Patent ID: 7234467
Filing Date: 2007-06-26
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An occlusal splint for suppression of the intensity of forces of bruxism resulting from grinding and/or clenching of teeth of a person subjected to bruxism, said splint comprising a body portion having a retaining means for securing the splint to at least some of the forward teeth, including incisors but no molars, of a first arch of teeth of a person suffering from bruxism in order to locate the splint in a predetermined position in the mouth of the person, the body portion being provided with a contact portion arranged to face in a direction towards at least one of the front teeth of a second arch of teeth of the person, said contact portion permitting said second arch of teeth to move anteriorly, posteriorly or laterally relative to said first arch of teeth during use of said splint, said front teeth of the first arch being opposed to the front teeth of the second arch wherein the contact portion includes at least a first section for receiving the opposed forward teeth of the second arch when the teeth are in the normal habitual teeth together position during use of the splint, and a second section which is located adjacent the first section and which is angularly inclined to the first section for guiding movement of the opposed front teeth of the second arch when the jaw is clenched so that when the teeth are in the normal habitual teeth together position at least one of the opposed forward teeth of the second arch contacts at least part of the contact portion so as to at least maintain spacing of at least some of the rearwardly located teeth of said first arch in spaced relationship from at least one of the rearwardly located teeth of the second arch and when the jaw is clenched at least one of the opposed forward teeth of the second arch is guided from the normal habitual teeth together position by movement along or with respect to the second section of the contact portion so as to at least maintain spacing of the rear opposed teeth of the first and second arch thereby preventing the opposed rear teeth from touching each other so as to suppress the intensity of forces of bruxism.