Patent ID: 8316859

Claim:
An interocclusal appliance for fitting over maxillary or mandibular teeth of a user, comprising: a preform comprising a base and an impression material, wherein the base is shaped as a dental arch having a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion together forming said dental arch, and said base has at least one top surface and at least one bottom surface; wherein the impression material is bonded to the top surface of said base, with said impression material defining a first receiving portion in the first end portion of the base for receiving one or more molars, and with said impression material defining a second receiving portion in the second end portion of the base for receiving one or more molars; wherein said impression material forms a slanted ledge at the central portion that is sloped downwardly from a maximum impression material thickness where the ledge contacts the first and second end portions to a minimum impression material thickness at an apex of the dental arch; and wherein said impression material comprises a polymeric material that has a Vicat softening temperature, and said base comprises a polymeric material, and upon heating the preform to a temperature that is above the Vicat softening temperature of the impression material polymeric material, the receiving portions may be molded into cavities for receiving at least one molar.