Patent ID: 7637262
Filing Date: 2009-12-29
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. In an oral appliance suited for treating snoring, sleep apnea and sleep bruxism in a patient in need of treatment therefor, formed of a maxillary tray and a mandibular tray, said maxillary tray carrying a maxillary bite pad projecting downwardly toward an opposed mandibular occlusal surface of said mandibular tray, and the mandibular tray carrying a mandibular bite pad projecting upwardly toward an opposed maxillary occlusal surface of the maxillary tray, wherein said maxillary bite pad is posterior to said mandibular bite pad such that upon sufficient relative posterior movement of the mandibular tray, the mandibular bite pad engages the maxillary bite pad and limits posterior movement of the mandibular tray, the improvement comprising: said maxillary tray and mandibular tray are fitted, in use, to the respective maxillary and mandibular teeth of the patient with sufficient retention to be useful in positioning the patient's jaw; at least one surface, chosen from the anterior face of the maxillary bite pad and the posterior face of the mandibular bite pad, defines a guide plane disposed at an upward and forward slant; the maxillary bite pad and the mandibular bite pad are engageable at said guide plane, advancing the mandibular tray along the guide plane upon vertical closure between the trays; and a smooth pad disposed over the occlusal surface of at least one of said trays, guarding said occlusal surface from engagement with the opposed bite pad.