A device (50, 60, 70, 90, 100) for helping maintain a mouth of a patient in an open position, the device comprising: a tooth engaging portion (52, 62, 72, 92, 102) comprising at least one groove (34, 64) for accepting at least one lower tooth of the patient's lower jaw, wherein the at least one groove comprises a contact surface configured to contact a posterior surface of the at least one lower tooth when accepting the at least one tooth; an extension portion (56, 66, 94, 104) that extends away from the tooth engaging portion; and a rigid handle (58, 68, 78, 96, 106) that extends down from the extension portion; wherein the handle (58, 68, 78, 96, 106) and the extension portion (56, 66, 94, 104) comprise a solid, one-piece construct, wherein the extension portion (56, 66, 94, 104) is curved such that the handle (58, 68, 78, 96, 106) ends in a caudal end that extends back toward the tooth engaging portion, and wherein the caudal end of the handle (58, 68, 78, 96, 106) and the at least one groove of the tooth engaging portion (52, 62, 72, 92, 102) lie along a longitudinal axis drawn through a center of the at least one groove, wherein the caudal end of the handle (58, 68, 78, 96, 106) is aligned with the contact surface of the at least one groove (34, 64) of the tooth engaging portion (52, 62, 72, 92, 102) such that, when a said groove is accepting the at least one lower tooth, a force from pulling the caudal end of the handle (58, 68, 78, 96, 106) downward is directed to the at least one lower tooth in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the at least one lower tooth, wherein said longitudinal axis is through a center of the groove (34, 64). a tooth engaging portion (52, 62, 72, 92, 102) comprising at least one groove (34, 64) for accepting at least one lower tooth of the patient's lower jaw, wherein the at least one groove comprises a contact surface configured to contact a posterior surface of the at least one lower tooth when accepting the at least one tooth; an extension portion (56, 66, 94, 104) that extends away from the tooth engaging portion; and a rigid handle (58, 68, 78, 96, 106) that extends down from the extension portion; wherein the handle (58, 68, 78, 96, 106) and the extension portion (56, 66, 94, 104) comprise a solid, one-piece construct, wherein the extension portion (56, 66, 94, 104) is curved such that the handle (58, 68, 78, 96, 106) ends in a caudal end that extends back toward the tooth engaging portion, and wherein the caudal end of the handle (58, 68, 78, 96, 106) and the at least one groove of the tooth engaging portion (52, 62, 72, 92, 102) lie along a longitudinal axis drawn through a center of the at least one groove, wherein the caudal end of the handle (58, 68, 78, 96, 106) is aligned with the contact surface of the at least one groove (34, 64) of the tooth engaging portion (52, 62, 72, 92, 102) such that, when a said groove is accepting the at least one lower tooth, a force from pulling the caudal end of the handle (58, 68, 78, 96, 106) downward is directed to the at least one lower tooth in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the at least one lower tooth, wherein said longitudinal axis is through a center of the groove (34, 64).