determining a determined treatment point (DTP) within the CPA; and
c) determining the upper and lower angles (RPAs) based on patient jaw anatomy; the RPAs being sized to provide intercoupling of the upper and lower assemblies and to enable patient to manipulate the mandible to decouple the upper and lower assemblies;
whereby when the patient wears the appliance, due to the upper and lower reverse angles, the upper and lower transition portions of the upper and lower assemblies engage to prevent retrusion of the mandible relative to the maxilla to thereby maintain the jaw in a treatment position when jaw muscles of the patient are relaxed.