Abstract:
A method and apparatus for protecting a user&#39;s mouth from discomfort caused by installed dental brackets of the character having a plurality of bracket members attached to the teeth of the user with cooperating wire support members attached to the brackets. The apparatus includes a plurality of uniquely configured protective guards that can be quickly and easily connected to and removed from the bracket members of the installed dental bracket. The protective guards are preferably constructed from a soft, stretchable material and comprise an end guard, a side guard, a corner guard and a front guard, each of which can be readily, removably attached to the dental bracket at selected areas to protect the inside of the user&#39;s mouth from injury.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to protective guards designed to protect the user&#39;s mouth from damage caused by an installed orthodontic appliance. More particularly, the invention concerns an apparatus and method of using same that comprises a plurality of uniquely configured protective guards that are designed to be removably affixed to the front, side and corner portions of an installed orthodontic appliance to protect the inner lips, mouth and tongue of the user from the wires and brackets of the orthodontic appliance. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    A common method for aligning misaligned teeth is through the use of dental brackets which typically comprise a plurality of bracket members attached to the teeth of the user with cooperating wire support members attached to the brackets that function to urge the teeth into proper alignment. An undesirable factor of the dental brackets resides in the fact that they have a tendency to cause significant discomfort to the user and sometimes injury to the user&#39;s mouth due to the engagement of the wires and the bracket members with the inside of the user&#39;s mouth. 
         [0005]    A number of attempts have been made in the past to solve this troublesome problem by providing various types of pads, shields and other apparatus that can be removably affixed to the dental brace by adhesives and the like. However, these attempts have been generally unsuccessful for various reasons, including the complexity of the devices, the fact that the devices are cumbersome and difficult to use and the inability of the devices to be effectively secured in place. As will become apparent from the discussion that follows, none of the prior art devices offer the comfort and relative ease of use as do the devices of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for protecting a user&#39;s mouth from discomfort caused by installed dental brackets of the character having a plurality of bracket members attached to the teeth of the user with cooperating wire support members attached to the brackets. 
         [0007]    Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the aforementioned character that includes a plurality of uniquely configured protective guards that can be quickly and easily connected to and removed from the bracket members of the installed dental bracket. 
         [0008]    Another object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the character described in the preceding paragraphs in which the plurality of protective guards are constructed from a soft, stretchable material and comprise an end guard, a side guard, a corner guard and a front guard, each of which can be readily, removably attached to the dental bracket at selected areas to protect the inside of the user&#39;s mouth from injury. 
         [0009]    Another object of the invention is to provide protective guards of the character described that are positioned over the dental bracket by simply placing the various guard components of the apparatus over the irritating areas of the dental bracket and then anchoring the end portions of the protective guards with the spaced-apart bracket members provided on the dental bracket. 
         [0010]    Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as described in the preceding paragraphs that comprises protective guards that are easy to use, provides maximum comfort, remain securely in place, provide immediate relief and can be reused if desired. 
         [0011]    The foregoing objectives, as well as other objectives of the invention, will be achieved by the method and apparatus of the invention, the details of which will be described hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a generally perspective view of a portion of the inside of a user&#39;s mouth illustrating a pair of orthodontic braces affixed to the teeth of the user and showing one form of the front protective guard of the plurality of protective guards of the invention affixed to a pair of spaced-apart bracket members provided on one of the orthodontic braces. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the front protective guard of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a generally perspective view of another portion of the user&#39;s mouth and showing one form of the end protective guard component of the invention in position over the installed orthodontic brace. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the end protective guard of the invention shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a generally perspective view of another portion of the user&#39;s mouth showing one form of the side protective guard component of the invention in position over the installed orthodontic brace. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the side protective guard of the invention shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a generally perspective view of another portion of the user&#39;s mouth and showing the corner protective guard component of the invention in position over the installed orthodontic brace. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the corner protective card of the invention shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one form of the protective guard of the plurality of protective guards of the apparatus of the invention is there shown affixed to one of a pair of orthodontic braces “B” shown as they appear when affixed to the teeth of the user in a conventional manner. The orthodontic brackets “B” typically comprise a plurality of spaced-apart bracket hooks “H” that are attached to the teeth of the user and a cooperating wire “W” that function to urge the teeth into proper alignment. While the protective guards the invention can be constructed of various materials, for example, material such as soft latex rubber and silicone have proven satisfactory. 
         [0021]    The protective guard of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  comprises the front protective guard  14  of a plurality of strategically configured protective guards of the character illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 8  of the drawings. As best seen in  FIG. 2 , front protective guard  14 , which is preferably constructed from a generally stretchable, formable material, comprises a body  16  having an elongated central portion  18  and a pair of spaced-apart end portions  20  and  22 . Each of the end portions  20  and  22  have an aperture  24  for receiving a selected one of the spaced-apart bracket hooks “H” of the orthodontic appliance in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. As indicated in  FIG. 1 , the body portion  18  of protective guard  14 , which is of a generally uniform thickness, has a length “L”, a width “W” which is substantially less than the length “L”. 
         [0022]    In accordance with one form of the method of the invention, front protective guard  14  can be installed over the front portion of the selected one of the orthodontic appliances by placing one of the openings  24  over a first bracket hook “H- 1 ”, stretching the protective guard slightly and then inserting the other of the openings  24  over a second bracket hook “H- 2 ” that is spaced-apart from the first bracket hook (see  FIG. 1 ). Due to the strategic configuration of front protective guard  14 , once positioned over the orthodontic appliance in the manner described, it will remain securely in position until removed by the user. 
         [0023]    Referring next to  FIG. 3 , which is a generally perspective view of another portion of the user&#39;s mouth, one form of the end protective guard component  26  of the invention is there shown in position over an installed orthodontic brace “B”. As best seen in  FIG. 4  of the drawings, the end protective guard component  26 , which is another of the plurality of protective guards of the apparatus of the invention, comprises a central portion  28  and generally oval-shaped first and second end portions  30  and  32 . First end portion  30  has a generally circular-shaped aperture  34 , while a second end portion  32  has a generally elliptical-shaped aperture  36 . As before, each of the apertures  34  and  36  is adapted to closely receive a selected one of a pair of spaced-apart bracket hooks “H- 3 ” and “H- 4 ” of the orthodontic appliance in the manner shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. More particularly, the end protective guard  26  can be installed over the end portion of the selected one of the orthodontic appliances by placing opening  34  over bracket hook “H- 3 ”, stretching the protective guard slightly and then inserting the other of the openings,  36 , over bracket hook “H- 4 ” (see  FIG. 3 ). Due to the strategic configuration of end protective guard  26 , once positioned over the orthodontic appliance in the manner described, it will remain securely in position until removed by the user. 
         [0024]    Turning to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , another form of the protective guard component of the apparatus of the invention is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  40 . As best seen in  FIG. 6  of the drawings, the side protective guard component  40 , comprises a generally circular-shaped central portion  42  and generally oval-shaped first and second end portions  44  and  46 , each of which is provided with a generally elliptical-shaped apertures  48 . As before, each of the apertures  48  is adapted to closely receive a selected one of a pair of spaced-apart bracket hooks “H- 5 ” and “H- 6 ” of the orthodontic appliance in the manner shown in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. More particularly, the side protective guard  40  can be installed over the side portion of the selected one of the orthodontic appliances by placing opening  48  over bracket hook “H- 5 ”, stretching the protective guard slightly and then inserting the other of the openings  48  over bracket hook “H- 6 ” (see  FIG. 5 ). Due to the strategic configuration of side protective guard  40 , once positioned over the orthodontic appliance in the manner described, it will remain securely in position until removed by the user. 
         [0025]    Referring next to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , yet another form of the protective guard component of the apparatus of the invention is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  50 . This component, which comprises the corner guard component of the apparatus, is somewhat similar in construction to the side guard component  40  and includes a generally circular-shaped central portion  52  and a pair of spaced-apart end portions  54 , each having a generally elliptical-shaped aperture  56 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7  of the drawings, each of the apertures  56  is adapted to closely receive a selected one of a pair of spaced-apart bracket hooks “H- 7 ” and “H- 8 ” of the orthodontic appliance in the manner shown in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. More particularly, the corner protective guard  50  can be installed over a corner portion of the selected one of the orthodontic appliances by placing one of the openings  56  over bracket hook “H- 7 ”, stretching the protective guard slightly and then inserting the other of the openings  56  over bracket hook “H- 8 ” (see  FIG. 7 ). Due to the strategic configuration of corner protective guard  50 , once positioned over the orthodontic appliance in the manner described, it will remain securely in position until removed by the user. 
         [0026]    Considering now the methods of the invention for protecting the user&#39;s mouth from injury caused by an installed orthodontic appliance having a central portion, a side portion and a plurality of spaced-apart bracket hooks. One form of the method of the invention involves the use of a first stretchable, protective guard, such as guard  14  having an elongated central portion  18  and a pair of spaced-apart end portions  24 . This form of the method of the invention concerns emplacement of the protective guard  14  over the central portion of the orthodontic appliance in a manner to protect the inner lips and mouth of the user. Placement of the protective guard  14  over the central portion of the orthodontic appliance is accomplished by first placing a selected one of the hook-receiving openings of the protective guard over a selected bracket hook located proximate the central portion of the appliance. Next, the protective guard is stretched longitudinally so that the other opening in the protective guard can be placed over a second, spaced-apart bracket hook located proximate the central portion of the appliance. 
         [0027]    Another form of the method of the invention involves the use of a second stretchable, protective guard, such as end guard  26  having a central portion  28  and a pair of spaced-apart end portions  30  and  32 . This form of the method of the invention concerns emplacement of the protective guard  26  over the end portion of the orthodontic appliance in a manner to protect the sides of the mouth of the user. Placement of the protective guard  26  over the end portion of the orthodontic appliance is accomplished by first placing opening  34  of the protective guard over a selected bracket hook located proximate one side portion of the appliance. Next, the protective guard is stretched longitudinally so that the other opening  36  in the protective guard can be placed over a second, spaced-apart bracket hook located proximate the end portion of the appliance. 
         [0028]    Still another form of the method of the invention involves the use of a third stretchable, protective guard, such as guard  40  having a generally circular-shaped central portion  42  and a pair of spaced-apart end portions  44  and  46 . This form of the method of the invention concerns emplacement of the protective guard  40  over the side portion of the orthodontic appliance in a manner to protect the sides of the mouth of the user. Placement of the protective guard  40  over the side portion of the orthodontic appliance is accomplished by first placing opening  48  of the protective guard over a selected bracket hook located proximate one side portion of the appliance. Next, the protective guard is stretched longitudinally so that the other opening  48  in the protective guard can be placed over a second, spaced-apart bracket hook located proximate the central portion of the appliance. 
         [0029]    Due to the unique configuration of the protective guards in the materials from which they are fabricated, once the protective guards are interconnected with the orthodontic appliance in the manner described in the preceding paragraphs, they remain securely in place until the user desires to remove them. Because of the strategic positioning of the protective guards, experience has shown that their use substantially reduces the discomfort caused to the user by the installed orthodontic appliance. 
         [0030]    Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.