Patent ID: 6932598

Claim:
A device for assisting a patient in maintaining a protraction force on the patient's mandibular jaw, and in maintaining a posteriorly-directed force on a maxillary posterior first tooth in the patient's maxillary jaw, said first tooth having a mesial surface and a maxillary occlusal surface, said maxillary jaw having an adjacent opening between said posterior first tooth and an adjacent forward second tooth, said mandibular jaw including a mandibular occlusal plane and a mandibular posterior third tooth having a clinical crown, said jaws having corrected and uncorrected positions, said device comprising: a lower tooth attachment having an outer surface, for connecting said device to said third tooth; a mounting means connected to said outer surface of said lower tooth attachment; a bumper unit, further comprising: at least one holding means connected to said mounting means; and a bite bumper fixed to said holding means including an abutment surface and an obstruction surface, and means for disposing said obstruction surface at a predetermined vertical height over a mandibular occlusal plane, and being receivable in an opening between said posterior first tooth and an adjacent forward tooth as a patient's jaw is moved to a fully closed position in which teeth in mandibular jaw contact teeth on the maxillary jaw; said device attachable to said third tooth, so as to place said obstruction surface in contact with said maxillary occlusal surface of said first tooth when said mandibular jaw is in said uncorrected position, causing said obstruction surface to strike said maxillary occlusal surface when the patient attempts to close said jaws in said uncorrected position, thereby preventing complete closure of said jaws unless said mandibular jaw is protracted in an anterior direction from said uncorrected position sufficient to allow said bite bumper to clear said maxillary occlusal surface, at which point the patient may close said jaws in said corrected position, bringing said bite bumper into said adjacent opening, and bringing said abutment surface of said bite bumper into contact with said mesial surface of said first tooth; said tooth attachment being an annular orthodontic band having an opening for the occlusal surface of said clinical crown; and including an occlusal rest connected to said orthodontic band, for increasing the retention and stability of said tooth attachment on said third tooth; and whereby said first tooth is urged posteriorly, said mandibular jaw is urged anteriorly, and over a period of time said jaws and teeth become stable in said corrected position.