Patent ID: 7004172

Claim:
A mouthpiece for use by a person during sleep to aid in reducing snoring, said mouthpiece comprising: a mouthpiece body of a thermoplastic material having a shape generally complementary to the person's dental arch, including a posterior end having two spaced apart members positioned toward the back of the person's dental arch when properly worn, and an anterior end having an airway opening therethrough, the anterior end positioned when properly worn to support the person's lips spaced apart so that air flows through the airway opening; a plate member comprising material extending between said two spaced apart members from approximately the posterior end to the anterior end of said mouthpiece body; and a substantially rigid, protective mold of a thermostable material, said protective mold forming a portion of said mouthpiece body so that the mold protects at least a periphery of the mouthpiece body from imprinting by teeth.