Patent Publication Number: US-2023157860-A1

Title: Oral appliance

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to an oral appliance, and more particularly to an oral appliance for training proper lingual resting posture, dissuading the tongue from thrusting on or between the teeth, and deterring noxious oral habits. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An anterior lingual resting posture and/or an abnormal anterior motion of the tongue against the dentition and/or a noxious oral habit may cause deficits in one&#39;s oral facial development and have a negative effect on an individual&#39;s occlusion and palate, which can cause issues with one&#39;s speech, sleep, overall breathing, and/or temporomandibular joint function. Accordingly, there is a need to provide an oral appliance for training proper lingual and extinguish noxious oral habits. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, an oral appliance is provided that includes a shell, a plurality of tongue spikes formed on a posterior surface of the shell, and a platform projecting from the shell. The shell simulates maxillary dentition of a wearer such that the shell is configured to snugly fit over the maxillary dentition. The platform defines an aperture configured for receipt of the wearer&#39;s tongue. 
     In aspects, the shell may include at least six crowns configured to snugly fit over only corresponding left and right canines, lateral incisors, and central incisors of the maxillary dentition. 
     In aspects, the tongue spikes may project posteriorly from each of the crowns. 
     In aspects, the tongue spikes may project posteriorly from the posterior surface of the shell. 
     In aspects, the shell, the tongue spikes, and the platform may be monolithically formed with one another. 
     In aspects, the shell, the tongue spikes, and the platform may be fabricated from clear plastic. 
     In aspects, the aperture may be located posteriorly and above the tongue spikes. 
     In aspects, the platform may be configured to engage a palate of the wearer. 
     In accordance with further aspects of the present disclosure, an oral appliance is provided that includes a shell, a plurality of spikes projecting posteriorly from a posterior surface of the shell, and a platform projecting posteriorly from the shell. The shell includes six to eight crowns configured to snugly fit over corresponding maxillary dentition of a wearer. The spikes are configured to deter and/or prevent a tongue of the wearer from contacting the posterior surface of the shell as well as deter the wearer form engaging in any noxious oral habits. The platform defines an aperture therethrough configured for receipt of the wearer&#39;s tongue. 
     In aspects, the crowns may simulate corresponding left and right canines, lateral incisors, and central incisors of the maxillary dentition. 
     In aspects, the shell, the spikes, and the platform may be monolithically formed with one another. 
     In aspects, the shell, the spikes, and the platform may be fabricated from clear plastic. 
     In aspects, the aperture may be located posteriorly and above the spikes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will become more readily apparent from the specific description accompanied by the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a bottom, perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an oral appliance; 
         FIG.  2    is a front, perspective view of the oral appliance of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the oral appliance of  FIG.  1    secured to maxillary dentition of a wearer; 
         FIG.  4    is a bottom view illustrating the oral appliance of  FIG.  1    secured to the maxillary dentition of the wearer; 
         FIG.  5    is a bottom, perspective view illustrating a platform of the oral appliance of  FIG.  1   ; and 
         FIG.  6    is a front, perspective view illustrating a tongue of the wearer positioned on the platform of the oral appliance of  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed disclosure. Also, as used in the specification and including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It is also understood that all spatial references, such as, for example, horizontal, vertical, top, upper, lower, bottom, left and right, are for illustrative purposes only and can be varied within the scope of the disclosure. For example, the references “top” and “bottom” are relative and used only in the context to the other, and are not necessarily “superior” and “inferior.” 
     As used herein, the terms parallel and perpendicular are understood to include relative configurations that are substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular up to about + or— 15 degrees from true parallel and true perpendicular. As used herein, the term “posterior” refers to that portion of the oral appliance that is further from a wearer&#39;s face, and the term “anterior” refers to that portion of the oral appliance that is closer to the wearer&#39;s face. 
     The present disclosure generally provides a thin, custom plastic retainer-like appliance that fittingly engages the front upper 6-8 teeth of a wearer. The appliance has tongue spikes on the maxillary central and lateral incisors. The appliance also includes a designated hole for establishing lingual resting posture to eliminate an anterior resting posture of the tongue and abnormal anterior motion of the tongue, while eliminating any noxious oral habits. The appliance may be configured as a clear tooth aligner to promote proper resting posture and keep the tongue off of the dentition to support success and limit regression. 
     The oral appliance corrects and habituates proper lingual resting posture, which builds strength in the posterior portion of the oral cavity by improving an individual&#39;s overall resonance quality (hyponasal/hypernasal speech quality); supporting an open airway for individuals that suffer from sleep disordered breathing; and allowing the hard palate to mold to the proper shape and dimension by forming to the size and shape of the tongue, eliminating a narrow or “V” shaped arch, maximizing space in the nasal cavity for breathing purposes, and maximizing space in the nasal cavity for the resonance of sounds. The oral appliance may also improve overall intelligibility of the wearer by improving overall resonance; improving articulatory precision of most lingual alveolar and lingual palatal sounds; and improve an overall ability to manage saliva to decrease the “slushy sound” while articulating. The appliance may also improve nasal breathing by habituating a closed mouth posture by helping to filter air through the nasal cavity, limit the impact of at least one contributing cause of hypertrophic tonsils/adenoids, alter the shape of the face, limit the buildup of plaque, gingivitis, gum recession, cavities; improve overall occlusion by eliminating the tongue&#39;s ability to sit against the teeth at rest, and remove the opportunity of the tongue to sit in the space where a tooth is missing thus allowing the permanent dentition to come down in a timely manner; and reduce overall symptoms associated with TMJ/D by reducing teeth grinding, teeth clenching, and the incidence of “broken teeth,” and deter an individual from engaging in any oral noxious habits, including but not limited to, thumb/finger sucking, tongue sucking, and nail biting. These and other advantageous of the presently disclosed appliance will be further elucidated herein. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1 - 4   , an exemplary oral appliance  100  for detachable securement to maxillary dentition “D” is illustrated. The oral appliance  100  functions to, for example, train proper lingual resting posture and break any noxious oral habits. The oral appliance  100  may be configured as a custom-made dental retainer to maintain the proper alignment of a wearer&#39;s teeth, a clear aligner to adjust the wearer&#39;s dentition, or merely function to train proper lingual resting posture. 
     The oral appliance  100  generally includes a mouthpiece or shell  102  molded to fit over a wearer&#39;s (adult or child) maxillary dentition “D,” tongue spikes  104  extending from the mouthpiece  102 , and a lingual resting platform  106  extending from the mouthpiece  102 . It is contemplated that each of the mouthpiece  102 , the tongue spikes  104 , and the lingual resting platform  106  are monolithically formed from the same material. For example, the oral appliance  100  may be fabricated entirely of clear or opaque plastic (e.g., acrylic, flexible polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane resin, polyester). 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the mouthpiece  102  is molded to fit over only the left and right canines, lateral incisors, central incisors, and in some aspects the first molars (“the anterior six to eight”) of the dentition “D.” As such, the mouthpiece  102  includes a plurality of crowns  108   a ,  108   b ,  108 ,  108   d ,  108   e ,  108   f  (collectively referred to herein as “ 108 ”), with each configured to snugly fit over a corresponding tooth of the anterior six (and in some aspects, the anterior eight). In aspects, the mouthpiece  102  may also include two additional crowns (not explicitly shown) that fit over the left and right first molars of the dentition “D.” The mouthpiece  102  may be fabricated based on a dental impression or a digital scan of the patient&#39;s dentition “D.” By only covering the anterior six to eight of the maxillary dentition “D,” the tongue of a wearer of the oral appliance  100  will not be prohibited from moving anteriorly toward the posterior surface of the anterior six to eight since proper dental occlusion will be promoted. 
     The tongue spikes  104  of the oral appliance  100  project posteriorly from a posterior surface  110  of the mouthpiece  102  and are configured to cause pain or discomfort (without injuring) to the wearer&#39;s tongue when the tongue contacts the tongue spikes  104  at rest or while thrusting the tongue during swallowing. The tongue spikes  104  interfere with sucking by the wearer because the spikes  104  (tamers or spurs) act as a tactile cue and deterrent. In aspects, the tongue spikes  104  may project perpendicularly relative to the posterior surface  110  of the mouthpiece body. 
     Each crown  108  of the mouthpiece  102  may have one, two, or more tongue spikes  104 . In other aspects, the tongue spikes  104  may be an elongated rod or any other suitable structure designed to cause pain or discomfort (without causing trauma) to the wearer&#39;s tongue sufficient to discourage, either consciously or unconsciously, continued contact of the tongue with the tongue spikes  104 . Each of the tongue spikes  104  may further include a plurality of ridges defined along a length thereof configured to cause further discomfort for the user when their tongue engages or rubs against the tongue spikes  104  in a length-wise direction of the tongue spikes  104 . In aspects, the tongue spikes  104  may be monolithically formed with or connected to the mouthpiece  102 . In aspects, the spikes  104  may be customized to fit the patient&#39;s bite. For example, during scanning of the patient&#39;s upper and lower teeth, the bite may also be scanned and the spikes  104  may be adjusted accordingly to the specific amount of space from the upper teeth and lower teeth when the bite is closed. This will prevent the lower teeth from hitting the spikes  104  when the bite is closed. 
     The lingual resting platform  106  of the oral appliance  100  extends posteriorly and upwardly (e.g., in a direction into the mouth and towards the palate) from a central location of a posterior rim  112  of the mouthpiece  102 . The platform  106  defines an aperture  114  therethrough configured to receive an anterior end of a tongue ‘T’ ( FIG.  6   ) of the wearer. The aperture  114  is configured to comfortably guide and encourage the anterior end of the tongue therein. The aperture  114  has an entrance opening  114   a  ( FIG.  1   ) facing a mandibular side of the oral appliance  100  and an exit opening  114   b  ( FIG.  2   ) facing a maxillary side of the oral appliance  100 . The entrance opening  114   a  is configured to receive the anterior end of the tongue, whereby the tongue passes upwardly through the aperture  114  and out of the aperture  114  via the exit opening  114   b . It is contemplated that the exit opening  114   b  may have a circular shape and the entrance opening  114   a  may be C-shaped. Other suitable shapes for the openings  114   a ,  114   b  are also contemplated. The platform  106  may have a ramped mandibular surface  106   a  ( FIG.  1   ), and an opposing maxillary surface  106   b  ( FIG.  2   ) configured to snugly engage a wearer&#39;s hard palate. 
     In use, as shown in  FIG.  5   , a wearer may insert the oral appliance  100  and wear the oral appliance  100  for a prescribed period of time, for example, at least about 30 minutes. While wearing the appliance  100 , a wearer, out of habit, may thrust their tongue ‘T’ into contact with the tongue spikes  104 , whereby the discomfort experienced by the wearer will automatically direct the wearer&#39;s tongue ‘T’ toward the lingual resting platform  106  of the appliance  100 . The anterior end of the wearer&#39;s tongue “T” will be guided away from the tongue spikes  104  and into the aperture  114  where the tongue “T” will rest comfortably, as shown in  FIG.  6   . The appliance  100  allows for proper labial closure at rest and while swallowing, proper lingual motion on swallows, and proper lingual resting posture, whereby the posterior and anterior dentition is allowed to properly occlude, thus engaging the masseter muscles. 
     It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplification of the various embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.