Patent ID: 9370707
Filing Date: 2016-06-21
CPC Classification: A61C,A63B

Claim Text:
1. A method of using a dental appliance, comprising: providing a first front flap and a second front flap, a first inner side flap and a second inner side flap and an arch-shaped bite line wall connecting the first front flap and the second front flap with the first inner side flap and the second inner side flap; locating a movable shear thickening fluid comprised of a suspension of nanoparticles inside a polymer matrix within at least one pocket fixed and entirely encased within only said first front flap and said second front flap, said pocket comprised of a channel in fluid communication with a first reservoir and a second reservoir, wherein said channel has a circular cross section and said reservoirs have circular cross-sections, wherein the channel cross section is smaller than the cross sections of the reservoirs; dissipating a force applied to said first front flap or said second front flap by absorbing said force via a stiffening of said moveable shear thickening fluid in said channel upon receipt of said force; and relaxing said stiffened moveable shear thickening fluid after said force is dissipated to return said moveable shear thickening fluid to a non-shear thickened state.