Patent ID: 9566139
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: A61C

Claim:
1. A dental appliance for insertion into a mouth of a person and resting on a mandibular bone structure, the mouth having a Genioglossus muscle and a tongue, the dental appliance comprising: a rigid distal flange, the rigid distal flange consisting of: a first surface, a second surface, a single continuous front edge, and a single continuous back edge, the first surface dimensioned and configured to contact a surface of a superior aspect of the Genioglossus muscle, the second surface dimensioned and configured to contact a surface of an inferior/lateral aspect of the tongue, the back edge consisting of a single mechanical connection between the back edge and a rigid lingual flange, the front edge consists of a compound curve geometry to allow a Palatoglossus muscle of the mouth free movement during swallowing and the superior aspect of the Genioglossus muscle and the inferior/lateral aspect of the tongue to move freely; the only connection between the rigid lingual flange and the rigid distal flange occurring along the entirety of the back edge; a set of rigid flanges including the rigid lingual flange and a corresponding rigid buccal flange, the set of rigid flanges conforming to the mandibular bone structure for securing the dental appliance to the mandibular bone structure, the set of rigid flanges made of denture material, the rigid lingual flange including the single mechanical connection between the back edge and the rigid lingual flange; and one or more artificial teeth connected to the set of rigid flanges, the one more teeth connected to the set of ridges essentially along the mandibular bone structure.