Patent Description:
Various mouthpieces are currently used by dental health professionals, dental hygienists, and dental assistants in the field of dentistry. In the past, a dental patient has been treated by a traditional two-person team that comprises a dental professional and a dental assistant. Further, dental treatment may be provided by the team using many different types of dental equipment and materials. Such dental equipment and materials may include such items as an intraoral mirror, a bite block, a slow speed suction ejector, a high speed suction ejector, gauzes, cotton rolls, and dry angles. Each item of dental equipment may be used for different purposes, though some may be used in combination for some types of dental services. As such, a dental professional seeking to provide such dental services may need to use multiple items of such dental equipment. An important role of the dental assistant is therefore to assist the dental professional in coordinating the use of these multiple items of different equipment and materials.

Patent Application Publication No. <CIT> discloses a salvia ejector that utilizes a single planar double leaf shaped plate design that is embossed on their inner faces with a series of arced ribs and folded about its midpoint. A tab and slot arrangement about the center of the plates joins the two plates. Placement of the ejector within the mouth lies along the interior of the patient's cheek.

Patent Application Publication No. <CIT> teaches a dental mouthpiece that may be attached to a high-suction dental adapter. The mouthpiece may comprise a main body portion, a cheek retractor portion, and a suction connector portion.

Patent Application Publication No. <CIT> discloses an intraoral device. The device includes a flexible body having an upper front flap including evacuations holes and a upper edge; an upper rear flap forming an upper pocket with the upper front flap and including internal channels and a upper edge separated from the upper edge of the upper front flap to form an upper pocket opening, a lower front flap including evacuation holes and a lower edge, a lower rear flap forming a lower pocket with the lower front flap and including internal channels and a lower edge separated from the lower edge of the lower front flap to form a lower pocket opening.

There is, therefore, a need in the art for improved systems and methods of providing dental services in a more efficient, comfortable, and safe manner to the dental patient.

In particular, a dental mouthpiece formed in a curve is disclosed. Such a mouthpiece may comprise of a main body portion at a central part of the curve having a first end and a second end, a suction connector portion connected to the main body portion at the first end, and a cheek retractor portion connected to the main body portion at the second end.

The main body portion, the suction connector portion, and the cheek retractor portion may be molded in one piece, preferably by injection molding. The mouthpiece may be made of a material that is flexible, translucent, conductive to injection molding, high heat-resistant, and autoclavable. Such a material may include silicone. Because the mouthpiece may be made of a high heat-resistant and autoclavable material, such a mouthpiece may be reusable.

The main body portion comprises of an anterior wall inside the curve and a posterior wall outside the curve. The anterior wall and the posterior wall may define an interior space, within which at least one connector connects the anterior wall to the posterior wall. At least one anterior intervening wall extends from the anterior wall partially towards the posterior wall, and at least one posterior intervening wall extends from the posterior wall partially towards the anterior wall. The anterior intervening walls and the posterior intervening walls each has alternating crests and troughs.

Embodiments of the present invention may include a mouthpiece that may be attached to a high-suction dental adapter for the purpose of assisting the dental staff during dental procedures through chair-side, hands-free suction, and isolation. Such a mouthpiece may comprise a main body portion, a cheek retractor portion, a suction connector portion, a stability bar, and a bite block. In some embodiments, any combination of the main body portion, cheek retractor portion, suction connector portion, a stability bar and bite block (and sub-portions thereof) may be molded in one piece, preferably by injection molding. In an exemplary embodiment, the mouthpiece may be made of a material that is flexible, resilient, at least translucent, and conducive to injection molding. Such a material may include thermoplastic elastomers known in the art.

<FIG> is a top view of the dental mouthpiece. A dental mouthpiece <NUM> includes a main body portion <NUM> having a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM> opposite the first end <NUM>. A longitudinal axis <NUM> may extend from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, a suction connector portion <NUM> may be coupled to the first end <NUM> and a cheek retractor portion <NUM> may be coupled to the second end <NUM>, though in other examples the mouthpiece <NUM> may not have a suction connector portion <NUM> and/or a cheek retractor portion <NUM>. A bite block <NUM> may also be integrated to the suction connector portion <NUM> near the first end <NUM> of the main body portion <NUM>, though the bite block <NUM> may be positioned anywhere on the suction connector portion <NUM>.

The main body portion <NUM> may include a neck <NUM> extending from the second end <NUM> to the cheek retractor portion <NUM>. The neck <NUM> may have a width <NUM> that is less than a width of the main body portion <NUM>, a width of the cheek retractor portion <NUM>, and/or a width of the suction connector portion <NUM>, though the width <NUM> may be greater than the width of the main body portion <NUM>, the cheek retractor portion <NUM>, and/or the suction connector portion <NUM> in other examples.

In the illustrated embodiment, the suction connector portion <NUM>, the cheek retractor portion <NUM>, the bite block <NUM>, and the main body portion <NUM> are constructed as one piece, though in other examples each of the suction connector portion <NUM>, the cheek retractor portion <NUM>, the bite block <NUM>, and/or the main body <NUM> may be separate pieces. For example, in some embodiments, the main body portion <NUM>, the cheek retractor portion <NUM>, and the suction connector portion <NUM> (and sub-portions thereof) may be molded as one-piece, preferably by injection molding and the bite block <NUM> may be a separate piece attachable to the suction connector portion <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the mouthpiece <NUM> may be made of a material that is flexible, resilient, translucent, and conducive to injection molding. Such a material may include thermoplastic elastomer.

<FIG> is an isometric view of a dental mouthpiece shown in <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the main body portion <NUM> may be shaped in a curve. Because the mouthpiece <NUM> is made of a flexible and resilient material (e.g., thermoplastic elastomer), the mouthpiece <NUM> may be bent when placed in a patient's mouth to conform to the shape of the mouth. When properly positioned, the suction connector portion <NUM> may protrude from one side of the patient's mouth, while the main body portion <NUM> lies against the back of the patient's mouth, and the cheek retractor portion <NUM> presses against the patient's cheek on the opposite side of the patient's mouth.

The cheek retractor portion <NUM> may be configured to press against and retract a patient's cheek away from the patient's teeth on an opposite side of the patient's mouth than the side from which the connection portion <NUM> extends. The flexibility of the material used to form the mouthpiece <NUM> allows for some bending when placed in the patient's mouth, but the resilience of the material further allows the mouthpiece <NUM> to apply pressure against a part of the patient's mouth when the mouthpiece <NUM> is released from bending. The material is resilient enough, for example, to allow the cheek retractor portion <NUM> to press against the inside of the patient's cheek with such pressure being sufficient to move the cheek away from the patient's teeth. The cheek retractor portion <NUM> is illustrated as a hammerhead distal region, which may be attached to the main body portion <NUM>. The cheek retractor portion <NUM> may be solid in some examples, though may be hollow in other examples.

The main body portion <NUM> may comprise an anterior wall <NUM> on an inner part of the curve and a posterior wall <NUM> (also seen in <FIG>) on an outer part of the curve. The anterior wall <NUM> may face a front of the patient's mouth and the posterior wall <NUM> may face a back of the patient's mouth. The anterior wall <NUM> and the posterior wall <NUM> of the main body portion <NUM> may be configured in parallel to each other. The anterior wall <NUM> has a defined shape that may correspond to the defined shape of the posterior wall <NUM>, though the anterior wall <NUM> may be a different shape than the posterior wall <NUM> in other examples. The defined shape may be wider at the first end <NUM> and narrower at the second end <NUM>. In some embodiments, the shape corresponds to a shield shape though the shape may be, for example, a square, a straight line arrow, a rectangle, a star, an oval, a circle, or a shape that generally conforms to the intraoral shape of the patient's mouth. Differently-sized mouthpieces may be provided for differently-sized mouths of adults and children. Part of the shape at the first end <NUM> may be formed with thicker walls than the rest of the main body portion <NUM>. Such thickening may provide additional stability at the first end <NUM>. When positioned within the mouth of a patient, the anterior wall <NUM> and the posterior wall <NUM> are capable of blocking an airway of the patient, while the bite block <NUM> is positioned between the patient's teeth, the suction connector portion <NUM> extends from one side of the patient's mouth, and the cheek retractor portion <NUM> presses against the cheek on the opposite side of the patient's mouth.

The main body portion <NUM> may also include openings <NUM> located on the anterior wall <NUM> and/or the posterior wall <NUM>. Such openings <NUM> (e.g., perforations, slit, aperture, etc.) allow for suction of air, fluids, and small debris from the patient's mouth through the openings <NUM> and into the interior space <NUM>, and into the suction connector portion <NUM> towards a suction source. The openings <NUM> may be positioned on a perimeter of the shape of the anterior wall <NUM> and/or the posterior wall <NUM>. In the same example, the openings <NUM> may be positioned on either side of the neck <NUM> on the anterior wall <NUM> and/or the posterior wall <NUM>. In another example, the openings <NUM> are apertures. In the same example, the apertures are each the same size, though in other examples some or all of the apertures may be different sizes.

<FIG> is a rear view of the dental mouthpiece shown in <FIG>. As visible in <FIG>, the suction connector portion <NUM> may be oval-shaped and also attached to the main body portion <NUM>. The suction connector portion <NUM> may be formed with thicker walls than the main body portion <NUM> and configured to attach to a high-suction vacuum adapter and to assist in transferring water, saliva, and debris from the interior space <NUM> to the external adapter for removal. The suction connector portion <NUM> may also include an internal stop to assist in sliding the mouthpiece onto the adapter to a desired depth.

The superior wall <NUM> in <FIG> may be used herein to refer to the side that rests against a roof of a patient's mouth when placed therein, and the inferior wall <NUM> may be used to refer to the side that rests against the floor of the patient's mouth. The superior wall <NUM> and inferior wall <NUM> may be formed identically, which may allow for the mouthpiece to change orientation such that the superior wall <NUM> may appear as the inferior wall <NUM> and vice versa, in the new orientation. When in use, the superior wall <NUM> and the inferior wall <NUM> of the main body portion <NUM> may serve to protect and separate the top of the mouth and the bottom of the mouth/tongue. In addition, the main body portion <NUM> may also serve to protect the back of the mouth (e.g., throat and airway) from falling debris.

<FIG> is a bottom view of the dental mouthpiece shown in <FIG>. The anterior wall <NUM> and the posterior wall <NUM> may be connected to each other at by at least one connector <NUM>. In some embodiments, the suction connector portion <NUM> may have a cutout <NUM> (e.g., which may be shaped as a logo, a rectangular notch, a square notch, or a circular notch, or any shaped notch) providing extra interlocking with a corresponding protrusion (e.g., which may also be shaped as a logo, a rectangular protrusion, a square protrusion, or a circular protrusion, or any shaped protrusion) on an external high-suction vacuum adapter.

The bite block <NUM> may be reinforced by bite block openings <NUM> to create cavities in the bite block to result in a more stable bite block. In an embodiment, the bite block openings <NUM> may be two parallel rectangular openings that open at the bottom of the bite block. The bite block openings <NUM> may extend up to the suction connector portion <NUM> but not extending past the thickness of the suction connector portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a coronal top cross section view of the dental mouthpiece shown in <FIG>. The main body portion <NUM> may include the bridge structure <NUM> that protrudes from the interior surface <NUM> of the posterior wall <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and also visible in <FIG> and <FIG>. In some embodiments, the bridge structure <NUM> may follow the shape of a logo (e.g., an arrowhead or shield). The bridge structure may have a gap at the tip of the arrowhead shape, creating an open arc instead of a point of an arrow. In some embodiments, the bridge structure <NUM> may be centrally-located in the main body portion <NUM> of the mouthpiece <NUM>. In some examples, such bridge structure <NUM> may protrude from the interior surface <NUM> in a wave shape with bridge crests <NUM> and bridge troughs <NUM>. In other embodiments, the bridge structure <NUM> may protrude in the shape of battlements or trapezoids. The bridge crests <NUM> provide a plurality of contact points that are generally separate from the anterior wall <NUM>. The bridge crests <NUM> near the opening <NUM> of the suction connector portion <NUM> may have a greater height than the bridge crests <NUM> further from the opening <NUM>, as visible in <FIG> and <FIG>. The bridge crests <NUM> near the opening <NUM> of the suction connection portion <NUM> may also be longer than the bridge crests <NUM> further away from the suction connection portion <NUM> as shown later in <FIG>. The bridge troughs <NUM> may be substantially flush or extend above the interior surface <NUM>. The bridge crests <NUM> contact the anterior wall <NUM> during suction to keep the anterior wall <NUM> spaced away from the posterior wall <NUM> during suction, thereby preventing collapse of the anterior wall <NUM> or the posterior wall <NUM> into the interior space <NUM> so that debris and/or water can be evacuated through the interior space <NUM>. Meanwhile, the bridge troughs <NUM> provide gaps that allow for suction of air, fluids, and small debris through the bridge structure <NUM>. In other examples, the bridge structure <NUM> may be smooth, may include sharp crests and sharp troughs, circular crests and circular troughs, square crests and square troughs, or shape or combination of shapes of crests and troughs.

The main body portion <NUM> may further include a stability bar <NUM>, shown in <FIG> and also visible in <FIG>, that extends from approximately the center of the main body portion <NUM> toward the cheek retractor portion <NUM>. Such stability bar <NUM> may protrude from the interior surface <NUM> of the posterior wall <NUM> along the longitudinal axis <NUM>. In an embodiment, the stability bar <NUM> begins from the open arc of the bridge structure <NUM> and continue along the longitudinal axis <NUM> towards the second end <NUM> past the neck <NUM> and ends before reaching the cheek retractor portion <NUM>. The stability bar <NUM> may protrude from the interior surface <NUM> of the posterior wall <NUM> towards the interior surface <NUM> of the anterior wall <NUM>. The stability bar <NUM> may be of any height ranging from the height of the interior space <NUM> or any height less than the interior space <NUM>. In an embodiment, the stability bar <NUM> may have attached connectors <NUM> at specific locations that may attach the anterior wall <NUM> to the posterior wall <NUM>. The connectors <NUM> on the stability bar <NUM> may assist with retraction, stability, support and curvature of the mouthpiece <NUM> during suction. In an exemplary embodiment, there may be multiple connectors <NUM> aligned with the stability bar <NUM> the stability bar <NUM>, though the stability bar <NUM> may not be aligned with the at least one connector <NUM> in other examples.

<FIG> is a side view of the dental mouthpiece shown in <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates the view of the inferior side that rests against the floor of the patient's mouth. The anterior wall <NUM> and the posterior wall <NUM> are spaced from each other and define the interior space <NUM>. Other than the at least one connector <NUM>, a stability bar <NUM>, and a bridge structure <NUM>, the interior space <NUM> is generally open and unobstructed, thereby allowing for suction to flow throughout the interior space <NUM>. The interior space <NUM> between the anterior wall <NUM> and the posterior wall <NUM> generally follows the same defined shape of the anterior wall <NUM> and the posterior wall <NUM>. In one example, the interior space <NUM> extends through the neck <NUM>, though in other examples the interior space <NUM> may not extend through the neck <NUM>. In yet other examples, the interior space <NUM> extends through the neck <NUM> and into the cheek retractor portion <NUM>.

At least one anterior intervening wall <NUM> may extend from at least one edge <NUM> of the anterior wall <NUM> partially towards the posterior wall <NUM> and may have a thickness that extends from the at least one edge <NUM> to a mid-point between the anterior wall <NUM> and the posterior wall <NUM>. The span of such anterior intervening wall <NUM> therefore may not extend the entire distance between the anterior wall <NUM> and the posterior wall <NUM>. The thickness of such anterior intervening wall <NUM> may increase from the cheek retractor portion <NUM>, through the neck <NUM>, and to the first end <NUM>. Such increasing depth may provide for increased rigidity at the first end <NUM>. Such anterior intervening wall <NUM> may further be ridged in some embodiments, or have a smooth edge in other embodiments. In one example, the anterior intervening wall <NUM> includes an alternating crest <NUM> and trough <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the crests <NUM> are a flat surface and the troughs <NUM> are a cylindrical cutout surface, though the crests <NUM> and the troughs <NUM> may be any shape. In some examples, the crests <NUM> and the troughs <NUM> extend the entire depth of the anterior intervening wall <NUM>, though in other examples the crests <NUM> and/or the troughs <NUM> may extend partially along the anterior intervening wall <NUM>. The crests <NUM> and the troughs <NUM> may provide further retraction, stability, support and curvature to the mouthpiece <NUM>.

The posterior wall <NUM> may have a corresponding at least one posterior intervening wall <NUM> that extends from at least one edge <NUM> of the posterior wall <NUM> and partially extends towards the anterior wall <NUM>. The posterior intervening wall <NUM> may likewise exhibit ridges that are the same, a mirror image, or different from the anterior intervening wall <NUM>. In one example, the ridges of the anterior intervening wall <NUM> may be aligned with the ridges of the posterior intervening wall <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. In combination, the anterior intervening wall <NUM> and the posterior intervening wall <NUM> and their respective aligned ridges may form an open mesh between the anterior wall <NUM> and the posterior wall <NUM>. Such open mesh may follow the edges <NUM>,<NUM> of each of the anterior wall <NUM> and the posterior wall <NUM> from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM>. The open mesh between the anterior intervening wall <NUM> and the posterior intervening wall <NUM> allows for suction of air, fluids, and small debris from patient's mouth, through the mesh into the interior space <NUM> and into the suction connector portion <NUM> towards a suction source.

The anterior intervening wall <NUM> may join with the posterior intervening wall <NUM> at the superior wall <NUM> and the inferior wall <NUM> at near the suction connector portion <NUM> of the main body at the first end <NUM>. The anterior intervening wall <NUM> may also join with the posterior intervening wall <NUM> at the superior wall <NUM> and the inferior wall <NUM> near the cheek retractor portion <NUM> at the second end <NUM>. In some embodiments, the anterior intervening wall <NUM> may join with the posterior intervening wall <NUM> at the cheek retractor portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side of the dental mouthpiece shown in <FIG> with an anterior wall of the mouthpiece pulled away from a posterior wall of the mouthpiece. The at least one connector <NUM> may span the distance between the anterior wall <NUM> and the posterior wall <NUM> within the interior space <NUM>. In other words, the connector <NUM> may be attached to an interior surface <NUM> of the posterior wall <NUM> and to an interior surface <NUM> of the anterior wall <NUM>. The at least one connector <NUM> may provide structural rigidity to the mouthpiece <NUM> and may be a pillar, column, wall, or the like. In the illustrated example, the at least one connector <NUM> includes three connectors, each in the shape of a pillar and linearly spaced from each other.

<FIG> is a transverse cross section view of the dental mouthpiece shown in <FIG>. The bridge crests <NUM> near the opening <NUM> of the suction connector portion <NUM> may have a greater height than the bridge crests <NUM> further from the opening <NUM>. The bridge crests <NUM> near the opening <NUM> of the suction connection portion <NUM> may also be longer than the bridge crests <NUM> further away from the suction connection portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a transverse cross section view of the dental mouthpiece in <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates where the suction connector attaches to the main body. As visible in <FIG>, the suction connector portion <NUM> may be oval-shaped and also attached to the main body portion <NUM> in a seamless transition until the main body reaches the bridge structure <NUM>, where the bridge crests <NUM> and the bridge troughs <NUM> may partially block the opening of the main body portion <NUM> near the suction connector portion <NUM>. The bite block <NUM> is attached on the outside of the suction connector portion <NUM> such a manner that the bite block does not interrupt the opening of the suction connector potion <NUM>.

The suction connector portion <NUM> may include an opening <NUM> (also shown in <FIG>), that opens into an interior space <NUM> of the main body portion <NUM> to allow for fluid communication between the interior space <NUM> and the suction connector portion <NUM>. At least one suction connector portion wall <NUM> may extend from the anterior wall <NUM> to the posterior wall <NUM> near the opening <NUM> of the suction connector portion <NUM> to prevent collapse of the anterior wall <NUM> and the posterior wall <NUM> during suctioning. The at least one suction connector portion wall <NUM> includes a pair of walls positioned on either side of the opening <NUM> of the suction connector portion <NUM>.

The bite block <NUM> may include bite block crests <NUM> and bite block troughs <NUM> on either sides of the bite block to create greater traction and support for the bite block. In an embodiment, the bite block crests <NUM> and bite block troughs <NUM> may create jagged shape or wave shape on either sides of the bite block, although the bite block crests <NUM> and bite block troughs <NUM> may be in any shape.

<FIG> is a cross section view of an embodiment of the dental mouthpiece shown in <FIG> with a wall connector. In this embodiment, the connector <NUM> connects the anterior wall <NUM> with the posterior wall <NUM> at the longitudinal axis <NUM> as a solid wall. The connector <NUM> extends from the neck <NUM> at the second end <NUM> some distance away from the cheek retractor portion <NUM> towards the first end <NUM> along the longitudinal axis <NUM> and stops near the opening of the bridge structure <NUM> around the mid-point of the main body portion <NUM>. In other embodiment, the connector <NUM> may extend along the longitudinal axis <NUM> and stop anywhere within the interior space <NUM> of the main body portion.

<FIG> is a longitudinal cross section view of an embodiment of the dental mouthpiece shown in <FIG> with column connectors. In this embodiment, the connector <NUM> connects the anterior wall <NUM> with the posterior wall <NUM> at the longitudinal axis <NUM> as three evenly spaced cylindrical pillars in line with the stability bar <NUM>. A first connector is positioned in the main body portion <NUM>, a second connector is positioned near the neck <NUM>, and a third connector is spaced near the cheek retractor portion <NUM>. The linear spacing of the three connectors may provide additional rigidity to the neck <NUM>, while maintaining a narrow width <NUM> of the neck <NUM>. In other examples, such connectors <NUM> may be located in the area where a positioned mouthpiece <NUM> begins to wrap from one side of the mouth, to the back of the mouth, then to the other side of the mouth, thereby assisting in shaping the mouthpiece <NUM> to the general intraoral shape of a patient's mouth. In other examples, the at least one connector <NUM> may include one connector, two connectors, or more than two connectors and each connector may be positioned anywhere on the mouthpiece <NUM>. In one example, the at least one connector <NUM> is a rib that extends from the main body portion <NUM>, through the neck <NUM>, and to the cheek retractor portion <NUM>.

The mouthpiece as described herein may be used with a one-piece, autoclavable, high-suction vacuum adapter. Such a high-suction vacuum body adapter may be made of a single homogenous material. Having a single lever design, such a vacuum adapter may function in the same manner as all the current high-suction vacuum evacuators and saliva ejectors in controlling the removal of water, saliva, and debris from the oral cavity to the outside vacuum source. The single lever may be designed to control the removal of water, saliva, and debris from the at least partially enclosed so main body through a single, large evacuation conduit within the suction connector portion.

Claim 1:
A dental mouthpiece (<NUM>) formed in a curve, the dental mouthpiece (<NUM>) comprising:
a main body portion (<NUM>) at a central part of the curve having a first end (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>), the main body portion (<NUM>) having an anterior wall (<NUM>) inside the curve and a posterior wall (<NUM>) outside the curve and spaced at a distance from the anterior wall (<NUM>), the anterior wall (<NUM>) and the posterior wall (<NUM>) defining an interior space (<NUM>), at least one connector (<NUM>) connecting the anterior wall (<NUM>) to the posterior wall (<NUM>);
a suction connector portion (<NUM>) connected to the first end (<NUM>), the suction connector portion (<NUM>) connecting the interior space (<NUM>) to a vacuum suction source; and
a cheek retractor portion (<NUM>) connected to the second end (<NUM>);
characterized in that:
the dental mouthpiece (<NUM>) comprises at least one intervening wall (<NUM>, <NUM>) extending from an edge (<NUM>) of the anterior wall (<NUM>) partially towards the posterior wall (<NUM>) or extending from an edge (<NUM>) of the posterior wall (<NUM>) partially towards the anterior wall (<NUM>), wherein the at least one intervening wall (<NUM>, <NUM>) has a plurality of alternating crests (<NUM>) and troughs (<NUM>).