Patent ID: 7404404

Claim:
An intraoral dental apparatus comprising: upper and lower trays complementary with at least two upper front teeth and at least two lower front teeth of a wearer, said trays connected together at the rear portion in a non-pivotal manner by flexible elongated members that when placed between said upper and lower front teeth exert a force tending to press the trays against the respective said upper and lower front teeth, said trays further constructed so as to create a gap between at least two pairs of upper and lower rear teeth when the wearer's mouth is fully closed; wherein said trays are comprised of an essentially flat base and raised exterior and interior walls; further wherein said flexible elongated members are part of a one-piece device wherein said upper and lower trays are integral with the flexible elongated members, said flexible elongated members having a straight shape when the device is at rest, such that the upper and lower trays are in essentially a same plane; and further wherein said exterior wall of at least one of said trays extends rearward to a point beyond an end of said flat base and said flexible elongated member attaches to said exterior wall at said point beyond said end of the flat base.