Patent ID: 6099304
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
An intraoral appliance for the mouth of a patient with a malocclusion of the maxillary and mandibular jaws, the malocclusion incorporating an offset distance of one of said jaws relative the other jaw, the maxilla and mandible having teeth with crowns, the mouth having an anterior and posterior end and a left and right side, said appliance capable of deterring improper closure of the jaws and maintaining proper closure of the jaws, said appliance comprising:a. an adjustment assembly having a first tooth attachment capable of mounting said adjustment assembly to a tooth of one of the maxilla or mandible, an adjusting mechanism extending from said first tooth attachment capable of defining proper and improper closure of the jaws, said adjusting mechanism further capable of adjusting the amount of offset distance between the maxilla and mandible during proper closure of the jaws, said adjusting mechanism capable of providing incremental and continuous adjustment to the offset distance, an abutment member extending from said adjusting mechanism, said abutment member capable of maintaining proper closure of the jaws, and an inhibiting member extending from said abutment member, said inhibiting member capable of deterring improper closure of the jaws; andb. a placement assembly having a second tooth attachment capable of mounting said placement assembly to a tooth of the other of the maxilla or mandible, a projection element extending from said second tooth attachment, and a stop end on said projection element;said adjustment and placement assemblies mounted on respective teeth by said first and second tooth attachments, respectively, so as to place said inhibiting member of said adjustment assembly in alignment with said stop end of said projection element of said placement assembly, said alignment enabling said inhibiting member to contact said stop end during improper closure of the jaws, and said alignment enabling said abutment member to engage said stop end of said projection element during proper closure of the jaws.