Patent Publication Number: US-2010119989-A1

Title: Retracting device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to oral retracting devices in general. Specifically, the present invention relates to devices utilized for retraction of the lips, tongue and oral cavity during dental procedures. More specifically, the invention relates to a flexible or semi-flexible oral device used to comfortably and quickly retract the patient&#39;s lips to properly expose the patient&#39;s teeth and gums for dental procedures. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Dental practitioners utilize various retraction devices for a variety of tasks and procedures, including in-office teeth whitening such as Zoom®! teeth whitening and BriteSmile® teeth whitening, along with various other dental procedures such as extractions, oral surgery, oral cancer screening, and the like. Many retractors are uncomfortable, do not fit various shapes and sizes of oral cavities, can cause patient injury, and take a long time to implement properly into the oral cavity. Also these retraction devices sometimes need ancillary devices to properly retract the patient for a particular procedure. Typical dental procedural time for use of one of these devices or systems in the oral cavity can be as long as up to 60 minutes or longer. In some instances, utilization of existing systems may also become a choking hazard if the patient is inappropriately placed in a horizontal position during the procedure. However, sometimes it is advantageous to have the patient in the horizontal position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a comfortable, easy to implement, one-piece retraction device that minimizes or eliminates any risk of choking in any patient orientation, including when the patient is in a substantially horizontal position. The invention is useful for dental procedures, including chair-side whitening procedures, for example, Zoom®! and BriteSmile® whitening systems, and readily may be adapted and used for various other dental procedures. 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a retracting device for retracting portions of a user&#39;s mouth. The retracting device includes formations, which may be inter-engaging and/or non-inter-engaging with other dental tools or apparatus. The formations are adapted for repeated positioning at least a portion of a subject&#39;s mouth with respect to a light system, and/or an imaging film, and/or a dental tray, and/or an apparatus adapted for aspiration, such as an aspirator, and/or a suction tube. The retracting device includes a main body portion having a curved, continuous channel with a front wall and a rear wall. The front and rear walls each has a top portion and a bottom portion, joined by two side portions to form a substantial elliptical shape that once inserted into the oral cavity creates the desired teeth exposure. The front and rear walls each has an outside and an inside surface. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the retracting device may include alignment formations that may be adapted for engaging various teeth whitening systems having lamps directed to the teeth to enhance the whitening process. The continuous channel may also serve to enhance the protection of the patient&#39;s lips from heat and unintended UV exposure during the activation of the light system. The walls of the channels may also be made to be inherently opaque. 
     The main body of the retracting device may include specific and concurrent flexibility and rigidity to allow the device at even one dimensional shape to fit a multitude of various oral cavity sizes. 
     In one aspect, the device has a curved, continuous concave channel having a front wall and a rear wall. The front and rear walls each having a top portion and a bottom portion, made integral or joined by two side portions to form a substantial elliptical shape channel that once inserted into the oral cavity creates the desired teeth exposure. The front and rear walls each has an outside and an inside surface. The concave channel may or may not be of uniform width and may be adapted for receiving the lips of the subject. In one embodiment, the front wall and the rear wall may both be of substantially the same height profile. In another embodiment, the front wall may be of a higher profile than the rear wall. 
     In one exemplary aspect, the front wall and rear wall may both be substantially continuous having substantially equal height profile all around. In another exemplary aspect, either the front wall or the rear wall may have a portion about the middle that is of a lower profile than the rest of the wall. In a further exemplary aspect, both the front wall and the rear wall may both have a portion about the middle that is of lower profile than the rest of the wall. 
     In one embodiment, the curve may allow the device to fit comfortably into the mouth. The concave channel allows for the device to completely and comfortably retract the upper and lower lips. On the backside of the curvature away from the front of the mouth once the device is inserted and at the apex of the lips, the rear wall about the side portion of the device may have a flange. In one aspect, the flange may have a longer profile than the front wall. The flange may aid in securing the device into the oral cavity. In one aspect, the flange may be symmetrical about the side portion. In another aspect, it may also be semi-flexible so as to allow for it to flex when needed during insertion into the oral cavity. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a formation such as an alignment formation on the front of the device may be used to align the retraction device to various dental devices mentioned above, including a teeth-whitening lamp such as the Zoom® lamp. The alignment formations may be of any configuration, as long as they are adapted for matting, engaging or inter-engaging with a corresponding feature in a lamp system  400 . 
     In one embodiment, this alignment formation may include two symmetrical formations, one on either side portion of the device. The formations may be formed or present on the outside surface of the outer wall. In one aspect, the formations may be in the form of protrusions protruding from the outer surface of the outside side wall of the side portion. According to one embodiment, the protrusion may be in the shape of a rectangular peg having a rectangular cross-section. According to another embodiment, the protrusion may be in the shape of a square peg. According to yet another embodiment, the protrusion may be in the form of a circular peg. 
     In another embodiment, this alignment formation may be created by a continuous blade-like feature that spans the entire front portion of the device, from side to side. 
     In one embodiment, the device may include a substantially cylindrical shape formation having an appropriate diameter, useful for alignment and orientation to other whitening systems, such as the BriteSmile® whitening system. The cylindrical shape formation may protrude from the main body of the retracting device. 
     According to one embodiment, the cylindrical shape formation may be connected to the alignment formation. According to another embodiment, the cylindrical shape formation may be part of a bite device, to be discussed in more detailed below. 
     In one aspect, a bite device having a suitable geometry may be attached to, for example, the rear surface of the rear wall forming the continuous channel, and may be, as noted above, used as a comfortable jaw rest or bite partition. 
     The bite partition may allow for appropriate spacing between the upper and lower teeth, and may also allow for a comfortable rest for the jaw. Since the time for a procedure may typically be as long, for example, as much as sixty minutes or longer, the bite partition may be manufactured from a soft or resilient material. In one embodiment, the bite partition may be manufactured to be soft or resilient while the continuous channel that retracts the upper and lower lips may be made to be stiffer, yet flexible. In another embodiment, both the bite partition and the channel may be of the same or similar softness. 
     In one embodiment, the bite partition may be in the shape of a letter “M”. The legs of the “M” shape may extend from or be attached to the outside surface of the rear wall of the continuous channel, substantially symmetrically about the device from side to side, one leg on each side. The backside of the bite partition may extend into the oral cavity during use, while the front side may not completely enter into the oral cavity during use. The “M” shape is shaped to allow for proper support of the upper and lower lips and also to allow for maximum access to the teeth during treatment. For example, the first molar or #3 to #14 teeth may be substantially exposed when the retracting device is in use. In any of these embodiments, the “M” shape bite partition may have attached to it or extends from it, a substantially cylindrical formation, as discussed above, which may extend towards the front side of the partition. The cylindrical formation may extends from or be attached to the “M” shape at the center or bottom of the “M”. The formation may be used with, for example, the BriteSmile® whitening system and thus may also act as an alignment feature to the lamp. In one embodiment, the alignment formation may be in the form of a peg, as noted above. In another embodiment, the alignment formation may be in the form of a blade, also noted above, with the cylindrical shape formation passing through the centre portion of the blade or the blade may be in two parts connected or made integral by the cylindrical shape formation. 
     In yet another embodiment, the bite partition may include geometry similar in shape to that of a “Y” except the “Y” shape may have on each side, an extension that extends symmetrically and parallel to the upper and lower channels towards the cheeks when the device is inserted into the oral cavity. 
     In still another embodiment, the bite partition may have the “M” geometry without the legs of the “M” being connected or attached to inside side wall of the rear wall of the curved continuous concave channel. 
     In yet still another embodiment, the “Y” shape bite device may be attached to or integral with the alignment center blade that spans continuously across the front side of the device. The attachment point may be to the front side of the device. This embodiment may also allow for added flexibility of the flange so that the flange may flex easily while being placed into the oral cavity and still maintains enough rigidity to retract the lips. In this embodiment, the cylindrical shape formation may also be attached to or form part of the leg of the Y shape formation. 
     In one embodiment, the cylindrical shape formation may be in the form of a tube, with the free end away from the bottom of the “M” shape or “Y” shape. The bottom of the “M” or “Y’ may have an opening, for example, a small opening, to allow fluid communication between the cylindrical tube and the inside of the oral cavity. The free end may be attached to or form part of an aspirator for providing aspiration during a dental process, to be discussed further below. 
     In one aspect, both the “M” and “Y” bite partitions may have top and bottom portions that are rounded. In another aspect, the portions may have sharp turns or corners. 
     Both the “M” and “Y” embodiments may be manufactured utilizing methods known in the art, including a two-shot injection molding process, injection molding including a two-shot injection molding, and insert injection molding. Two shot injection molding may have the ability to produce complex structures, using one or two different polymers at the same time during one machine cycle. This has the benefit of creating unique structural moldings with one or more colors, durometer, and/or material property. The bond between the two materials if dissimilar may be mechanical, or in other cases, may be chemical, depending on the choice or combination of materials. This manufacturing technique may produce optimized or desired mechanical properties of the device with good repeatability at low cost. 
     One advantage of using two material with different durometers for the curved continuous concave channel and the bite partition may be such that, for example the channel are rigid enough to support the forces associated with retraction of the lips and yet flexible enough to be inserted into a multitude of various mouth sizes. The bite partition on the other hand may be softer so that it may provide more comfort for the patient when the patient bites down onto it, while supporting the jaw for at least the time needed to perform a procedure. The typical durometer range for the curved continuous concave channel may be, for example, from about 65 to about 95 Shore A hardness. The typical durometer range for the bite partition may be for example, from around 30 to about 65 Shore A hardness, but may also be as high as 90 Shore A hardness and still be comfortable. The device may be manufactured from various thermoplastics as well as thermosetting materials. Various polymers may be utilized to create the device and may include thermoplastic elastomers, Silicon, Polyolefins, Polycarbonate, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, High impact polystyrene, Polyamide, cyclic olefin copolymer, Polylactic acid, Polypropylene, Polyethylene, cellulosics, Thermoplastic vulcinates, Rubber, latex, polyoxymethylene, Polymethylmethacralate, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, Polyester or similar or combinations therefore. 
     The device may be re-usable or disposable. When selecting the material for the manufacturing of the device, a material that allows the device to be disposable may be selected to maintain efficacy in use. If the material is chosen for sterilization, then the material may include those able to withstand whatever sterilization processes the device will be subjected to without significant degradation of the material. 
     In yet another embodiment, an absorbing, UV protective cloth or bib may be permanently or temporary attached to the front side of the device. This may help to absorb any excess saliva that may exude from the patient&#39;s mouth during a dental process, and also may provide for a barrier from any unintended UV exposure. In the permanently attached bib version, a user may be deterred from attempting to reuse the device on another patient after re-sterilization. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a curved notch may be present at the top of the device on the front and/or the backside about the middle of the front and rear walls. The notch may provide a recess for the nose on the front side and also the (skin attachment) portion between the upper lip and the gums on the backside of the device at the top inside of the mouth. The notch may be of a shape designed to maximize comfort for the patient. 
     The cylindrical shape formation may be connected or attached to an aspirator, for aspirating a patient during a dental process, as noted above. The connection may be effected through pliable or flexible tubing that may be amenable for aspiring. 
     The tubing may be connected to a central remote vacuum pump. The operatory suction tubing may also employ a Y-shaped fitting so that multiple saliva aspirators may be simultaneously used during a patient&#39;s treatment if needed. The cylindrical formation may be formed of a harder material than the tubing section. The tubing section and the cylindrical formation may be structurally joined to form a single unit. 
     Other variations and equivalent structures of the present invention are also contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention and may be described herein and further discussed below in the Detailed Description section. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a rear isometric view of an embodiment of a retracting device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a front side isometric view of the retracting device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a bottom view of the retracting device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a rear isometric view of another embodiment of a retracting device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a front side view of the retracting device of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a bottom view of the retracting device of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows an exploded view of the retracting device of  FIG. 4  and a light guide; 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the retracting device of  FIG. 4  attached to a p system; 
         FIG. 9  shows a front view of a retracting device after insertion into a patient&#39;s mouth; 
         FIG. 10  shows a front isometric view of an embodiment of a retracting device having a bib attached over the top of the front of the retracting device; 
         FIG. 11  shows a front isometric view of an embodiment of a retractor device having a bib attached to the inside front wall of the curved continuous concave channel; 
         FIG. 12  shows an embodiment of a retracting device having an aspiring tube connected to an aspirator; 
         FIG. 13  shows a rear isometric view of an embodiment of a retracting device adapted for aspiration of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  shows a cross section of the aspiration block; 
         FIG. 15  shows a top view of the aspiration block; 
         FIG. 16  shows a rear isometric view of the retracting device during a two shot injection molding process; 
         FIG. 17  shows a front isometric view of an embodiment of a retracting device with bite block of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 18  shows a front and rear isometric view of a retracting device of the present invention; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently exemplified device provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be practiced or utilized. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and components may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the exemplified methods, devices and materials are now described. 
     While the present invention is open to various modifications and alternative constructions, the embodiments shown in the drawings will be described herein in detail. It is to be understood, however, there is no intention to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed. On the contrary, it is intended that the invention cover all modifications, equivalences and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. 
     The invention relates to a retraction device for retracting a patient&#39;s lips during a dental procedure to expose portions of the teeth and gums for treatment or viewing. In one embodiment, the device may be used during an in-office teeth whitening procedure, for example a Zoom®! teeth whitening and/or BriteSmile® teeth whitening procedure. 
     The device may be inserted into the patient&#39;s mouth typically by any dental professional, for example, an individual overseeing the whitening procedure, typically a dentist, dental hygienist, or assistant. Once the retracting device is in place, the hygienist may place saliva collection rolls and/or protective UV curable dental dam along the gums above the teeth to protect the gums, for example, from exposure during whitening. The dental dam may also provide protection for the gums from the activated peroxide gel and/or protection from any UV output of a lamp  400 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , to be described more fully below. 
     A rear view of an example of a retracting device  100  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The retracting device  100  includes a front wall  100   a  and a rear wall  100   b , enclosing a curved, continuous channel  108  adapted for receiving the lips of a patient when the device is placed into the mouth of a patient, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The front wall  100   a  has an inside surface  100   a   1  and an outside surface  100   a   2 . Likewise, the rear  100   b  wall each has an inside surface  100   b   1  and an outside surface  100   b   2 . The outside surfaces of both walls are the surfaces away from the channel  108 . In one embodiment, the walls  100   a  and  100   b  may be curve about the top  140  and side portions  101 , but substantially straight about the bottom portion  141 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the retracting device  100  of  FIG. 1 , viewing from the front side. As shown, the outside view of the concave channel  108  at the bottom portion  141  may be saddle-shape, as shown as  105 . Variations may be used as long as they conform substantially to the lips of a patient. This portion  105  may be opaque, to protect the patient&#39;s lips from unintended exposure of heat and/or UV light that a whitening lamp  400 , for example, may give off during a whitening procedure. Alignment formations, for example, tabs  104  may be present, positioned or attached to the outside surface  100   a   2  of the front wall  100   a  about the side portion  101  to allow the retracting device  100  to align with a light system, for example, the Zoom® lamp, shown as  400  in  FIG. 8 . 
     As discussed before, the alignment formations  104  may be of any shape, as long as they are adapted for matting, engaging or inter-engaging with a corresponding feature in a lamp system  400 . In one embodiment, this alignment formation  104  may include two symmetrical formations  104 , one on either side portion  101  of the device  100 . The formations  104  may be formed or present on the outside surface  100   a   2  of the front wall  100   a . In one aspect, the formations  104  may be in the form of protrusions  104 , protruding from the outer surface  100   a   2  of the front wall  100   a  of the side portion  101 . According to one embodiment, the protrusion  104  may be in the shape of a rectangular peg, as shown in  FIG. 2 , having a rectangular cross-section. According to another embodiment, the protrusion  104  may be in the shape of a square peg, not specifically shown. According to yet another embodiment, the protrusion  104  may be in the form of a circular peg, also not specifically shown. 
     In another embodiment, this alignment formation may be created by a continuous blade-like feature  204  that spans the entire front portion of the device  200 , from side to side, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a top view of alignment features  104  that align to the light guide  401 , as shown in an exploded view in  FIG. 7 . The lips reside in the continuous concave channel  108 . In one embodiment, region  107 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , or  207 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , of the retracting device  100  or  200 , is adapted for helping to block any unintended light from coming into the mouth and reaching the tongue and/or the back of the throat. In another embodiment, more portions of the retracting device may also be opaque. 
     A bite device  103 , having a suitable geometry may be attached to, positioned, extended from the outside surface  100   b   2  of the rear wall  100   b , as shown in  FIG. 1 , and may be, as noted above, used as a comfortable jaw rest or bite partition. In one aspect, a bite device  103  or  203  having a suitable geometry may be attached to, for example, the rear surface  100   b   2  of the rear wall  100   b  forming the continuous channel  108 , and may be, as noted above, used as a comfortable jaw rest or bite partition. 
     The bite partition  103  may allow for appropriate spacing between the upper and lower teeth, and may also allow for a comfortable rest for the jaw. Since the time for a procedure may typically be as long, for example, as much as sixty minutes or longer, the bite partition  103  may be manufactured from a soft or resilient material. In one embodiment, the bite partition  103  may be manufactured to be soft or resilient while the continuous channel  108  that retracts the upper and lower lips may be made to be stiffer, yet flexible. In another embodiment, both the bite partition  103  and the channel  108  may be of the same or similar softness. 
     The bite device  103  may be in the shape of an “M”, adapted for extending into the oral cavity during use. The side portions  101  may be flexible so that it may typically deformed or flexed towards the “M” shape section  103  from both sides to allow the device  100  to enter the oral cavity. Cutouts or depressions  102 , from  FIG. 1 , on the top surfaces of the walls  100   a  and  100   b  may be present to allow for clearance from the nose as well as clearance from the skin inside of the mouth that connects the lip to the gums. 
     The bite device  103  may allow for appropriate spacing between the upper and lower teeth, in addition to allow for a comfortable rest for the jaw, as noted above. 
     The bite device  103  may also have a tongue cup  120 . Tongue cup  120  serves to restrict the movement of the patient&#39;s tongue so it will not interfere during a dental procedure while maintaining patient comfort. In procedures where high intensity light is directed into a patient&#39;s oral cavity, such as a light assisted tooth whitening procedure, for example, ZOOM® or BriteSmile®, tongue cup  120  may serve an additional function. In such procedures, tongue cup  120  may serve to block some of the high intensity light direct into the oral cavity, thus protecting the soft tissue of the tongue from potentially hazardous high intensity light. 
     Since the time for a procedure may typically be as long, for example, as much as sixty minutes or longer, the bite partition  103  may be manufactured from a soft or resilient material. 
     In one embodiment, the bite partition  103  may be in the shape of a letter “M”, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The legs  110  of the “M” shape  103  may extend from or be attached to the outside surface  100   b   2  of the rear wall  100   b  of the continuous channel  108 , substantially symmetrically about the device  100  from side to side, one leg on each side. The backside of the bite partition  103  may extend into the oral cavity during use, while the front side may not completely enter into the oral cavity during use. The “M” shape  103  is shaped to allow for proper support of the upper and lower lips and also to allow for maximum access to the teeth during treatment. For example, the first molar or #3 to #14 teeth may be substantially exposed when the retracting device  100  is in use. 
     According to one embodiment, the “M” shape section  103  may be typically of a lower durometer than curved continuous concave channel  108  to allow for a comfortable surface for a patient to bite down for example, at position  110 , while the higher durometer of the channel  108  may have enough rigidity to retract the lips when in use. In this embodiment, the bite partition  103  may be manufactured to be soft or resilient while the continuous channel  108  that retracts the upper and lower lips may be made to be stiffer, yet flexible. In another embodiment, both the bite partition  103  and the channel  108  may be of the same or similar durometer or hardness. 
     In any of these embodiments, the “M” shape bite partition  103  may have attached to it or extends from it, a substantially cylindrical formation  106 , as discussed above, that may extend towards the front side of the partition  103 . The cylindrical formation  106  may extend from or be attached to the “M” shape  103  at the center or bottom  103   a  of the “M”. The formation  106  may be used with, for example, the BriteSmile® whitening system and thus may also act as an alignment feature  104  to the lamp  400 . 
     In another embodiment, the bite partition  203  may include a geometry similar in shape to that of a “Y” except the “Y” shape may have on each side, as shown in  FIG. 4 , an extension  210  that extends symmetrically and parallel to the upper and lower portions  240  and  241 , towards the cheeks when the device  200  is inserted into the oral cavity. 
     In still another embodiment, the bite partition  103  may have the “M” geometry without the legs  110  of the “M” being connected or attached to outside surface  100   b   2  of the side portion  101  of the rear wall  100   b  of the curved continuous concave channel  108 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In yet still another embodiment, the “Y” shape bite device  108  may be attached to or integral with an alignment center blade  204  that spans continuously across the outside surface  200   a   2  of the front side  200   a  of the device  200 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The attachment point may be to the front side  200   a  of the device  200 . This embodiment may also allow for added flexibility of the flange  209  so that the flange  209  may flex easily while being placed into the oral cavity while still maintains enough rigidity to retract the lips. In this embodiment, the cylindrical shape formation  206  may also be attached to or form part of the leg of the Y shape formation  203 . 
     In one embodiment, the device  100  or  200  may include a substantially cylindrical shape formation  106  or  206 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2   4  and  5 , having an appropriate diameter, useful for alignment and orientation to other whitening systems  400 , such as the BriteSmile® whitening system. 
     According to one embodiment, the cylindrical shape formation  106  or  206  may protrude from the main body of the bite partition  103 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     According to another embodiment, the cylindrical shape formation  106  may be connected to the alignment formation  204 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     According to yet another embodiment, the cylindrical shape formation  106  or  206  may be part of a bite device  103  or  203 , as noted above. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  again, the retracting device  200  with the “Y” shaped bite partition  203  may be placed into the mouth of a subject, as shown in  FIG. 9 , with the “Y” shape bite partition  203  extending into the mouth. The flexible member or flange  201  is typically deformed or flexed inwards towards the “Y” shape bite partition  203  from both sides to allow the device to enter the oral cavity. As noted above, indents or cutouts  202  may allow for clearance from the nose as well as clearance from the skin member inside of the mouth that connects the lip to the gums. The “Y” shape bite partition  203  is also typically of a lower durometer than curved continuous concave channel  208 , as noted above, to allow for a comfortable surface for a patient to bite down for example, at position  210 , while the higher durometer of the channel  208  may have enough rigidity to retract the lips when in use. In this embodiment, the bite partition  203  may be manufactured to be soft or resilient while the continuous channel  208  that retracts the upper and lower lips may be made to be stiffer, yet flexible. In another embodiment, both the bite partition  203  and the channel  208  may be of the same or similar durometer or hardness. 
     For the bite partitions or devices  103  or  203  that may or may not be attached to, or extended from, the outside surface  100   b   1  of the rear wall  100   b , a member  111 , or  211 , as shown in  FIG. 3  or  6 , may connect or attach the bite partition  103  or  203  to an alignment feature  106  or  206  of  FIGS. 3 and 6 . 
     Similar to  FIG. 2 , the front side of the retracting device  200  of  FIG. 5 , is also shown to be continuous at surface  205 . This surface  205  may again be opaque to protect the patient&#39;s lips from unintended exposure from heat and UV light that the whitening lamp may give off during the whitening procedure. In  FIG. 5 , an alignment feature  204  is shown as an alignment wing or blade  204 , that can align the retracting device  200  with a light guide  401 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , when the retracting device  200  is used with a lamp system  400 , for example, the Zoom®! lamp as seen if  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a top view of alignment features  204  that align to the light guide  401  shown in  FIG. 7 . Region  205  is the front surface of the device  200  and region  209  is the backside surface of the device  200 . The lips may reside in the continuous concave channel  208  during use. Region  207  may be used to help block any unintended light from coming into the mouth and reaching the tongue and/or the back of the throat. A member  211  connects the bite partition  203  to the alignment feature  206 , and the bite partition  203  is not otherwise connected to the main body of the retracting device  200 . 
     As noted above,  FIG. 7  shows an exploded view of a retracting device  200  in connection with a light guide  401  through the matting of the formation, for example, alignment feature  204 , on the retracing device, and the formations, for example, slots  403  on the light guide  401 . Details of the light guide may be found in U.S. application Ser. Nos. 11/173,839 and 11/173,734, the contents of all are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of a retracting device  100 , as noted above. The lamp system  400 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , mates with alignment formation  104 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of a retracting device  200  attached to a lamp system  400  having a light guide  401  interposed between the lamp and the retracting device  200 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a front isometric view of a retracting device  200  having a bib  500 . The bib  500  may come in various shapes and sizes without going beyond the scope of the invention. The bib  500  may be used during whitening or other dental procedures to protect portions of the face, for example, the extremities of the face, from any unintended heat or light and may also be adapted for absorbing any excess saliva that may exude from the patient&#39;s mouth during the procedure. In one embodiment, the bib  500  may be formed as part of the retracting device  200 . In another embodiment, the bib  500  may be held in place by the alignment device  204 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . In yet another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 11  which depicts a front isometric view of a retracting  100  with bib  500  actually placed or attached to the inside of continuous concave channel  108 . One advantage of this orientation of the bib  500  would be that it may not be necessary to physically attach bib  500  to the retracting device  100 , rather it could be stretched or assembled over continuous concave channels  108  or  208  in order to mechanically hold it in the correct orientation. 
       FIG. 12  shows another embodiment of this invention in which the retractor  300  is adapted for aspiration of fluids from the patient&#39;s oral cavity. In this embodiment, retractor  300  is connected to a vacuum  7000  by vacuum tubing  6000 . The vacuum  7000  is connected to the reservoir  8000  by the reservoir tubing  10000 . The vacuum  7000  is a source of suction force which sucks saliva from the patient&#39;s oral cavity through the retractor  300  through the vacuum tubing  6000  and then the reservoir tubing  10000  for deposition into the reservoir  8000 . Other embodiments of this invention will have an integrated vacuum  7000  and reservoir  8000  so that reservoir tubing  10000  will not be needed. 
       FIGS. 13 to 15  and  17  provide details on adapting the retractor for aspiration. 
       FIG. 13  is a rear isometric view of a retractor  300  adapted for aspiration. The retractor adapted for aspiration  300  has a bite block  307 . Connected to bite block  307  is aspiration block  303 . Located on aspiration block  303  is aspiration inlet  305 . In some embodiments, aspiration block  303  can also act as a light block. Such a light block has utility in dental procedures involving shining intense light into the oral cavity, such as the ZOOM® and BriteSmile® teeth whitening procedure. By acting as a light block, aspiration block  303 , limits exposure of the tongue&#39;s soft tissue to intense light. 
     The aspiration block  303  as shown is  FIG. 13  is adapted to provide aspiration of fluids from a patient&#39;s tongue. However, other areas of the patient&#39;s oral cavity can be aspirated by this invention depending on the location of the aspiration block  303  on bite block  207  relative to the patient&#39;s oral cavity. 
       FIG. 14  is a cross section view of aspiration block  303 . Inside of aspiration block  303  is aspiration inlet  305 . Vacuum tubing  6000  connects to cylindrical formation  350 , which is connected to aspiration inlet  305 . Saliva travels from the patient&#39;s oral cavity through aspiration inlet  305 . From the aspiration inlet  305 , the saliva travels through the vacuum tubing  6000 . 
       FIG. 15  is an elevated view of the area of the aspiration block  303  where the aspiration inlet  305  is located. Aspiration hole  302  is located at the end of aspiration inlet  305  and is where the fluids passes into the aspiration inlet  305 . Suction area  308  is the area immediately below the aspiration hole  302  that is aspirated by the suction force generated by the vacuum  7000 .  FIG. 17  is another rear isometric view of retractor  300  adapted for aspiration and shows the side opposite of what is shown in  FIG. 15 . Center block  304  contains the aspiration inlet  305  and is closed at the end opposite of the aspiration hole  302 . 
     As discussed above, this particular embodiment is for the aspiration of fluids on a patient&#39;s tongue. As such, aspiration block  303  rests on the patient&#39;s tongue and fluids are sucked through aspiration hole  302 . Aspiration block  303  has a series of walls to maintain rigidity of the aspiration block  303 , but also serves to limit the area in which the fluids are aspirated. Through hole  301  extends from suction area  308  and is a means to extend the area by which the suction force acts on by permitting aspiration of areas outside of the suction area  308 . Depending on the area of the oral cavity to be aspirated and the location of the aspiration block relative to the oral cavity, there are other means to expand the area of aspiration. 
     The preferred method of manufacturing the retractor of this invention is through a two-shot injection molding process. Two shot injection molding may have the ability to produce complex structures, using one or two different polymers at the same time during one machine cycle. This has the benefit of creating unique structural moldings with one or more colors, durometer, and/or material property. The bond between the two materials if dissimilar may be mechanical, or in other cases, may be chemical, depending on the choice or combination of materials. This manufacturing technique may produce optimized or desired mechanical properties of the device with good repeatability at low cost. 
       FIG. 16  is a rear isometric view of the retractor main body  350  during the two shot injection molding process. Retractor main body  350  is injection molded first. Tabs  309  and anchor  310  are molded as part of the retractor main body  350 . The bite block is injection molded second, onto retractor main body  350 . The tabs  309  and anchor  310  allows the bite block to be securely injection molded onto the retractor main body  350 . Tabs  309  and anchor  310  also allows for accurate placement of the bite block onto retractor main body  350 . 
     In one embodiment of the invention, both the retractor main body  350  and bite block are constructed of the same material. In another embodiment of the invention the retractor main body  350  is constructed of a different material than the bite block. The typical durometer range for the retractor main body may be, for example, from about 65 to about 95 Shore A hardness. The typical durometer range for the bite partition may be for example, from around 30 to about 65 Shore A hardness, but may also be as high as 90 Shore A hardness and still be comfortable. One advantage of using two material with different durometers for the retractor main body  350  and the bite block is that the retractor main body is rigid enough to support the forces associated with retraction of the lips and yet flexible enough to be inserted into a multitude of various mouth sizes. The bite partition on the other hand is softer so that it may provide more comfort for the patient when the patient bites down onto it, while supporting the jaw for at least the time needed to perform a procedure. 
     The device may be manufactured from various thermoplastics as well as thermosetting materials. Various polymers may be utilized to create the device and may include thermoplastic elastomers, Silicon, Polyolefins, Polycarbonate, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, High impact polystyrene, Polyamide, cyclic olefin copolymer, Polylactic acid, Polypropylene, Polyethylene, cellulosics, Thermoplastic vulcinates, Rubber, latex, polyoxymethylene, Polymethylmethacralate, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, Polyester or similar or combinations therefore. 
       FIG. 18  is a front and rear isometric view of a retractor  800 . In this embodiment of the present invention, retractor  800  does not have a bite block or formations. This embodiment of the invention would be for situations where the dental professional desires to have the patient&#39;s lips and cheeks retracted to be provided with a clearer view of the patient&#39;s oral cavity. 
     While exemplified embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the claims appended hereto.