Patent ID: 7314372

Claim:
A method for changing the form of at least one of the facial and jaw bones of a patient in which such bone did not develop fully during childhood, said method comprising the steps of: providing a device having a plate body that fits within the mouth of the patient, flap springs that project from the plate body and an overlay extending from the plate body; placing the device within the mouth of the patient so that the overlay is in a position between at least an upper and lower tooth of the patient, the flap springs press against at least one selected tooth that is out of place and the plate body is spaced from the patient's tissue, including the palate; and arranging the shape and placement of the device such that contact of the patient's upper tooth and lower tooth or teeth with the overlay causes the patient's facial muscles to intermittently pull on at least one of the bones essentially each time the patient swallows, thereby causing further development of the at least one bones toward a symmetrical appearance of the face and the positioning of the out of place tooth or teeth into a proper position or positions.