Patent ID: 8459267

Claim:
An improved mouthguard comprising: a bottom wall formed of a resilient material and having an approximate U-shape corresponding generally to the shape of an arch of the a first row of the user's teeth, the bottom wall having a bottom surface substantially flat laterally and being of greater width than the width a second row of the user's teeth so as to extend laterally across the full width of the second row of teeth; a plurality of spaced inner and outer flanges extending upwardly from the bottom wall forming a cavity for receiving the first row of teeth; a portion of greater thickness extending downward from the bottom wall across the length of each molar-bicuspid region, the portion of greater thickness being formed in an anterior-posterior direction to have an even surface curved in the anterior-posterior direction at each the molar-bicuspid region; and a plurality of adjacent openings in the bottom wall and into the portion of greater thickness but not all the way through the bottom wall and portion of greater thickness, the plurality of adjacent openings configured to absorb shock resulting from a blow to the lower jaw.