Patent ID: 6886566
Filing Date: 2005-05-03
Classification: A61C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An oral appliance for maintaining long-term stability of one or more aspects of a user's masticatory system over an extended therapeutic period spanning numerous uses of the oral appliance, comprising: a first arch adapted to receive at least some of a user's teeth, the first arch comprising an anterior substantially planar region located substantially proximate a center of the first arch, region a right posterior substantially planar region, and a left posterior substantially planar region; and a second arch adapted to receive at least some of the user's teeth, the second arch comprising an anterior bearing point located substantially proximate a center of the second arch, a right posterior bearing point, and a left posterior bearing point, the second arch operable to remain uncoupled from the first arch when the user bites down with the oral appliance inserted in the user's mouth during each of the numerous uses over the extended therapeutic period, each bearing point of the second arch operable to contact and apply a force substantially vertically against an exposed exterior substantially horizontal occlusal surface of a corresponding substantially planar region of the first arch when the user bites down with the oral appliance inserted in the user's mouth and the users temporomandibular joint in its proper natural position during each of the numerous uses over the extended therapeutic period; the bearing points and corresponding substantially planar regions collectively adapted to maintain long-term stability of one or more aspects of the user's masticatory system over the extended therapeutic period spanning the numerous uses of the oral appliance.