Patent Publication Number: US-11040218-B2

Title: Oral treatment device, system and method

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Tooth whitening is an increasingly popular treatment and dentists and patients alike are searching for techniques that are both convenient and comfortable while also being effective. Typically, to whiten a user&#39;s teeth a composition containing hydrogen peroxide is applied to the teeth and allowed to remain in contact with the teeth to be bleached for a period of time. Current systems are available that allow a user to apply radiation or light to the surfaces of the teeth that are pre-coated with the whitening composition to enhance the effectiveness of the whitening composition. However, currently available systems are bulky and rigid and undesirable for one or more reasons. Specifically, current systems do not emit radiation or light onto the user&#39;s pre-coated teeth uniformly and in a manner that effectively covers the entire tooth surface. Thus, a need exists for a tooth whitening system that is able to effectively emit radiation or light onto a user&#39;s teeth. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present invention may be directed, in one aspect, to an oral treatment device that emits electromagnetic radiation onto surfaces of the user&#39;s teeth. In certain aspects, the electromagnetic radiation is emitted by an electromagnetic radiation source that is coupled to a lamp support structure of a mouthpiece. The electromagnetic radiation source may comprise a flexible circuit and a plurality of illumination elements located thereon. In some aspects, the electromagnetic radiation source may be a printed light emitting diode circuit. The oral treatment device may include a mouthpiece or other structure that supports the electromagnetic radiation source as well as a handle. The handle may contain additional electronic components such as a processor and a power source. 
     In one aspect, the invention may be an oral treatment device comprising: an intraoral mouthpiece having a dental arch midline plane and comprising: a lamp support structure comprising: a curved support plate; a first relief element formed in the curved support plate on a first side of the dental arch midline plane that increases flexibility of a first end portion of the curved support plate relative to a central portion of the curved support plate; and a second relief element formed in the curved support plate on a second side of the dental arch midline plane that increases flexibility of a second end portion of the curved support plate relative to the central portion of the curved support plate; and a lamp mounted to the lamp support structure and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation onto oral surfaces when the intraoral mouthpiece is positioned within a mouth of a user and activated. 
     In another aspect, the invention may be an oral treatment device comprising: a control circuit that comprises, in operable coupling, a power source, a first compressible electrical contact having a first electrical charge, and a second compressible electrical contact having a second electrical charge that is opposite the first electrical charge; an intraoral mouthpiece comprising: a lamp comprising a flexible sheet body having first and second electrical contacts on a rear surface of the flexible sheet body, the lamp configured to generate and emit electromagnetic radiation from a front surface of the lamp; and wherein the lamp is mounted within the oral treatment device so that the first and second electrical contacts of the lamp are aligned and pressed into contact with the first and second compressible electrical contacts of the control circuit, respectively. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention may be an oral care treatment device comprising: an intraoral mouthpiece having a dental arch midline plane and comprising: a lamp support structure comprising: a lamp support surface having a concave curvature; at least one upper overhang structure defining an upper slot having an open bottom between the upper overhang structure and the lamp support surface; at least one lower overhang structure defining a lower slot having an open top between the upper overhang structure and the lamp support surface; and a lamp comprising a flexible sheet body and configured to generate and emit electromagnetic radiation; and the lamp is mounted to the lamp support structure so that a top edge of the flexible sheet body nests within the upper slot and a bottom edge of the flexible sheet body nests within the lower slot, the flexible sheet body being maintained in a flexed state along the lamp support surface due, at least in part, to contact with the upper and lower overhang structures. 
     In still another aspect, the invention may be a method of forming an intraoral mouthpiece of an oral treatment system, the method comprising: a) providing a lamp support structure comprising: a lamp support surface having a concave curvature; at least one upper overhang structure defining an upper slot having an open bottom between the upper overhang structure and the lamp support surface; and at least one lower overhang structure defining a lower slot having an open top between the upper overhang structure and the lamp support surface; and b) mounting a lamp to the lamp support structure by inserting a top edge of a flexible sheet body of the lamp into the upper slot and a bottom edge of the flexible sheet body into the lower slot, the flexible sheet body being maintained in a flexed state along the lamp support surface due, at least in part, to contact with the upper and lower overhang structures. 
     In a further aspect, the invention may be an oral treatment device comprising: a control circuit that comprises, in operable coupling, a power source, a first electrical contact having a first electrical charge, and a second electrical contact having a second electrical charge that is opposite the first electrical charge; an intraoral mouthpiece having a dental arch midline plane and comprising: a lamp comprising a sheet body and a plurality of illumination zones, each of the illumination zones comprising a plurality of light emitters embedded within the sheet body and disposed within an electrically conductive ink, the plurality of illumination zones electrically isolated from one another; the lamp further comprising a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, each of the plurality of illumination zones in electrical coupling with the first and second electrical contacts of the lamp; and the first and second electrical contacts of the lamp electrically coupled to the first and second electrical contacts of the control circuit respectively so that each of the plurality of illumination zones receives power from the power source and emits electromagnetic radiation from a front surface of the flexible sheet body. 
     In a still further aspect, the invention may be an oral treatment system comprising: an oral treatment device comprising: a control circuit comprising a power source; an intraoral mouthpiece comprising: a lamp operably coupled to the power source, the lamp comprising a sheet body and a plurality of light emitters embedded within the sheet body, the sheet body comprising a lamp lens plate forming a front surface of the flexible sheet body, the lamp lens plate formed of a material having a first refractive index; and a cover lens plate overlying the front surface of the sheet body of the lamp and being adjacent the lamp lens plate so that a lamp-cover interface is formed between the lamp lens plate and the cover lens plate, the lamp lens plate being formed of a material having a second refractive index that is less that the first refractive index; and wherein upon the lamp being activated, light generated by the plurality of light emitters passes though the lamp lens plate and the cover lens plate prior to exiting the oral treatment device. 
     In another aspect, the invention may be a method of whitening facial surfaces of teeth comprising: a) applying a teeth whitening material having a third refractive index to at least one of the facial surfaces of the teeth or a front surface of a cover lens plate of an oral treatment device, the oral treatment device comprising: a lamp comprising one or more light emitters and a lamp lens plate, the lamp lens plate formed of a material having a first refractive index; and the cover lens plate overlying the lamp lens plate so that a lamp-cover interface is formed between the lamp lens plate and the cover lens plate, the lamp lens plate being formed of a material having a second refractive index that is less that the first refractive index; b) positioning the oral treatment device adjacent the facial surfaces of the teeth so that the teeth whitening material contacts the teeth and the front surface of the cover lens plate, the third refractive index being less than the second refractive index; and c) activating the lamp so that the one or more light emitters generate light that passes through the lamp lens plate, the cover lens plate, and the oral care material. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention may be an oral treatment device comprising: a control circuit that comprises, in operable coupling, a power source, a first electrical contact having a first electrical charge, and a second electrical contact having a second electrical charge that is opposite the first electrical charge; an intraoral mouthpiece comprising: a lamp comprising a flexible sheet body and a plurality of light emitters, the flexible sheet body having first and second electrical contacts on a rear surface of the flexible sheet body; a lamp support surface having a concave curvature, the lamp mounted to the lamp support surface; a curved cover lens plate overlying the lamp, the lamp positioned between the curved cover lens plate and the lamp support surface, the cover lens plate comprising one or more protuberances extending from a convex rear surface of the curved cover lens plate that are aligned with the first and second electrical contacts of the lamp and press the flexible sheet body of the lamp against the first and second electrical contacts. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is top front perspective view of an oral treatment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom rear perspective view of the oral treatment device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the oral treatment device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the oral treatment device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the oral treatment device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are perspective exploded views of the oral treatment device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a lamp support structure of the oral treatment device of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of the lamp support structure of  FIG. 7 , with an elastomeric material that fills in relief slots thereof being exploded away; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the lamp support structure of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9A  is the front view of the lamp support structure shown in  FIG. 9  with first and second end portions in a flexed state; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X of  FIG. 9   
         FIG. 11  is a close-up view of area XI-XI of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of a lamp of the oral treatment device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a rear perspective view of the lamp of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic front view of the lamp of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view illustrating the lamp adjacent to the lamp support structure in preparation for coupling those two components together; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view illustrating the lamp and the lamp support structure coupled together in an assembled state; 
         FIG. 17A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVIIA-XVIIA of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a front perspective view of a lens plate of the oral treatment device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a rear perspective view of the lens plate of  FIG. 18   
         FIG. 20  is a front perspective view illustrating the lens plate adjacent to the assembled lamp and lamp support structure in preparation for being coupled thereto; 
         FIG. 21  is a front perspective view illustrating the lens plate, the lamp, and the lamp support structure coupled together in an assembled state; 
         FIG. 21A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXIA-XXA of  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 21B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXIB-XXIB of  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 22  is a front perspective view of a guard component of the oral treatment device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 23  is a rear perspective view of the guard component of  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 23A  is a front view of the guard component if  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a cross-section taken along line XXIV-XXIV of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 25  is a cross-section taken along line XXV-XXV of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 26  is a cross-section taken along line XXVI-XXVI of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 27A  illustrates applying a teeth whitening material to facial surfaces of a set of teeth in accordance with one embodiment of a method of whitening facial surfaces of a user&#39;s teeth; 
         FIG. 27B  illustrates applying a teeth whitening material to the oral treatment device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with another method of whitening facial surfaces of a user&#39;s teeth; 
         FIG. 28  is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the oral treatment device of  FIG. 1  placed within a user&#39;s oral cavity with the teeth whitening material located between the teeth and the device; and 
         FIG. 29  is the schematic cross-sectional view of  FIG. 28  with the oral treatment device powered on and emitting electromagnetic radiation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles of the present invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are illustrated by reference to the exemplified embodiments. Accordingly, the invention expressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of the invention being defined by the claims appended hereto. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5  concurrently, an oral treatment device  1000  will be described in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. It is known in teeth whitening systems that a more effective whitening result can be achieved by applying a tooth whitening material to a user&#39;s teeth and then emitting light or electromagnetic radiation onto the teeth with the tooth whitening material pre-applied thereon in order to activate the tooth whitening material. Thus, the oral treatment device  1000  is one such device that is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation onto oral surfaces when the oral treatment device  1000 , or portions thereof, is positioned within a mouth of a user and activated. 
     The oral treatment device  1000  generally comprises an intraoral mouthpiece (hereinafter, “the mouthpiece”)  100  and a handle  300 . The mouthpiece  100  comprises a concave front surface  101  from which the electromagnetic radiation is emitted onto the user&#39;s teeth during use and a convex rear surface  102 . The handle  300  extends from the convex rear surface  102 . Thus, the handle  300  extends from the mouthpiece  100  in a direction generally opposite the direction in which electromagnetic radiation/light is emitted from the mouthpiece  100 . The handle  300  comprises a housing  301  that houses a control circuit  350  (see  FIGS. 6A and 6B ) of the oral treatment device  1000 . The control circuit  350  and its positioning inside the housing  301  of the handle  300  will be described in greater detail below. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the handle  300  comprises an actuator  305  (i.e., a power button) for activating the control circuit  350  for operation of the oral treatment device  100 . Specifically, actuation of the actuator  305  will power the oral treatment device  1000  on so that power is transmitted from a power source to an electromagnetic radiation source so that the electromagnetic radiation source can emit the electromagnetic radiation onto the user&#39;s teeth as described herein. The oral treatment device  100  may power off automatically after a predetermined period of time, and/or the oral treatment device  100  may power off upon a second actuation of the actuator  305 . In the exemplified embodiment, the actuator  305  is a depressible button, but the invention is not to be so limited and other types of actuators may be used. Specifically, the actuator  305  can be any type of device that upon actuation powers on and/or off one or more of the electrical components stored within the housing  301 . For example, the actuator  305  can be a slide switch, a touch pad, a knob, a capacitive sensor, or any other component that upon actuation causes the oral treatment device  1000  to function as described herein. The actuator  305  may be operably coupled to a processor so that upon depressing or otherwise actuating the actuator  305 , the processor initiates operation of the oral treatment device  1000  (i.e., powers on the electromagnetic radiation source) as described in more detail below. 
     The mouthpiece  100  (which, as discussed below, may be formed by a plurality of components) generally comprises an arch-shaped wall  103  from which the electromagnetic radiation (i.e., light) is emitted and a bite platform (or bite plate)  104  extending horizontally from the arch-shaped wall  103 . The arch-shaped wall  103  may have a curvature that generally corresponds to the arch of the human dentiture. The mouthpiece  100  is designed to emit electromagnetic radiation both above and below the bite platform  104 . Thus, the arch-shaped wall  103  forms a light emitting surface of the mouthpiece  100 . The mouthpiece  100  may include a plurality of illumination zones (described in more detail below) so that at least one of the illumination zones is located above the bite platform  104  and at least one of the illumination zones is located below the bite platform  104 . 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the arch-shaped wall  103  has a concave curvature and it is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation simultaneously onto the user&#39;s maxillary and mandibular teeth (and more specifically onto the facial surfaces of those teeth). Of course, in other embodiments the mouthpiece  100  may be modified so that it only emits electromagnetic radiation onto one of the user&#39;s maxillary or mandibular teeth at a time, but not both simultaneously. In the exemplified embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation is emitted by a lamp having a flexible sheet body, the details of which will be described in greater detail below with specific reference to  FIGS. 11-15 . In other embodiments, however, the light emitted by the mouthpiece  100  may be generated with other light sources that are either embedded in the arch-shaped wall  103  and/or transmitted to the light emitting surface of the mouthpiece  100  using light piping or other suitable techniques. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the light emitting surface of the mouthpiece  100  is designed to be positioned close to and optimally oriented relative to the user&#39;s maxillary and mandibular teeth when the oral treatment device  100  is being used. 
     The bite platform  104  comprises a horizontal portion  105  that extends horizontally from the arched wall  103  to a distal end  106  and a vertical portion  107  that extends both upwardly and downwardly from the horizontal portion  105  at the distal end  106 . Thus, a first channel  108  is formed by the arched wall  103  and the bite platform  104 , and specifically the horizontal portion  105  and the portion of the vertical portion  107  that extends upwardly from the horizontal portion  105 . Similarly, a second channel  109  is formed by the arched wall  103  and the bite platform  104 , and specifically the horizontal portion  105  and the portion of the vertical portion  107  that extends downwardly from the horizontal portion  105 . The first and second channels  108 ,  109  are configured to receive a user&#39;s upper (maxillary) and lower (mandibular) teeth, respectively, during a tooth whitening session. The first and second channels  108 ,  109  may also receive a tooth whitening or treatment material prior to inserting the mouthpiece  100  into a user&#39;s oral cavity. 
     The mouthpiece  100  comprises a dental arch midline plane A-A illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The dental arch midline plane A-A is a plane that is located centrally between the two side ends of the mouthpiece  100  that intersects the upper and lower ends of the mouthpiece  100  and is perpendicular to an arcuate axis upon which the arched wall  103  extends. The dental arch midline plane A-A will be referenced later for purposes of providing a reference location along the mouthpiece  100  and components thereof. 
     During use, the mouthpiece  100  is inserted into a user&#39;s mouth such that the bite platform  104  is trapped or sandwiched between the user&#39;s maxillary and mandibular teeth. When so positioned, the upper portion of the light emitting surface (which is formed by the arch-shaped wall  103  of the mouthpiece  100 ) that is adjacent to the facial surfaces of the user&#39;s maxillary teeth has a curvature such that the upper portion of the light emitting surface generally corresponds to at least the anterior portion of the arch of the maxillary teeth. Similarly, the lower portion of the light emitting surface (which is formed by the arch-shaped wall  103  of the mouthpiece  100 ) that is adjacent the facial surfaces of the user&#39;s mandibular teeth has a curvature such that the lower portion of the light emitting surface generally corresponds to at least the anterior portion of the arch of the mandibular teeth. 
     It should be noted, however, that in certain embodiments of the invention, the mouthpiece  100  may be designed such that the bite platform  104  is omitted. In one such embodiment, the upper and lower light emitting surfaces may be maintained as separate and distinct light emitting areas, each of which emits light only onto the facial surfaces of the maxillary teeth and the facial surfaces of the mandibular teeth, respectively. In another such embodiment, the upper and lower light emitting surfaces may be merged into a single light emitting area that emits light onto the facial surfaces of both the maxillary and mandibular teeth. In another embodiment, the bite platform  104  may be omitted and only a single light emitting surface may be provided that emits light only onto the facial surfaces of the maxillary teeth or only onto the facial surfaces of the mandibular teeth at any given time. In still another embodiment, the bite platform  104  can be included and only one of the upper or lower light emitting surfaces may be provided. 
     In certain embodiments, the mouthpiece  101  (including all of the components thereof that come into contact with the oral cavity) may be formed of a biocompatible material, such as a food grade polymer. Suitable biocompatible materials include, without limitation, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene (PE), silicone, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), and other plastics. Of course, the invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments and other materials are possible for construction of the mouthpiece  100 , and various components thereof. In certain embodiments, the mouthpiece  100 , or at least portions thereof, may be formed of an elastomeric material. The specific materials of some of the components of the mouthpiece  100  and the housing  300  will be described in greater detail below. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the components of the oral treatment device  1000  will be mentioned and briefly described, with a more detailed description of some of the components being provided in the figures and description that follow. The mouthpiece  100  of the oral treatment device  1000  generally comprises a lamp support structure  120 , a lamp  150 , a lens plate or cover lens plate  180 , and a guard component  210 . Also illustrated in these exploded views are the handle  300  and the control circuit  350  that is housed within the housing  301  of the handle  300 . When fully assembled, the lamp  150  is coupled to the lamp support structure  120  and then the lens plate  180  is coupled to the lamp support structure  120  thereby sandwiching the lamp  150  between the lamp support structure  120  and the lens plate  180 . The guard component  210  is then coupled to the lens plate  180 . In some embodiments, the guard component  210  may be formed of a resilient or elastomeric material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer. In such embodiments, the guard component  210  may be injection molded onto the lens plate  180  after the lens plate  180  is coupled to the lamp support structure  120  as described herein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A, 6B, 24, and 26  concurrently, the housing  301  and the components housed therein will be briefly described. As can be seen in these figures, a first portion  302  of the housing  301  is integrally formed with the lamp support structure  120  as a monolithic structure and a second portion  303  of the housing  301  is integrally formed with the handle  300 . The handle  300  is coupled to the lamp support structure  120  by coupling the first and second portions  302 ,  303  of the housing together, which forms the fully enclosed housing  301 , whereby portions of the housing  301  are formed by each of the handle  300  and the lamp support structure  120 . The handle  300  also comprises an end cap  304  that is separate from and coupled to the second portion  303  of the housing  301 . 
     As mentioned above, the housing  301  contains a control circuit  350 . The control circuit  350  comprises a control unit  370  and an actuation unit  380 . The control unit  370  and the actuation unit  380  are separate components, but when the oral treatment device  1000  is assembled they are operably coupled together. The actuation unit  380  operates in conjunction with the actuator  305  to power the oral treatment device  1000  on and off. Furthermore, the actuation unit  380  comprises a front wall  381  with depressions  382 ,  383  therein, the depressions  382 ,  383  each having a floor  384 . As best shown in  FIG. 24  and described in more detail below, when the oral treatment device  1000  is assembled, the front wall  381  of the actuation unit  380  forms a portion of a lamp support surface to which the lamp  150  is coupled. Specifically, the lamp support structure  120  and the front wall  381  of the actuation unit  380  collectively form the lamp support surface. 
     The control unit  370  generally comprises, among other components, a properly programmed processor, a memory device, a power source  360 , and a timer that are operably coupled together. The control unit  370  is also operably coupled to the actuation unit  380  and specifically to the actuator  305 . The control circuit  350  also comprises a first compressible electrical contact  351  and a second compressible electrical contact  352 , each of which is operably coupled to the power source  360 . The first compressible electrical contact  351  has a first electrical charge and the second compressible electrical contact  352  has a second electrical charge, the first and second electrical charges being opposite to one another. Thus, if the first electrical charge is positive, then the second electrical charge is negative, and vice versa. 
     The control circuit  350 , in turn, is operably and electrically coupled to the lamp  150  so that the control circuit  350  can control the operation thereof. More specifically, and as described in much more detail below, the lamp  150  comprises electrical contacts that contact the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  of the control circuit  350  to transmit power from the power source  360  to the lamp  150  so that light or other electromagnetic radiation may be generated by the lamp and emitted from the oral treatment device  1000 . 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the first and second electrical contacts  351 ,  352  are indicated as being compressible. This means that the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  may compress when a force is applied thereto. In some embodiments, the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  comprise a body formed of a compressible material and an electrically conductive layer on the compressible material. In certain embodiments, the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  may be formed from an electrically conductive mesh that is filled with a compressible material. The compressible material may in some embodiments be foam, although other materials are possible so long as it permits compression of the electrical contacts  351 ,  352 , which as will be discussed further below increases the physical contact between the first and second electrical contacts  351 ,  352  and electrical contacts on the lamp  150 . In some embodiments, the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  are resilient such that they can be compressed or otherwise deformed in response to a force being applied therein. The first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  should have an electrically conductive material (e.g., the electrically conductive mesh) on their exterior for facilitating the electrical coupling with the lamp  150  and the power source  360 . The electrically conductive mesh may be a metal (e.g., such as silver, copper, aluminum, iron, steel, brass, or the like) or other electrically conductive material as may be desired. In some embodiments, the electrically conductive mesh may be woven like a tube with the foam acting as a compressible material residing inside of the tube-like electrically conductive mesh. 
     Of course, the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  need not be compressible in all embodiments. Rather, the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  could instead be traditional electrical contacts that are formed from an electrically conductive material (i.e., metal such as silver, copper, aluminum, iron, steel, brass, or the like) but that are not compressible. The compressible feature of the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  increases the electrical coupling between the electrical contacts of the lamp  150  and the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352 , but is not required in all embodiments. 
     When the device is assembled as shown in  FIG. 24 , the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  nest within the depression  382  of the front wall  381  of the actuation unit  380  of the control circuit  350 . However, the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  protrude slightly from the front wall  381 . As a result, when the lamp  150  is coupled to the lamp support structure  120 , electrical contacts of the lamp  150  (described below) contact and compress the compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  thereby electrically coupling the lamp  150  to the compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352 . This will be described in greater detail below with reference to  FIG. 21B . 
     The properly programmed processor may be any suitable microprocessor based programmable logic controller, personal computer, or the like that has memory for storing various instructions to control the operation of the lamp  150 . The processor is programmed with algorithms to receive data from the various other electrical components and sensors, analyze the data, and cause the electrical components to operate in a desired or predetermined manner based on instructions that are stored in the memory device or an integrated memory area of the processor. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the power source  360  is operably and electrically coupled to the processor and to the lamp  150  so that electrical energy can be provided thereto for powering the same. The power source  360  may be one or more batteries, battery cells, printed batteries, rechargeable batteries, super capacitors, or a control circuit that stores electrical energy. Alternatively, in certain embodiments the power source  360  may be omitted and instead the electronic components of the oral treatment device  1000  may be powered by a plug that is coupled to a power supply, such as a wall socket. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , the lamp support structure  120  will be further described. The lamp support structure  120  comprises a curved support plate  121  and the first portion  302  of the housing  300 . The curved support plate  121  comprises a concave front surface  110  and a convex rear surface  111 . The concave front surface  110  of the lamp support structure  120  forms at least a portion of a lamp support surface  122  (the rest of the lamp support surface  122  being formed by the front wall  381  of the actuation unit  380  as mentioned above). The lamp support structure  120  comprises an opening  123  formed into the lamp support surface  122  that extends all the way through to the back end of the first portion  302  of the housing  300 . In the assembled oral treatment device  1000 , portions of the control circuit  350  extend through the first portion  302  of the housing  300  and into the opening  123  in the lamp support surface  122 . Specifically, as best seen in  FIGS. 16 and 24 , the actuation unit  380  is positioned so that the front wall  381  and the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  extend into the opening  123 . Thus, in the fully assembled oral treatment device  1000 , the lamp support surface  122  is formed partially by the lamp support structure  120  and partially by the front wall  381  and the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  of the actuation unit  380 . This will be described in greater detail below with reference to  FIG. 16 . 
     The lamp support structure  120  extends along an arcuate longitudinal axis B-B that extends from a first distal side edge  125   a  of the curved support plate  121  to a second distal side edge  126   a  of the curved support plate  121 . The curved support plate  121  comprises a central portion  124 , a first end portion  125  extending from the central portion  124  to the first distal side edge  125   a , and a second end portion  126  extending from the central portion  124  to the second distal side edge  126   a . Furthermore, the curved support plate  121  comprises a first relief element  127  located on a first side of the dental arch midline plane A-A and a second relief element  128  located on a second side of the dental arch midline plane A-A. The first relief element  127  is located within the first end portion  125  of the curved support plate  121  and the second relief element  128  is located within the second end portion  126  of the curved support plate  121 . 
     The first relief element  127  increases flexibility of the first end portion  125  of the curved support plate  121  relative to the central portion  124  and the second relief element  128  increases flexibility of the second end portion  126  of the curved support plate  121  relative to the central portion  124 . Specifically, referring to  FIGS. 9 and 9A , the flexibility of the curved support plate  121  is illustrated. In  FIG. 9A , the first and second end portions  125 ,  126  of the curved support plate  121  are being flexed relative to the central portion  124  of the curved support plate  121 . This flexing is achieved by applying a force onto the first and second distal side edges  125   a ,  125   b  of the curved support plate  121 . The first and second relief elements  127 ,  128  facilitate this flexing capability of the curved support plate  121 . 
     The curved support plate  121  is generally formed of a rigid material, such as a hard plastic. Thus, without the first and second relief elements  127 ,  128 , the curved support plate  121  would only be able to be flexed very minimally, if at all. However, in some embodiments the mouthpiece  100  is not custom made, but rather the same size and shape device is intended to be used by different people having different mouth sizes and shapes. For example, the mouthpiece  100  may come in a few different sizes (e.g., small, medium, large). However, people have more than three different mouth sizes, so such standard sizing is not always optimal. By including the first and second relief elements  127 ,  128 , the curved support plate  121  is able to flex so that the mouthpiece  100  can fit into mouths of different size. Specifically, if a person with a smaller mouth were to insert the mouthpiece into his/her mouth, both of the first and second end portions  125 ,  126  of the curved support plate  121  would flex relative to the central portion  124  of the curved support plate  121  to facilitate insertion into the smaller mouth. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the first relief element  127  is a first elongated aperture  129  and the second relief element  128  is a second elongated aperture  130  (best shown in  FIG. 8 ) formed through the curved support plate  121 . Each of the first and second elongated apertures  129 ,  130  is a closed-geometry aperture defined entirely by the curved support plate  121 . Furthermore, in the exemplified embodiment, each of the first and second elongated apertures  129 ,  130  is arcuate in shape. Thus, in the exemplified embodiment, the first elongated aperture  129  is defined, at least in part, by a first convex edge  131  of the central portion  124  of the curved support plate  121  and a first concave edge  132  of the first end portion  125  of the curved support plate  121 . Similarly, the second elongated aperture  130  is defined, at least in part, by a second convex edge  133  of the central portion  124  of the curved support plate  121  and a second concave edge  134  of the second end portion  126  of the curved support plate  121 . Of course, the invention is not to be limited by the exact shape of the elongated apertures  129 ,  130  in all embodiments and the first and second elongated apertures  129 ,  130  may take other shapes, such as rectangular, square, triangular, irregular, or the like, while still permitting and facilitating the desired flexing of the curved support plate  121  as described herein. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, each of the first and second elongated apertures  129 ,  130  is filled with an elastomeric material. Thus, the lamp support structure  120 , in its final assembled state, does not have openings in the curved support plate  121 . Rather, the openings that form the first and second elongated apertures  129 ,  130  are filled with an elastomeric material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer or the like. Thus, the first elongated aperture  129  may be filled with a first elastomeric component  135  and the second elongated aperture  130  may be filled with a second elastomeric component  136 . The first and second elastomeric components  135 ,  136  may be injection molded directly into the first and second elongated apertures  129 ,  130 , or they may be formed separately from the curved support plate  121  and coupled thereto using an interference fit or other mechanical means. 
     The curved support plate  121  is formed of a hard plastic material and the elastomeric material filler in the first and second elongated apertures  129 ,  130  is much more resilient and flexible than the hard plastic. Stated another way, the curved support plate  121  is formed of a first material having a first hardness and the first and second relief elements  127 ,  128  are sealed with a second material (i.e., the first and second elastomeric components  135 ,  136 , for example) having a second hardness which is less than the first hardness. Thus, even though the elongated apertures  129 ,  130  are filled, the relief elements  127 ,  128  are still capable of increasing the flexibility of the first and second end portions  125 ,  126  of the curved support plate  121  relative to the central portion  124  of the curved support plate  121 . 
     The first relief element  127  extends from a first point P 1  above the arcuate longitudinal axis B-B to a second point P 2  below the arcuate longitudinal axis B-B. Similarly, the second relief element  128  extends from a first point P 4  above the arcuate longitudinal axis B-B to a second point P 4  below the arcuate longitudinal axis B-B. Each of the first and second relief elements  127 ,  128  is symmetric about the arcuate longitudinal axis B-B of the lamp support structure  120 . Furthermore, the first and second relief elements  127  have lengths that extend for most of the height of the curved support plate  121 . This is needed to allow for the desired flexing of the curved support plate as described herein above. Thus, a first transverse distance TD 1  between the first and second points P 1 , P 2  of the first relief element  127  measured along a first transverse reference line TR 1  is at least a majority of a first transverse height TH 1  of the curved support plate  120  measured along the first transverse reference line TR 1  from a bottom edge  137  of the curved support plate  121  to a top edge  138  of the curved support plate  121 . Similarly, a second transverse distance TD 2  between the first and second points P 3 , P 4  of the second relief element  128  measured along a second transverse reference line TR 2  is at least a majority of a second transverse height TH 2  of the curved support plate  121  measured along the second transverse reference line TR 2  from the bottom edge  137  of the curved support plate  121  to the top edge  138  of the curved support plate  121 . In the exemplified embodiment, the first and second transverse distances TD 1 , TD 2  are at least 70%, or at least 75%, or at least 80%, or at least 85%, or at least 90%, or at least 95% of the first and second transverse heights TH 1 , TH 2  of the curved support plate  120 . Thus, only a small percentage of the curved support plate  121  is formed of the hard plastic in this region, the remainder being formed from a resilient material (or an opening), thereby enhancing the flexibility of the curved support plate  121  as described herein. 
     Moreover, the first elongated aperture  129  of the first relief element  127  extends along a first aperture axis AA 1 -AA 1  and the second elongated aperture  130  of the second relief element  128  extends along a second aperture axis AA 2 -AA 2 . The first elongated aperture  129  has a first aperture width W 1  measured in a direction transverse to the first aperture axis AA 1 -AA 1 . The first aperture width W 1  decreases with distance from the arcuate longitudinal axis B-B of the lamp support structure  120  in both directions towards the first point P 1  and towards the second point P 2 . The second elongated aperture  130  has a second aperture width W 2  measured in a direction transverse to the second aperture axis AA 2 -AA 2 . The second aperture width W 2  decreases with distance from the arcuate longitudinal axis B-B of the lamp support structure  120  in both directions towards the first point P 3  and towards the second point P 4 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , the lamp support structure  120 , and more specifically the curved support plate  121  thereof, comprises a perimetric lamp retaining wall  139  protruding from and surrounding the lamp support surface  122 . The perimetric lamp retaining wall  139  comprises a first side lamp retaining wall  139   a , a second side lamp retaining wall  139   b , an upper lamp retaining wall  139   c , and a lower lamp retaining wall  139   d . The first and second side lamp retaining walls  139   a ,  139   b  and the upper and lower lamp retaining walls  139   c ,  139   d  collectively define the perimetric lamp retaining wall  139 , which is a closed geometric wall. The perimetric lamp retaining wall  139  extends upwardly away from the lamp support surface  122  such that the lamp support surface  122  is recessed relative to an outermost surface of the curved support plate  121  of the lamp support structure  120 . When the lamp  150  is coupled to the lamp support structure  120 , the lamp  150  is located entirely within the lamp support surface  122 . Thus, the lamp  150 , when so positioned, is surrounded by the perimetric lamp retaining wall  139 . The perimetric lamp retaining wall  139  assists in maintaining the lamp  150  within the lamp support surface  122  of the lamp support structure  120 . 
     The lamp support structure  129  further comprises a first connection element  140  protruding from the first distal side edge  125   a  of the curved support plate  121  and a second connection element  141  protruding from the second distal side edge  126   a  of the curved support plate  121 . In the exemplified embodiment, each of the first and second connection elements  140 ,  141  of the lamp support structure  129  comprises two legs that protrude from the first and second distal side edges  125   a ,  126   a , respectively, in a spaced apart manner. Thus, there is a gap between the two legs of each of the first and second connection elements  140 ,  141 . The first and second connection elements  140 ,  141  are configured to interact and mate with connection elements on the lens plate  180 , as discussed more fully below with reference to  FIGS. 20 and 21 , to couple the lens plate  180  to the lamp support structure  129 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 9-11 , the lamp support structure  120  further comprises at least one upper overhang structure  142  and at least one lower overhang structure  143 . There is exactly one of the upper overhang structures  142  and one of the lower overhang structures  143  in the exemplified embodiment. However, in alternative embodiments more than one of one or both of the upper and lower overhang structures  142 ,  143  could be included on the lamp support structure  120 . As seen in  FIG. 9 , in the exemplified embodiment each of the upper and lower overhang structures  142 ,  143  are located on the dental arch midline plane A-A. However, this is not required in all embodiments and the upper and lower overhang structures  142 ,  143  could be located at other positions in other embodiments. However, centering the upper and lower overhang structures  142 ,  143  along the lamp support surface  122  assists in retaining the lamp  150  thereon and maintaining the lamp  150  in its flexed and curved shape, as will be discussed in more detail below. 
     The upper overhang structure  142  protrudes from and extends downwardly from the upper lamp retaining wall  139   c  at a distal end of the upper lamp retaining wall  139   c . Thus, the upper overhang structure  142  is spaced apart from the lamp support surface  122 . As a result, the upper overhang structure  142  defines an upper slot  144  having an open bottom  146 , the upper slot  144  being defined between the upper overhang structure  142  and the lamp support surface  122 . The lower overhang structure  143  protrudes from and extends upwardly from the lower lamp retaining wall  139   d  at a distal end of the lower lamp retaining wall  139   d . Thus, the lower overhang structure  143  is spaced apart from the lamp support surface  122 . As a result, the lower overhang structure  143  defines a lower slot  145  having an open top  147 , the lower slot  145  being defined between the lower overhang structure  143  and the lamp support surface  122 . 
     Thus, the lamp  150  can be inserted into the upper slot  144  through the open bottom  146  thereof and into the lower slot  145  through the open top  147  thereof. Once in the upper and lower slots  144 ,  145 , the upper and lower overhang structures  142 ,  143  serve to hold the lamp  150  in place. Thus, the upper and lower overhang structures  142 ,  143  form a single point contact that holds the lamp in place  150 . The curvature of the lamp  150  biases the lamp  150  against the end points and the lamp  150  snaps into place during assembly. The interaction between the lamp  150  and the lamp support structure  120  will be described in greater detail below with reference to  FIGS. 16, 17, and 17A . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12-15 , the lamp  150  will be described. In the exemplified embodiment, the lamp  150  is a singular structure that, when the oral treatment device  1000  is assembled, is located along the lamp support surface  122  of the lamp support structure  120 . The lamp  150  comprises a flexible sheet body  151 , which is an elongated sheet that is sufficiently flexible such that it can be bent from a planar state into a contoured shape having a curvature that generally corresponds to the arch of a user&#39;s dentiture. In one embodiment, the flexible sheet body  151  is in a planar state when no bending force is applied thereto. In another embodiment, the flexible sheet body  151  is flat when no bending force is applied thereto, but the flexible sheet body  151  can be bent into the desired curvature such as for example to match the curvature of the lamp support surface  122 . 
     The flexible sheet body  151  of the lamp  150  generally comprises a front surface  152  and a rear surface  153 . The lamp  150  also comprises a plurality of light emitters  154  embedded within the flexible sheet body  151  that generate light which is emitted from the front surface  152  of the flexible sheet body  151 . In one embodiment, the light emitted by the plurality of light emitters  154  has a wavelength in a range of 375 nm to 520 nm. In another embodiment, the light emitted by the plurality of light emitters  154  has a wavelength in a range of 400 nm to 430 nm. In a further embodiment, the light emitted by the plurality of light emitters  154  has a wavelength in a range of 400 nm to 420 nm, and in still another embodiment the wavelength is in a range of 405 nm to 415 nm. The wavelength of light emitted by the light emitters  154  is generally known to be effective to whiten teeth. 
     The flexible sheet body  151  of the lamp  150  comprises an upper edge  155 , a lower edge  156 , a first side edge  157 , and a second side edge  158 . The flexible sheet body  151  comprises a length measured from the first side edge  157  to the second side edge  158  and a width measured from the upper edge  155  to the lower edge  156 . The length may be in a range of 55-70 mm, more specifically 60-65 mm, and still more specifically 62-63 mm. The width may be in a range of 15-30 mm, more specifically 20-25 mm, and still more specifically 22-23 mm. In the exemplified embodiment, the flexible sheet body  151  is a laminate structure that generally comprises a flexible lens plate  159 , a flexible reflective substrate  160 , first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162 , an upper bus bar  171 , and a lower bus bar  172 . The plurality of light emitters  154  are disposed between the flexible lens plate  159  and the flexible reflective substrate  160 . The upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  and portions of the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  may also be located between the flexible lens plate  159  and the flexible reflective substrate  160 . In some embodiments, when assembled, the flexible reflective substrate  160  is adjacent to the lamp support surface  122  and the light is emitted from the flexible lens plate  159  side of the flexible sheet body  151 . 
     In one embodiment, the flexible lens plate  159  of the flexible sheet body  151  has a front surface  163  and a rear surface  164 . The front surface  163  of the flexible lens plate  159  forms the front surface  153  of the flexible sheet body  151 . The flexible lens plate  159  may be formed of a transparent biocompatible material, such as transparent PET. The plurality of light emitters  154 , in one embodiment, are light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) printed to the rear surface  164  of the flexible lens plate  159  of the flexible sheet body  151 . In one such embodiment, the LEDs may be printed to the rear surface  164  with an electrically conductive ink  165 . 
     Printed LEDs may be formed by depositing micro LED chips via a conductive ink formulation that can be printed in any shape to best conform to the teeth and jaw structure, which is ideal for optimized efficacy. Specifically, gallium nitride may be used to form the LEDs in some embodiments, which may then be mixed with resin and binders to form an ink, and a standard screen printer may be used to deposit the resulting ink over a desired surface. The electrically conductive ink  165  may include electrically conductive materials, such as by infusing graphite or other conductive materials into the ink. Although described herein as being printed LEDs, the plurality of light emitters  154  may, in certain embodiments, be any type of light source, particularly solid state light sources, which may include LEDs, OLEDs, HBLEDs, electroluminescent elements, or the like. In certain other embodiments, the plurality of light emitters  154  can be printed inorganic LEDs, micro conventional LEDs that are surface mounted to a flexible substrate/circuit, organic LEDs (OLEDs), or electroluminescence. In still other embodiments, the plurality of light emitters  154  can be any of the LEDs noted herein mounted to a rigid rather than a flexible substrate. In the exemplified embodiment, after the LEDs are printed onto the rear surface  164  of the flexible lens plate  159  and the conductive ink  165  is printed, a dielectric material  179  may be provided to insulate different regions/illumination zones of the lamp  150  from one another, as described in more detail below. 
     The lamp  150  may operate with a driving current that is less than or equal to 130 mA, although in some embodiments it may be between 75 mA and 105 mA. The lamp  150  may have an emittance at 90 mA that is greater than 9.2 mW/cm2. The lamp  150  may be divided into a plurality of distinct regions of equal surface area. Regardless of the breakdown of the regions, the lamp  150  may have a uniformity that is greater than 75% among the distinct regions. The lamp  150  may have a surface operating temperature that is below 48° C. when driven in accordance with the parameters set forth herein for a time period of 10 minutes. 
     After the LEDs are printed and the dielectric material  179  is added, the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  and the upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  may be added, by printing or in any other manner (such as placing an electrically conductive material onto the conductive ink  165  or near it and then electrically coupling it to the conductive ink  165 . The first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  and the upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  may be placed or otherwise provided onto the exposed side of the electrically conductive ink  165  and dielectric  179  that is opposite the rear surface  164  of the flexible lamp lens  159 . Next, electrical contacts (e.g., the diodes depicted in  FIG. 15 ) may be added between the upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  and the illumination zones and between the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  and the illumination zones, as will be described in more detail below, in order to electrically couple the upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  and the electrical contacts  161 ,  162  to the illumination zones of the lamp  150 . 
     Finally, the reflective layer  160 , which is not conductive and may be considered an insulating layer, is positioned so as to completely cover the conductive ink  165 , the dielectric  179 , and the upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172 . Although in the exemplified embodiment the reflective layer  160  covers the upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  completely, in other embodiments at least portions of the upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  may remain exposed. The reflective layer  160  may also cover a portion of the first and second electrodes  161 ,  162  as shown, although a portion of the first and second electrodes  161 ,  162  must be left exposed so that they can make contact with, and therefore be electrically coupled to, the first and second compressible electrodes  351 ,  352  of the control circuit  350 . Thus, a percentage (i.e., 50%, 60%, 75%) of the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  may be covered by the reflective layer  160  while the rest of the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  remains exposed. The exposed portions of the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  that will be aligned with the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  in the assembled oral treatment device  1000  should be exposed. 
     Thus, portions of the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  are exposed on the rear surface  153  of the flexible sheet body  151 . The first electrical contact  161  has a first contact surface  165  and the second electrical contact  162  has a second contact surface  166 . The first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  are spaced apart from one another. One of the first and second electrical contacts  161  operates as a positive electrical contact and the other of the first and second electrical contacts  162  operates as a negative electrical contact. Thus, the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  must not be in contact with one another to avoid shorting the circuit. 
     As illustrated, each of the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  is in the form of an elongated strip that extends approximately one-half of the length of the lamp  150 . In the exemplified embodiment, the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  are located equidistant from the upper and lower edges  155 ,  156  of the flexible sheet body  151 . In some embodiments, the first electrical contact  161  may be a first bus bar and the second electrical contact  162  may be a second bus bar. The first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  are spaced apart from one another along a midline of the flexible sheet body  151 , perhaps as best shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     In one embodiment, the lamp  150  has an illumination area (i.e., area of the front surface  152  that comprises the plurality of light emitters  154 ) that is in a range of 10 cm 2  to 20 cm 2 , more preferably in a range of 12 cm 2  to 16 cm 2 , and most preferably in a range of 14 cm 2  to 15 cm 2 . The height of illumination area may be in a range of 1 cm to 3 cm, and more preferably 2 cm to 3 cm, with 2.25 cm being most preferred. The length of illumination area may be in a range of 4 cm to 8 cm, more preferably in a range of 5 cm to 7 cm, and most preferably in a range of 6 cm to 6.5 cm. Of course, dimensions outside of these ranges are certainly possible. However, these ranges have been selected to optimize the side of the lamp  150  for different users having different sized oral cavities and mouths while ensuring that the mouthpiece  100  remains comfortable for all users for the desired treatment time. 
     The lamp  150  extends along a lamp longitudinal axis C-C from a first lamp side edge  151   a  of the flexible sheet body  151  to a second lamp side edge  151   b  of the flexible sheet body  151 . In the exemplified embodiment, the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  are located on the lamp longitudinal axis C-C, although this is not necessarily required in all embodiments. Thus, the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  may be located at other positions along the rear surface  153  of the flexible sheet body  151  so long as they are positioned so as to come into electrical contact with the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  of the control circuit  350  when the oral treatment device  1000  is assembled. The lamp  150  also comprises a plurality of illumination zones that are electrically isolated from one another. However, each of the plurality of illumination zones is in electrical coupling with one of the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  of the lamp  150  and one of the upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  that electrically couples at least two of the illumination zones together, which enables each of the illumination zones to receive power from the power source and to emit electromagnetic radiation from the front surface  152  of the flexible sheet body  151 . The flow of current through the illumination zones will be described in greater detail below. 
     The plurality of illumination zones comprise a first upper illumination zone  167 , a second upper illumination zone  168 , a first lower illumination zone  169 , and a second lower illumination zone  170 . Although shown in  FIG. 12 , in actuality the various zones  167 - 170  will not be visible on the exterior of the lamp  150 . Rather, the exterior of the lamp  150  will have a very plain, unassuming appearance. The demarcation of the various zones  167 - 170  takes place internally within the flexible sheet body  151 , as described herein.  FIG. 15  is a schematic illustration of the lamp  150  and thus it depicts the various zones  167 - 170  and other features that are not actually visible on the lamp  150  itself. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the first and second upper illumination zones  167 ,  168  are located above the lamp longitudinal axis C-C and the first and second lower illumination zones  169 ,  170  are located below the lamp longitudinal axis C-C. In the assembled oral treatment device  1000 , the first and second upper illumination zones  167 ,  168  are located above the bite platform  104  and the first and second lower illumination zones  169 ,  170  are located below the bite platform  104 . Furthermore, in the exemplified embodiment the first and second upper illumination zones  167 ,  168  are arranged in series with one another between the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  of the lamp  150  and the first and second lower illumination zones  169 ,  170  are arranged in series with one another between the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  of the lamp  150 . The first and second upper illumination zones  167 ,  168  are arranged in parallel to the first and second lower illumination zones  169 ,  170 . In the exemplified embodiment, the lamp  150  comprises a single flexible sheet body  151  and each of the plurality of illumination zones  167 - 170  is on a single flexible sheet body  151   
     The upper bus bar  171  is located above the first and second upper illumination zones  167 ,  168 , and more specifically between the first and second upper illumination zones  167 ,  168  and the upper edge  155  of the flexible sheet body  151 . The upper bus bar  171  is an elongated strip formed of an electrically conductive material such as a metal that is elongated between the first and second side edges  151   a ,  151   b  of the flexible sheet body  151 . The upper bus bar  171  extends in an uninterrupted manner for its entire length above each of the first and second upper illumination zones  167 ,  168 . The upper bus bar  171  electrically couples the first and second upper illumination zones  167 ,  168  together, as described below. 
     The lower bus bar  172  is located below the first and second lower illumination zones  169 ,  170 , and more specifically between the first and second lower illumination zones  169 ,  170  and the lower edge  156  of the flexible sheet body  161 . The lower bus bar  172  electrically couples the first and second lower illumination zones  169 ,  170  together. The lower bus bar  172  is an elongated strip formed of an electrically conductive material such as a metal (e.g., silver, copper, aluminum, iron, steel, brass, or the like) that is elongated between the first and second side edges  151   a ,  151   b  of the flexible sheet body  151 . The lower bus bar  172  extends in an uninterrupted manner below each of the first and second lower illumination zones  169 ,  170  along its entire length. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, portions of the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  are located on (or exposed on) the rear surface  153  of the flexible sheet body  151  the upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  are embedded within the flexible sheet body  151  as described above and illustrated in  FIG. 14 . The first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  are adjacent to one another and axially spaced apart from one another. The upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  extend in a direction that is generally parallel to the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162 , although in the exemplified embodiment the upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  may have a slight curve rather than being perfectly straight. Thus, the upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  are elongated in the same direction that the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  are elongated. The upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  are spaced apart from one another and from each of the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162 , with the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  being located between the upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  in a direction that is transverse to the lamp longitudinal axis C-C. 
     The first electrical contact  161  is a first bus bar formed of an electrically conductive material such as a metal that is elongated and positioned between the first upper illumination zone  167  and the first lower illumination zone  169 . The second electrical contact  162  is a second bus bar formed of an electrically conductive material such as a metal that is elongated and positioned between the second upper illumination zone  168  and the second lower illumination zone  170 . The first upper illumination zone  167 , the first lower illumination zone  169 , and the first electrical contact  161  are located on a first side of the dental arch midline plane A-A. The second upper illumination zone  168 , the second lower illumination zone  170 , and the second electrical contact  162  are located on a second side of the dental arch midline plane A-A that is opposite the first side. The upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  are each located on both sides of the dental arch midline plane A-A. The first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  may be any electrically conductive material, but possible metals include silver, copper, aluminum, iron, steel, brass, or the like. 
     As described above, in the exemplified embodiment, the plurality of light emitters  154  comprises a plurality of LEDs or the like that are printed with an electrically conductive ink  165 . In such an embodiment, the electrically conductive ink  165  is electrically coupled to each of the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  and each of the upper and lower bus bars  171 ,  172  of the lamp  150 . More specifically, the electrically conductive ink  165  in the first upper illumination zone  167  is electrically coupled to the first electrical contact  161  and to the upper bus bar  171 , the electrically conductive ink  165  in the second upper illumination zone  168  is electrically coupled to the upper bus bar  171  and the second electrical contact  162 , the electrically conductive ink  165  in the first lower illumination zone  169  is electrically coupled to the first electrical contact  161  and the lower bus bar  172 , and the electrically conductive ink  165  in the second lower illumination zone  170  is electrically coupled to the lower bus bar  172  and the second electrical contact  162 . 
     As shown schematically in  FIG. 15 , this electrical coupling between the various illumination zones and the electrical contacts/bus bars is achieved with diodes. Thus, a first diode is electrically coupled to the first electrical contact  161 , the first upper illumination zone  167 , and the upper bus bar  171 . A second diode is electrically coupled to the upper bus bar  171 , the second upper illumination zone  168 , and the second electrical contact  162 . A third diode is electrically coupled to the first electrical contact  161 , the first lower illumination zone  169 , and the lower bus bar  172 . A fourth diode is electrically coupled to the lower bus bar  172 , the second lower illumination zone  170 , and the second electrical contact  162 . When the oral treatment device  1000  is assembled, the first electrical contact  161  of the lamp  150  is electrically coupled to the first compressible electrical contact element  351  and the second electrical contact  162  of the lamp  150  is electrically coupled to the second compressible electrical contact element  352 . These electrical couplings facilitate providing power to each of the illumination zones  167 - 170  so that each can emit electromagnetic radiation/light as described herein. 
     Due to the electrical coupling between the various electrical contacts  161 ,  162 , bus bars  171 ,  172 , and the electrically conductive ink  165  (in the various illumination zones  167 - 170 ), current will flow as follows: (1) from the first electrical contact  161  through the electrically conductive ink  165  in the first upper illumination zone  167  of the lamp  150  to the upper bus bar  171 ; (2) from the upper bus bar  171  through the electrically conductive ink  165  in the second upper illumination zone  168  of the lamp  150  to the second electrical contact  162 ; (3) from the first electrical contact  161  through the electrically conductive ink  165  in the first lower illumination zone  169  of the lamp  150  to the lower bus bar  172 ; and (4) from the lower bus bar  172  through the electrically conductive ink  165  in the second lower illumination zone  169  of the lamp  150  to the second electrical contact  162 . As a result, all of the illumination zones  167 - 170  will be powered simultaneously when the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  are coupled to the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352 , which are in turn coupled to the power source  360 . Thus, the upper illumination zones  167 ,  168  are in series with one another, the lower illumination zones  169 ,  170  are in series with one another, the first upper illumination zone  167  is in parallel with the first lower illumination zone  169 , and the second upper illumination zone  168  is in parallel with the second lower illumination zone  170 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , in some embodiments the illumination zones  167 - 170  may be subdivided into a plurality of sub-zones. Thus, the first upper illumination zone  167  may comprise first, second, and third sub-zones  167   a ,  167   b ,  167   c , the second upper illumination zone  168  may comprise first, second, and third sub-zones  168   a ,  168   b ,  168   c , the first lower illumination zone  169  may comprise first, second, and third sub-zones  169   a ,  169   b ,  169   c , and the second lower illumination zone  170  may comprise first, second, and third sub-zones  170   a ,  170   b ,  170   c . In some embodiments, the second and third sub-zones  167   b ,  167   c  of the first upper illumination zone  167  and the first and second sub-zones  168   a ,  168   b  of the second upper illumination zone  168  may form the four critical zones of the lamp  150 . The reason for this is that the teeth that are most visible in day-to-day life are the front four teeth of a user&#39;s top jaw (i.e., the maxillary incisors). The four critical zones of the lamp  150  are aligned with the maxillary incisors during a normal tooth whitening procedure using the oral treatment device  1000  described herein. 
     In certain embodiments, the twelve sub-zones noted above have greater than 75% uniformity, more preferably greater than 85% uniformity. Furthermore, the four critical zones have greater than 90% uniformity. While the uniformity of the twelve sub-zones may decrease slightly after twenty-five hours of operation of the oral treatment device  1000 , the uniformity of the four critical zones will not have any such drop. As used herein, uniformity refers to the consistency of the irradiance of the lamp  150  within the various indicated zones and sub-zones, irradiance being the radiant flux (i.e., power) received by a surface per unit area having an SI unit of watt per square meter (W/m 2 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 16, 17, and 17A  concurrently, the coupling of the lamp  150  to the lamp support structure  120  will be described. As noted previously, when the control circuit  350  is in its assembled state/position, the front wall  381  of the actuation unit  380  forms a portion of the lamp support surface  122 . The control circuit  350  is illustrated in position within the lamp support structure  120  in  FIG. 16  to illustrate this. Furthermore, the first and second compressible electrical contact elements  351 ,  352  nest within the depressions  382 ,  383  (see  FIG. 6B ) formed into the front wall  381 . However, the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  protrude from the lamp support surface  122  when they are in an uncompressed state (i.e., normal state without any forces acting thereon). As can be seen, the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  on the lamp  150  are aligned with the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352 . Thus, as the lamp  150  comes into contact with the lamp support surface  122  during assembly, the electrical contacts  161 ,  162  of the lamp  150  come into electrical coupling with the first and second compressible electrical contact elements  351 ,  352  and cause the compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  to compress. This will be described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 21B . 
     To couple the lamp  150  to the lamp support structure  120 , the upper edge  155  of the flexible sheet body  151  of the lamp  150  is inserted into the upper slot  144  defined between the upper overhang structure  142  and the lamp support surface  122 . Similarly, the lower edge  156  of the flexible sheet body  151  of the lamp  150  is inserted into the lower slot  145  defined between the lower overhang structure  143  and the lamp support surface  122 . Thus, a portion of the upper edge  155  of the lamp  150  nests within the upper slot  144  and a portion of the lower edge  156  of the lamp  150  nests within the lower slot  145 .  FIG. 17A  provides a close-up view of the upper edge  155  of the lamp  150  being located within the upper slot  144 . This holds the lamp  150  in place and snap fits the lamp against the lamp support surface  122 . In some embodiments, the lamp  150  may have a pre-defined curvature that biases the lamp  150  against the entirety of the lamp support surface  122 . In other embodiments, the lamp  150  may be maintained in a flexed state (i.e., curved as shown) along the lamp support surface  122  due, at least in part, to contact with the upper and lower overhang structures  142 ,  143 . In some embodiments, the lamp  150  is snap-fit to the lamp support structure  120  due to the upper edge  155  of the flexible sheet body  151  flexing and snapping past the upper overhang structure  142  into the upper slot  144  and the lower edge  156  of the flexible sheet body  151  flexing and snapping past the lower overhang structure  143  into the lower slot  145 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 17 , the edges of the lamp  150  may be retained by the perimetric lamp retaining wall  139  of the lamp support structure  120 . In some embodiments, the edges of the lamp  150  may abut against or otherwise be in contact with the perimetric lamp retaining wall  139  or portions thereof, although this is not required in all embodiments.  FIG. 17  illustrates the lamp  150  mounted to the lamp support structure  120 . When so positioned, the lamp  150  is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation onto oral surfaces when the mouthpiece  100  is positioned within a mouth of a user and activated, as described herein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the lens plate  180  will be described. The lens plate  180  may be referred to herein as a curved lens plate or a cover lens plate in various embodiments, but it should be appreciated that all of these terms refer to the same component. However, it should be appreciated that the lens plate  180  is a separate structure from the lamp  150 , and therefore a separate structure form the flexible lens plate  159  that forms a part of the flexible sheet body  151  of the lamp  150 . When the oral treatment device  1000  is assembled, the lens plate  180  is adjacent to the flexible lens plate  159  of the lamp  150 . The lens plate  180  is coupled to the lamp support structure  120  so that the lamp  150  is positioned between the lamp support structure  120  and the lens plate  180 . The lens plate  180  comprises a front surface  181  from which the light generated by the lamp  150  is emitted and a rear surface  182  opposite the front surface  181 . The rear surface  182  of the lens plate  180  is adjacent to and faces the front surface  152  of the flexible sheet body  151  of the lamp  150 . In the exemplified embodiment, the lens plate  180  has a curved shape such that the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  is concave and the rear surface  182  of the lens plate  180  is convex. Thus, the shape of the lens plate  180  matches the shape of the lamp support surface  122 . 
     Because the lens plate  180  covers the front surface  152  of the flexible sheet body  151  of the lamp  150 , the lens plate  180  is formed of a light transmissive material so that the light generated by the light emitters of the lamp  150  can pass through the lens plate  180 . Thus, in some embodiments the lens plate  180  may be formed of a transparent material. The lens plate  180  may also be formed of a translucent material. In some embodiments, the lens plate  180  may have a colored tint, while still being light transmissive so that light emitted by the lamp  150  can pass therethrough. In one particular embodiment, the lens plate  180  may be formed of a transparent biocompatible material. The lens plate  180  may be formed of a copolyester. In some embodiments the copolyester is Eastar™ BR003, although the invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments and the lens plate  180  may be formed of a number of different materials so long as it enables the light emitted by the lamp  150  to pass therethrough as described herein. One benefit of Eastar™ BR003 is that it contains a mold release additive and is nearly water-clear. 
     The lens plate  180  extends along an arcuate longitudinal axis D-D from a first end  183  to a second end  184 . The lens plate  180  comprises a first connection element  185  located on the first end  183  and a second connection element  186  located on the second end  184 . As will be described in more detail below, the first and second connection features  185 ,  186  of the lens plate  180  mate with the first and second connection features  140 ,  141  of the lamp support structure  120  to couple the lens plate  180  to the lamp support structure  120 . 
     The lens plate  180  comprises a first protuberance  187  and a second protuberance  188  extending from the rear surface  182  in a spaced apart manner. In the exemplified embodiment, each of the first and second protuberances  187 ,  188  is located on the arcuate longitudinal axis D-D of the lens plate  180 . Furthermore, the first and second protuberances  187 ,  188  are spaced apart from one another along the arcuate longitudinal axis D-D. Although two of the protuberances  187 ,  188  are depicted in the exemplified embodiment, it is possible that only one protuberance or more than two protuberances could be used in alternative embodiments. In one particular embodiment, the first and second protuberances  187 ,  188  could be connected to form a single, longer protuberance. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, each of the first and second protuberances  187 ,  188  is elongated in a direction that extends between the first and second ends  183 ,  184  of the lens plate  180 . However, the invention is not to be particularly limited by the shape of the first and second protuberances  187 ,  188  in all embodiments. Thus, the first and second protuberances  187 ,  188  could take on other shapes while still being able to achieve the desired function, described in more detail herein below. For example, the first and second protuberances  187 ,  188  could be nubs that extend form the rear surface  182  without being elongated. When the oral treatment device  1000  is assembled, the first and second protuberances  187 ,  188  are aligned with the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  172  on the rear surface  153  of the flexible sheet body  151  of the lamp  150  to press them into contact with the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  of the control circuit  350 . 
     The lens plate  180  also comprises an upper recess  189  and a lower recess  190  that are aligned with one another along the dental arch midline plane A-A. Each of the upper and lower recesses  189 ,  190  are formed into the rear surface  182  of the lens plate  180 , which is the surface that faces the lamp support surface  122  when the mouthpiece  100  is assembled as described herein. The upper and lower recesses  189 ,  190  have a shape that corresponds with the shape of the upper and lower overhang structures  142 ,  143  so that the upper and lower overhang structures  142 ,  143  of the lamp support structure  120  nest within the upper and lower recesses  189 ,  190  of the lens plate  180  when those two components are coupled together. 
     The upper and lower recesses  189 ,  190  may form alignment elements of the lens plate  180  and the upper and lower overhang structures  142 ,  143  may form alignment elements of the lamp support structure  120 . In that way, the upper and lower recesses  189 ,  190  of the lens plate  180  and the upper and lower overhang structures  142 ,  143  of the lamp support structure  120  may mechanically mate with one another (by the upper and lower overhang structures  142 ,  143  being received within the upper and lower recesses  189 ,  190 ) to maintain the lens plate  180  and the lamp support structure  120  in relative alignment with one another. Thus, in the exemplified embodiment it is recesses (i.e., the upper and lower recesses  189 ,  190 ) of the lens plate  180  that mate with protrusions (i.e., the upper and lower overhang structures  142 ,  143 ) of the lamp support structure  120  to provide the alignment function. The invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments. In other embodiments, the lens plate  180  may be protrusions that interact/mate with recesses in the lamp support structure  120  to achieve the alignment. In other embodiments, these “alignment” elements may be omitted and alignment may be achieved by properly coupling the connection features  140 ,  141  of the lamp support structure  120  to the connection features  185 ,  186  of the lens plate. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the lens plate  180  further comprises a plurality of protuberances  191  protruding from the front surface  181 . More specifically, the lens plate  180  comprises a ridge  192  extending from the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  along the arcuate longitudinal axis D-D. The plurality of protuberances  191  are located on and extend from the ridge  192  in a direction away from the front surface  181 . The plurality of protuberances  191  are spaced apart along the arcuate longitudinal axis A-A. In the exemplified embodiment, there are four of the protuberances  191 . However, any number of the protuberances  191  may be present in various alternative embodiments. In fact, it may be possible to properly manufacture the oral treatment device  1000  without including the protuberances  191  on the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  and thus those protuberances  191  may be omitted in some embodiments. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the protuberances  191  that extend from the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  are aligned with the protuberances  187 ,  188  that extend from the rear surface  182  of the lens plate  180 . Thus, at least one of the protuberances  191  on the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  is aligned with/overlaps at least one of the protuberances  187 ,  188  on the rear surface  182  of the lens plate  180  In fact, in the exemplified embodiment the protuberances  191  on the front surface  181  and the protuberances  187 ,  188  on the rear surface  182  are all located on the arcuate longitudinal axis D-D. However, it should be appreciated that the protuberances  191  need not be aligned with the protuberances  187 ,  188  in all embodiments, although such alignment may facilitate a secure electrically coupling between the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  of the lamp  150  of the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  of the control circuit  350 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 20-21A , the coupling of the lens plate  180  to the lamp support structure  120  with the lamp  150  already coupled thereto will be described. The lens plate  180  is positioned with its rear surface  182  facing the lamp support surface  122  of the lamp support structure  120  and the lamp  150 . The lens plate  180  is then moved towards the lamp support structure  120  until the first and second connection elements  185 ,  186  of the lens plate  180  are received between the legs of the first and second connection elements  140 ,  141  of the lamp support structure  120 . The engagement and mating of the connection elements  185 ,  186  of the lens plate  180  with the connection elements  140 ,  141  of the lamp support structure  120  physically/mechanically couple the lens plate  180  to the support structure  120 . Furthermore, as the lens plate  180  is moved towards the lamp support structure  120 , the upper and lower overhang structures  142 ,  143  of the lamp support structure  120  enter into and nest within the upper and lower recesses  189 ,  190  on the rear surface  182  of the lens plate  180 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 21A, 24 and 25 , when the lens plate  180  is coupled to the lamp support structure  120 , the lens plate  180  overlies the front surface  152  of the flexible sheet body  151  of the lamp  150  so that the lens plate  180  is adjacent to the flexible lens plate  159  of the lamp  150 . In this way, a lamp-cover interface  193  is formed between the flexible lens plate  159  of the lamp  150  and the lens plate  180 . The flexible lens plate  159  of the lamp  150  is formed of a material having a first refractive index and the lens plate  180  is formed of a material having a second refractive index, with the second refractive index being less than the first refractive index. During operation, the light generated by the light emitters  154  passes through the flexible lens plate  159  of the lamp  150  and through the lens plate  180  prior to exiting the oral treatment device  1000 . In the exemplified embodiment, the lens plate  180  and the lamp  150  have the same curved profile. Furthermore, the lens plate  180  and the lamp  150  are straight (i.e., perpendicular to the horizon) rather than being angled. 
     In some embodiments, a ratio of the second refractive index to the first refractive index is at least 0.8:1 and in other embodiments the ratio of the second refractive index to the first refractive index is at least 0.9:1. In some embodiments, the first refractive index may be in a range of 1.6 to 1.8, and more specifically in a range of 1.6 to 1.7. In some embodiments, the second refractive index may be in a range of 1.45 to 1.65, and more specifically in a range of 1.5 to 1.6. In some embodiments, an oral treatment material that is intended for use with the oral treatment device  1000  may couple the lens plate  180  to the oral surface to be treated (see element  400  in  FIGS. 27A-29 ). The oral treatment material may have a third refractive index that is less than the second refractive index. In some embodiments, the third refractive index may be in a range of 1.3 to 1.5 and a ratio of the third refractive index to the second refractive index of the lens plate  180  may be at least 0.8:1. The oral treatment material may be a tooth whitening gel and the light emitted by the plurality of light emitters  154  may have a wavelength in a range of 380 nm to 500 nm, or more specifically 400 nm to 420 nm, as noted above. 
     Referring to  FIG. 21B , the relationship between the lens plate  180 , the lamp  150 , the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  of the lamp  150 , and the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  of the control circuit  350  will be described. The lamp support surface  122  comprises two depressions  382 ,  383 , each of which are formed into the front wall  381  of the actuation unit  380  as described above. Specifically, because the front wall  381  of the actuation unit  380  forms a portion of the lamp support surface  122 , the depressions  382 ,  383  formed into the front wall  381  of the actuation unit  380  are also depressions in the lamp support surface  122 . The floor  384  of the depressions  382 ,  383  forms a wall surface upon which the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  may be compressed in the assembled oral treatment device  1000 . As mentioned previously, the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  are located within the depressions  382 ,  383  and protrude out from the lamp support surface  122  in their normal, non-compressed state. 
     The lamp  150  is then coupled to the lamp support structure  120  adjacent to the lamp support surface  122  so that the rear surface  153  of the flexible sheet body  151  is in contact with the lamp support surface  122 . When so positioned, the electrical contacts  161 ,  162  of the lamp  150  are aligned with the compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  of the control circuit  350 . Next, the lens plate  180  is coupled to the lamp support structure  120  as described above so that the rear surface  182  of the lens plate  180  is adjacent to the front surface  152  of the flexible sheet body  151  of the lamp  150 . As noted above, the protuberances  187 ,  188  extending from the rear surface  182  of the lens plate  180  are aligned with the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  of the lamp  150  and the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  of the control circuit  350 . Thus, when the lens plate  180  is coupled to the lamp support structure  120 , the protuberances  187 ,  188  press the flexible sheet body  151  of the lamp  150 , and more specifically the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  of the lamp  150 , against the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352 , thereby causing the first and second compressible electrical contacts  351 ,  352  to compress. In  FIG. 21B , the first and second electrical contacts  351 ,  352  (only the first electrical contact  351  is illustrated, but the same occurs with the second electrical contact  351 ) are in a compressed state due to the contact with the first and second electrical contacts  161 ,  162  of the lamp  150 . Thus, the one or more protuberances  187 ,  188  of the lens plate  180  compress the first and second compressible contacts  351 ,  352  between the flexible sheet body  151  of the lamp  150  and a wall surface, said wall surface being formed by the floor  384  of the depressions  382 ,  383 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 22, 23, and 23A , the guard component  210  of the mouthpiece  100  will be described. As mentioned above, the guard component  210  may be formed of a resilient material such as a thermoplastic elastomer or other elastomeric material. Suitable elastomeric materials include, without limitation, thermoplastic elastomers, rubbers, silicones, or other biocompatible resilient materials suitable for uses in an oral hygiene apparatus including thermoset elastomers or the like. The reason for forming the guard component  210  out of an elastomeric material is that the guard component  210  is the main component that directly contacts the user&#39;s oral cavity surfaces during use of the oral treatment device  1000 . Thus, forming the guard component  210  out of an elastomeric material enhances comfort to the user. The guard component  210  may be injection molded onto the lamp support structure  120  after the lamp  150  and the lens plate  180  are coupled to the lamp support structure  120  to complete the assembly of the mouthpiece  100 . Alternatively, the guard component  210  could be formed separately from the lamp support structure  120  and merely coupled thereto using mechanical interfaces/mating between the components. 
     The guard component  210  has a front surface  211  and a rear surface  212  opposite the front surface  211 . The guard component  210  extends from a first side end  213  to a second side end  214  and is generally arcuate in its extension from the first side end  213  to the second side end  214 . The guard component  210  is coupled to the lamp support structure  120  with the rear surface  212  facing the lens plate  180 , the lamp  150 , and the lamp support surface  122 . The guard component  210  generally comprises a frame  220 , a wall portion  230 , and a bite plate portion  240  that forms at least a part, if not the entirety, of the bite platform  104  of the mouthpiece  100 . 
     The frame portion  220  defines a window  221  that is divided by the bite plate portion  240  into an upper window  222  and a lower window  223 . The frame  220  forms an enclosed geometric structure having an arcuate shape that appears rectangular when viewed from the front (see  FIG. 23A ). The frame portion  220  has an inner surface  229  that forms the bounds of the upper and lower windows  222 ,  223 . The upper and lower windows  222 ,  223  are openings through which the lens plate  180  is exposed in the assembled mouthpiece  100 . Thus, electromagnetic radiation emitted by the lamp  150  can pass through the lens plate  180  and through the upper and lower windows  222 ,  223  to reach a user&#39;s teeth and other oral surfaces as desired. More specifically, the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the first and second upper illumination zones  167 ,  168  of the lamp  150  pass through the upper window  222  and the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the first and second lower illumination zones  169 ,  170  of the lamp  150  pass through the lower window  223 . 
     As noted above, the bite plate portion  240  of the guard component  210  may in certain embodiments form the entirety of the bite platform  104  of the mouthpiece  100 . Thus, as shown in the exemplified embodiment, the bite plate portion  240  of the guard component  210  comprises a horizontal portion  241  that extends horizontally form the wall portion  230  of the guard component  210  and a vertical portion  242  that extends both upwardly and downwardly from the horizontal portion  241 . Upper and lower channels  243  (only the upper channel is visible in  FIGS. 22 and 23 ) are defined between the wall portion  230  and the vertical portion  242  of the horizontal portion  241 . Stopper elements  244 ,  245  are provided at the ends of the upper and lower channels  243  that will be adjacent to a user&#39;s back-most teeth during use. The stopper elements  244 ,  245  may ensure that any whitening or other agents provided in the upper and lower channels  243  remain therein during use. 
     Because the bite platform  104  is formed entirely from the guard component  210  in the exemplified embodiment, the bite platform  104  is formed from an elastomeric material as described herein. During use, the bite platform  104  is located between the user&#39;s upper and lower teeth and thus the user may bite down on the bite platform  104 . Forming the bite platform  104  entirely out of an elastomeric material may be advantageous in that it will not damage a user&#39;s teeth if they happen to bite down with great force. 
     The guard component  210  also comprises an upper gum guard  250  and a lower gum guard  251 . The upper gum guard  250  extends from the frame  220  along an upper edge thereof and the lower gum guard  251  extends from the frame  220  along a lower edge thereof. The upper gum guard  250  has an inner surface  252  that faces the bite plate portion  240  and an outer surface  253  that faces away from the bite plate portion  240 . In the exemplified embodiment, the inner surface  252  of the upper gum guard  250  is convex and the outer surface  253  of the upper gum guard  250  is concave. Similarly, the lower gum guard  251  has an inner surface  254  that faces the bite plate portion  240  and an outer surface  255  that faces away from the bite plate portion  240  (best shown in  FIG. 26 ). In the exemplified embodiment, the inner surface  254  is convex and the outer surface  255  is concave. During use, the upper gum guard  250  may pivot upwardly relative to the frame  220  while the lower gum guard  251  may pivot downwardly relative to the frame  220  to cover a greater surface area of the gums for protection thereof (see  FIGS. 28 and 29 ). 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 24-26 , the guard component  210  is coupled to the lamp support structure  120  and seals the lamp  150  in a fluid tight manner between the lens plate  180  and the lamp support structure  120 . The guard component  210  covers a perimeter region of the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  to prevent liquid (i.e., water, saliva, whitening material, etc.) from penetrating through the guard component  210  and contacting the lamp  150  or other electronic components of the oral treatment device  1000 . Furthermore, because the guard component  210  is injection molded onto the lamp support structure  120  during manufacturing in the exemplified embodiment, the protuberances  191  extending from the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  extend into the bite plate portion  240  of the guard component  210  during the injection molding process. Specifically, the protuberances  191  extending from the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  extend into a rear surface  249  of the bite platform  240  of the guard component  210 . This is best seen in  FIGS. 21B and 25 . This creates a strong bond between the guard component  210  and the lens plate  180  and prevents upward and downward movement of the guard component  210  relative to the lens plate  180  and the remainder of the mouthpiece  100 . Even without injection molding, this same structural arrangement can be achieved by forming recesses into the rear surface  249  of the bite platform  240  within which the protuberances  191  extending from the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  can nest when the guard component  210  is coupled to the remainder of the mouthpiece  100 . 
     Furthermore, as best seen in  FIG. 26 , a portion of the frame  220  of the guard component  210  directly covers a portion of the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  along the upper and lower edges and opposing side edges thereof (i.e., along a perimeter region as noted above) to securely retain the lens plate  180  in place between the guard component  210  and the lamp  150 /lamp support structure  120 . Thus, the guard component  210  directly covers a perimetric portion of the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180 . As best shown in  FIGS. 24 and 25 , the guard component  210  may also wrap around portions of the lamp support structure  120  to the rear surface of the curved support plate  121  to achieve a good, secure coupling between the guard component  210  and the lamp support structure  120 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 24-26 , the oral treatment device  1000  is illustrated in its entirety and in various cross-sections. In these collective views, it can be readily seen that the first portion  302  of the housing  301  formed by the lamp support structure  120  and the second portion  303  of the housing  301  formed by the handle  300  are coupled together to form the enclosed housing  301 . The first and second portions  302 ,  303  of the housing  301  may have coupling elements that facilitate the coupling of the first and second portions  302 ,  303  of the housing  301  together. Such coupling elements may include mating indents/detents, protuberances/recesses, clips, hooks, or other mechanical coupling members that are configured to mate/interact with one another to couple the components together. 
     The enclosed housing  301  has an inner surface  306  that defines a cavity  307  within which the control circuit  350  is located. The housing  301  should be completely enclosed and preferably hermetically sealed to prevent water or other liquids from penetrating into the cavity  307 , which could cause damage to the control circuit  350  housed therein. The oral treatment device  1000  may include a gasket  308  that is positioned between the first portion  302  of the housing  301  and the second portion  303  of the housing  301  to ensure that the cavity  307  is a sealed interior space. As can be seen in these views, the handle  300  extends from the convex rear surface  102  of the mouthpiece  100  along the dental arch midline plane A-A such that the handle  300  is fixed to the central portion  124  of the curved support plate  121  of the lamp support structure  120 . 
     To reiterate, the first and second compressible electrodes  351 ,  352  are operably coupled to the power source  360 . Furthermore, the first and second electrodes  161 ,  162  on the rear surface  153  of the lamp  150  are in direct contact with the first and second compressible electrodes  351 ,  352 , thereby electrically coupling the lamp  150  to the power source  360 . The protuberances  191  extending from the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  apply pressure onto the front surface  152  of the lamp  150 , which forces the first and second electrodes  161 ,  162  of the lamp  150  to compress the first and second compressible electrodes  351 ,  352  as described above. Once the oral treatment device  1000  is activated by pressing a power button or the like, power is transmitted from the power source  360  to the lamp  150  so that the light emitters  154  of the lamp  150  can emit electromagnetic radiation from the front surface  152  of the lamp  150 , through the lens plate  180 , and through the upper and lower windows  222 ,  223  of the guard component  210 . In this manner, the electromagnetic radiation can be emitted onto teeth or the like that are located within the first and second channels  108 ,  109  of the oral treatment device  1000 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 27A-29 , a method of whitening facial surfaces of a user&#39;s teeth using the oral treatment device  1000  described herein will be described.  FIGS. 27A and 27B  illustrate alternative possibilities for the first step in the process. Specifically, the method may comprise applying a teeth whitening material  400  having the third refractive index (described above) to the facial surfaces of a user&#39;s teeth  410 , as shown in  FIG. 27A . This can be achieved using a brush, an applicator, a finger, or the like. Alternatively, the method may comprise applying the teeth whitening material  400  having the third refractive index to the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  of the oral treatment device  1000 . In yet another embodiment, the teeth whitening material  400  may be applied to both the facial surfaces of the user&#39;s teeth  410  and to the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  of the oral treatment device  1000 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 28 , the next step is to position the oral treatment device  1000  within the user&#39;s mouth so that the facial surfaces of the user&#39;s teeth  410  are adjacent to the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  of the oral treatment device  1000 . During this step, the teeth whitening material  400  may be positioned so that it contacts the teeth  410  and the front surface  181  of the lens plate  180  simultaneously. This may be important in some embodiments to ensure that the electromagnetic radiation is able to be properly emitted onto the teeth. Specifically, because the lamp  150  has a first refractive index, the lens plate  180  has a second refractive index that is less than the first refractive index, and the teeth whitening material  400  has a third refractive index that is less than the second refractive index, having all of these components/materials in contact with one another ensures a proper emission of the electromagnetic radiation from the lamp  150  to the teeth  410 . Of course, this is not required in all embodiments and in some other embodiments the teeth whitening material  400  may be located on the facial surfaces of the user&#39;s teeth  410  but not also in contact with the lens plate  180 . In such an embodiment, the light or electromagnetic radiation being emitted from the lamp  150  will still contact the teeth whitening material  400  to increase its effectiveness. 
     Finally, as shown in  FIG. 29 , the next step is to activate the lamp  150 , which can be achieved by pressing a button, sliding a switch, or the like as has been described herein. Activation of the lamp  150  will cause the light emitters of the lamp  150  to generate electromagnetic radiation or light that passes through the lamp lens plate  159 , the lens plate  180 , and the teeth whitening material  400 . As should be understood, the light will pass through the lamp lens plate  159 , the lens plate  180 , and the teeth whitening material  400  sequentially. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 28 and 29 , the lamp  150  and the lens plate  180  are oriented vertically when the mouthpiece  100  or portions thereof are located within a user&#39;s oral cavity. Thus, the lamp  150  and the lens plate  180  are not angled, but rather they are oriented so as to be perpendicular to the horizon or to the bite plate  104 . Of course, the lamp  150  and the lens plate  180  could be positioned at other orientations in other embodiments if so desired. 
     As noted above, the oral treatment device  1000  may include a timer that is operably coupled to a processor. A single treatment using the oral treatment device  1000  may have a predetermined treatment time, and thus the oral treatment device  1000  may automatically power off upon the predetermined treatment time being reached or the oral treatment device  1000  may include an indicator to indicate to the user that the predetermined treatment time has been reached. Such an indicator could be a light, a sound (emitted by a speaker), a vibration (emitted by a vibration device), or the like. In some embodiments, the oral treatment device  1000  may be configured to activate an indicator at the halfway point during a treatment session. Thus, if a treatment is intended to last for ten minutes, the indicator may be automatically activated at the expiration of five minutes from the beginning of the treatment time (determined either by the power being activated or by the power being activated and sensing that the mouthpiece  100  is located within a user&#39;s oral cavity). The indicator may be an audible tone, a visible light (blinking or the like) or a vibration or other tactile indicator. In some embodiments, the oral treatment device  1000  may emit an audible tone at the halfway point of a treatment session and again at the end of a treatment session/cycle. Of course, the audible tone may readily be replaced by emission of a light or a tactile indicator as described herein. In certain embodiments, the oral treatment device  1000  may include a speaker located inside of the handle  300  to emit the audible tone. 
     In some embodiments, the speaker may also emit an audible tone, for example three distinct tones or the like, if the battery runs out of power during a treatment session. Thus, the speaker may emit a first audible tone at the halfway point during a treatment session, a second audible tone at the end of a treatment session, and a third audible tone if the battery runs out of power during a treatment session. The first and second audible tones may be the same in some embodiments and they may be different in other embodiments (e.g., the first audible tone could be a single discrete beep and the second audible tone could be two discrete beeps, or the first and second audible tones could have a first sound pattern and the third audible tone could have a second different sound pattern). In some embodiments, the first and second audible tones may be different from one another and from the third audible tone so that a user can readily distinguish between the different tones so that the user understands the information that the oral treatment device  1000  is trying to relay to the user. 
     The oral treatment device  1000  may in certain embodiments be sold as a kit that includes the mouthpiece/housing and a supply of the tooth whitening material  400 . In other embodiments the mouthpiece/housing may be sold by itself without tooth whitening material. Furthermore, in certain embodiments the mouthpiece/housing may be designed and used to dispense the tooth whitening material into contact with the user&#39;s teeth. Thus, there is versatility in the use of the devices and systems described herein. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that when the device is used for both dispensing the tooth whitening material and emitting electromagnetic radiation onto the user&#39;s teeth, the tooth whitening material may be optically clear to enable the electromagnetic radiation to be transmitted through the tooth whitening material and onto the surfaces of the user&#39;s teeth. 
     As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.