Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to dental implements and, more particularly, to novel apparatus for maintaining the mouth of a patient in an open position while retaining the tongue in a desired location. More particularly, the present invention encompasses bite blocks with an adjustable tongue suppressor. 
     2. Relevant Technology 
     When a dentist performs a procedure, the patient&#39;s mouth must be held open to provide access to the patient&#39;s teeth. In simple, short procedures, such as an examination or teeth cleaning, the patient may be able to open his mouth wide and long enough for the dentist to perform the dental procedure. However, in longer and more complex procedures, the patient may tire from holding his or her mouth open or, in the alternative, be unable to hold his or her mouth open due to the pain of the dental procedure or numbness resulting from the anesthesia. In these types of procedures, dental mouth props may be used by a dentist in an effort to mechanically maintain the patient&#39;s mouth in the open position. 
     As appreciated by those skilled in the art, dental mouth props may function in a variety of ways. For example, some prior art dental mouth props incorporate a tubular frame inserted between the cheek and gum of a patient&#39;s mouth. Dental mouth props of this general nature generally mask the outer surface of the teeth, thereby making it difficult to view, drill, fill and/or perform other dental procedures on the teeth. Moreover, the dental mouth prop is usually positioned on both sides of the mouth, thus having the effect of obscuring the dentist&#39;s view and access from all angles within the patient&#39;s mouth. 
     Other dental mouth props have been developed by those skilled in the art which engage the teeth of a patent. These prior art dental mouth props are typically inserted between the upper and lower molars on one side of the mouth allowing a dentist to view and have working access to a larger area of the patient&#39;s mouth. However, these devices have no provisions for patient comfort and may cut and irritate the patient&#39;s mouth, gums and cheeks. Often these types of dental mouth prop devices are small and could be accidentally swallowed by a patient causing severe injury to the patient. 
     As appreciated by those skilled in the art, a patient&#39;s tongue may also interfere with a dental procedure by interfering with the dentist&#39;s visibility and by interrupting the limited available work space within the patient&#39;s mouth. Traditionally, dentists have used a variety of implements in an effort to suppress the tongue during a dental procedure. For example, dentists have used hand-held suppressors to hold the tongue in place. However, the use of hand-held tongue suppressors restricts the dentist to the use of only one hand or requires a dental assistant to hold the suppressor in place. Hand-held suppressors can therefore crowd the available working space within the mouth and prevent a clear view of the targeted work area. 
     In view of the foregoing, efforts have been made to integrate into a single device the ability to prop open the patient&#39;s mouth while suppressing the tongue. An example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,866 to Campbell, which issued Jun. 12, 2001. The Campbell device includes a bite block sized and configured to engage the patient&#39;s teeth in order to thereby maintain the mouth in the desired propped-open orientation and a tongue suppressor that extends laterally from the side of the bite block. The tongue suppressor is sized and configured so as to be slidably disposed within a corresponding slot within the bite block so as to provide lateral adjustment of the tongue suppressor relative to the bite block. 
     Whereas the Campbell device represents an improvement over previous dental mouth props and tongue suppressors, it is limited in the range of adjustability of the tongue suppressor relative to the bite block. In view of the tremendous variability in the size and shape of the patient&#39;s mouths, dental arches, teeth and tongues, the adjustability feature provided by the Campbell device may not adequately cover all such variations in an optimal manner. Accordingly, there exists a need for a bite block/tongue suppressor having greater adjustability so as to accommodate any and all differences in the size and shape of patient&#39;s mouths, dental arches, teeth and tongues. 
     Such adjustable tongue suppressing bite blocks that provide greater adjustability are disclosed and claimed herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises an adjustable dental apparatus for suppressing the tongue and maintaining the mouth of a patient in an open position. The dental apparatus comprises a bite block that is used to keep the patient&#39;s mouth in the open position and a tongue suppressor adjustably connected to the bite block. In this way, a single device can be used to simultaneously maintain the patient&#39;s mouth in an open position to facilitate access to the patient&#39;s teeth while also suppressing the tongue so as to keep it from inadvertently (or purposefully) obstructing access. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the bite block includes one or more slots therethrough configured to receive therein a corresponding portion of the tongue depressor in an adjustable fashion. The one or more slots provide or allow for at least two modes of adjustment of the tongue suppressor relative to the bite block. The first mode of adjustment allows for lateral movement of the tongue suppressor relative to the bite block, thereby providing the ability to extend or retract the tongue suppressor in order to effectively adjust the length thereof. In this way, the position of the tongue suppressor can be adjusted in order to account for varying tongue widths among different people. This adjustment is particularly advantageous for those embodiments in which the tongue suppressor includes a flange or other overhanging feature that engages a side of the tongue distal to the bite block. 
     The second mode of adjustment allows for vertical movement of the tongue suppressor relative to the bite block, thereby providing the ability to raise or lower the tongue suppressor relative to the bite block and the patient&#39;s teeth. In this way, the position of the tongue suppressor can be adjusted upwardly or downwardly in order to account for varying tongue thicknesses among different people, tooth heights, or other variations that result in variability between the relative heights of the tongue and tooth surfaces within different people. 
     Other, optional modes of adjustment are also within the scope of the invention, including but not limited to, adjustments that allow for one or more angular movements of the tongue suppressor relative to the bite block (e.g., lateral, axial or both). 
     The bite block and tongue suppressor can be of any desired design and material so long as they provide the aforementioned first and second modes of adjustment. In general, the tongue suppressor includes a retention arm that extends from its engagement with the bite block across the top of the tongue. The retention arm is the primary feature of the tongue suppressor that holds the tongue and prevents it from obstructing access to the patient&#39;s teeth. The tongue suppressor may optionally include a flange or other projection at an end distal to the bite block that projects or curves downward into the inferior aspect of the oral cavity (e.g., the bottom cavity of the mouth). This flange or other projection can engage a side of the tongue opposite to the bite block in order to provide an additional tongue suppression feature in addition to the retention arm. 
     The retention arm may be configured to slide freely into and out of the slot. Alternatively, retention mechanisms such as a friction fit, a mechanical lock, notches and the like may be incorporated into the design of the bite block and/or the tongue suppressor to more securely hold the tongue suppressor in the slot of the bite block in a desired position. 
     The bite block may be configured with one or more shoulders that extend along the sides of the teeth. These shoulders serve to position the bite block on and around the teeth and to prevent lateral slippage. Where shoulders are present on both sides of the bite block around the inside and outside of the teeth the shoulders may be of varying heights. Because the interior shoulder may project into a target area of the dental procedure, it may advantageously be of lesser height than the exterior shoulder to thereby provide more clearance than the exterior shoulder. A lower profile interior shoulder may also be less likely to rub on the roof of the mouth and cause pain or discomfort to the patient. 
     Since the bite block will generally be held in place by the teeth of a patient, the bite block may advantageously include two different surfaces that engage the upper and lower teeth, respectively. The surfaces may be elastically or plastically distortable, thus allowing the teeth of the patient to slightly penetrate and deform the surface area. In this way, the surfaces provide gentle engagement of the teeth. The surfaces may include ridges, indentations, ribs, or other features that provide means for engaging the teeth and preventing slippage of the bite block relative to the teeth. 
     The bite block may advantageously be employed on either side of the mouth, e.g., by reversing its orientation relative to the person&#39;s teeth or by removing and reversing the tongue suppressor relative to the bite block. The bite block may be manufactured to include an angle that matches the desired angle of an open mouth. The angle of engagement may vary depending on the age and size of a patient as well as the size of the area needed for conducting the dental procedure. The dentist may be provided with varying sized bite blocks and/or tongue suppressors to account for varying mouth sizes and shapes. 
     The tongue suppressing bite block may be formed, if desired, with rounded edges and surfaces to prevent injury to the soft tissue. The exterior surface of the bite block may be curved, for example, to conform to the general shape of a patient&#39;s mouth. The tongue suppressing bite block may be formed from one or more materials selected for their low cost and/or disposability. In addition, the tongue suppressing bite block may be pre-sterilized and packaged. Moreover, the tongue suppressing bite block may be treated with a desired flavoring. 
     As appreciated in the dental arts, during a dental procedure, fluid may begin to build up from salivation, bleeding and irrigation. Accordingly, the flange section of the tongue suppressor may include an access notch where suction can be applied to eliminate fluids retained in the lower cavity of the patient&#39;s mouth. 
     An emergency extraction mechanism may be incorporated into the tongue suppressing bite block to reduce the risk of a patient swallowing the apparatus during a dental procedure. For example, an aperture may be cut or formed in the tongue suppressor or bite block and a tether, such as a length of floss or string, may be secured to the aperture to allow a dentist or assistant to remove the apparatus from a patient&#39;s mouth in case of emergency. 
     As appreciated, the internal region of the mouth is a relatively small area to perform a procedure and can become crowded inside and outside by the introduction or proximity of excess dental implements. Accordingly, the tongue suppressing bite blocks in accordance with the present invention may advantageously be configured to fit entirely within a patient&#39;s mouth, thereby preventing overcrowding of the work area. 
     For purposes of disclosing various structural, comfort, protective or features that may be incorporated within the tongue suppressing bite blocks of the present invention, U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,866 is incorporated herein by reference. However, to the extent that U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,866 contains teachings that are incompatible with the second mode of adjustment described above and herein, as well the optional modes of adjustment, the present disclosure does not incorporate such teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,866. 
     In view of the foregoing, the tongue suppressing bite block is capable of maintaining the mouth of a patient in an open position while retaining the patient&#39;s tongue in the lower region of the mouth to avoid obfuscating the limited available work area within the patient&#39;s mouth. This facilitates dental procedures by improving visibility in and around the work area within a patient&#39;s mouth. The bite block is adjustable to accommodate varying sized and shaped mouths, teeth, tongues and other features that change from person to person. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and objects of the invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to a specific embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only a typical embodiment of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an adjustable tongue suppressing bite block that includes multiple slots in the bite block for vertical adjustment of the tongue suppressor and that is shown inserted within a patient&#39;s mouth; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 depicting the vertical adjustability of the tongue suppressor relative to the bite block; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of an adjustable tongue suppressing bite block that includes locking notches designed to partially restrict lateral movement of the tongue suppressor relative to the bite block; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a tongue suppressing bite block that includes a single opening and multiple ridges therein that provide both lateral and vertical adjustability of the tongue suppressor; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a tongue suppressing bite block in which the tongue suppressor is adjustable upwardly, downwardly, forwardly, and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a tongue suppressing bite block in which the tongue suppressor includes prongs designed to engage corresponding recesses within the bite block. backwardly relative to the bite block; and 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In order to better illustrate the structural and functional features of the adjustable tongue suppressing bite block according to the invention, the following detailed description is presented. It should be understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of the invention, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but is merely representative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-3, which depict an embodiment of the invention that includes features for both lateral and vertical adjustability of the tongue suppression element. More particularly, these figures depict a tongue suppressing bite block system  10  that includes a bite block  12  and a tongue suppressor  14  connected or attached to the bite block  12  in an adjustable fashion, and adjustment means for selective lateral and vertical movement of a tongue suppressor relative to the bite block  12 . The bite block is sized and configured for positioning in a person&#39;s mouth in order to maintain the person&#39;s mouth in an open position, while the tongue suppressor is oriented relative to the bite block so as to maintain the person&#39;s tongue within a confined region of the person&#39;s oral cavity when the bite block is positioned within the person&#39;s mouth. 
     The tongue suppressor  14  includes a retention arm  16  that is sized and configured so as to be slidably inserted into or retracted from within any one of a plurality of adjustment slots  18  within the bite block  12 . This ability of the retention arm  16  to be selectively inserted or withdrawn from slots  18  provides two degrees of adjustability. First, selective insertion or retraction of the retention arm  16  relative to a single adjustment slot  18  results in the ability to lengthen or shorten the tongue suppressor  14  relative to the bite block  12 . In this way, the tongue suppressing bite block  10  can account for, and be adjusted to accommodate, varying widths of tongues among different patients. 
     In addition, by withdrawing the retention arm  16  entirely from one adjustment slot  18  and then inserting it into another slot  18 , the position of the tongue suppressor can be adjusted vertically relative to the bite block  12 . In this way, the tongue suppressing bite block  10  can accommodate the great variability that exists between differently sized teeth, tongues, mouths, and the like among different patients. This function is a great improvement in the art, and it goes far beyond simply providing for lateral adjustability, as is the case where the bite block only includes a single slot for receipt of the retention arm. 
     The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-3 includes five adjustment slots  18 . It will be appreciated, however, that any number of adjustment slots  18  may be included within the bite block  12  in order to provide the desired level of vertical adjustability. The only limitation to the number of slots is the size of the bite block  12  and the depth of the slots  18  and retention arm  16 . Moreover, even though the adjustment slots  18  are depicted as being substantially parallel, it will be appreciated that the slots  18  can be angularly off-set one from another in order to provide different angular orientations, or pitches, of the tongue suppressor  14  relative to the bite block  12 , thus providing greater adjustability and variability of the tongue suppressor  14  relative to the bite block  12 . Accordingly, the interaction between the retention arm  16  and adjustment slots  18  comprises an example of the aforementioned adjustment means, as do any of the suggested variations. 
     The retention arm  16  of the tongue suppressor  14  may be sized and configured relative to the adjustment slots  18  so as to result in sufficient friction such that positive force is required to either advance or retract the retention arm  16  relative to the slots  18  of the bite block  12 . In this way, the tongue suppressor  14  will tend to remain in a desired lateral orientation relative to the bite bock  12 . 
     The tongue suppressor  14  further includes a flange or protruding portion  20  that curves or otherwise angles around the side of the patient&#39;s tongue in order to maintain the tongue at a desired spaced-apart relationship relative to the adjacent teeth (i.e., those teeth opposite the bite block  12 ). The interface between the flange  20  and the retention arm  16  is preferably curved for comfort and to better conform to the generally curved shape of the side of the tongue. The flange  20  ensures less obstructed access by the dentist or practitioner to the patient&#39;s teeth adjacent to the flange  20 . In general, the retention arm  16  and flange  20  work together to maintain the tongue in a desired suppressed orientation within the mouth in a comfortable manner. Nevertheless, it will be appreciated that the tongue suppressor  14  need not include the flange  20  but may merely comprise the retention arm  16  in order to generally suppress the tongue at the bottom of the oral cavity. 
     As depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the flange  20  may extend rearwardly beyond the width of the retention arm  16  in order to provide tongue suppression further back within the patient&#39;s mouth so as to maintain the tongue away from the patient&#39;s molars. Although the retention arm  16  is depicted as having a single width so as to be fully insertable into one of the adjustment slots  18 , it will be appreciated that the retention arm  16  may have varying widths with one width, for example, sized so as to fit within one of the adjustment slots  18 , and another width (not shown) sized so as to provide a desired tongue suppression function independent of the function of insertion or retraction of the retention arm  16  into the slots  18  of the bite block  12 . 
     In order to further assist the dentist or other practitioner in carrying out a desired dental procedure, the flange  20  may include an aspiration notch  21  in order to facilitate aspiration and removal of excess saliva, other liquids or debris from within the oral cavity, which tend to build up when the patient&#39;s mouth is open and the patient is unable to swallow or expel fluid from the oral cavity. 
     In order to provide additional safety, the tongue suppressing bite block  10  system may include means for attaching a leash or other safety feature if retrieval of the bite block from deep within the patient&#39;s mouth becomes necessary. For example, a leash hole  22  may be provided within the retention arm  16  for attachment of a leash  24  thereto. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the tongue suppressing bite block  10  is advantageously tapered from front to back in order to match the angle of an opened mouth. It will be appreciated that the angle may be varied from one device to another depending on the size of the patient&#39;s mouth and the degree of opening or closure that is desired. For example, if the dentist desires a larger work area or access to the teeth in the rear of the patient&#39;s mouth, the angle of the bite block  12  may be steeper in order to force the patient&#39;s mouth in a more open configuration. Conversely, the angle of the bite block  12  may be less, and the bite block  12  narrower, in the even that it is desired to work on the front teeth and where greater patient comfort is desired. 
     In order to maintain the bite block  12  in a desired position relative to one side of the patient&#39;s teeth, the bite block  12  may include an outer shoulder  26  and an inner shoulder  28  that extend from beyond an upper surface  30  and a lower surface  32  of the bite block  12  in order to effectively form a recess into which the teeth may be inserted during use. In this way, the outer shoulder  26  and inner shoulder  28  serve to prevent lateral movement of the bite block  12  relative to the patient&#39;s teeth in addition to whatever retention forces may be provided by the patient when simply biting down onto the bite block  12  in manner so that the patient&#39;s upper teeth engage the upper surface  30  and the lower teeth engage the lower surface  32  of the bite block  12 . 
     In order to provide additional retention, the upper and lower surfaces  30 ,  32  may include ridges  34  that provide additional gripping ability or mechanical interaction between the patient&#39;s teeth and the upper and lower surfaces  30 ,  32  of the bite block  12 . 
     The outer and inner shoulders  26 ,  28  may be formed having different heights. For example, the height of the outer shoulder  26  may be greater than the height of the inner shoulder  28  in order to provide greater retention while maintaining patient comfort in view of the anatomy of the oral cavity surrounding the teeth. 
     FIG. 4 depicts an alternative embodiment of a tongue suppressing bite block system  10 ′ that includes features for temporarily locking the tongue suppressor  14 ′ within one of the adjustment slots  18 ′ of the bite block  12 ′. In particular, the retention arm  16 ′ of the tongue suppressor  14 ′ includes a plurality of retention arm locking notches  17  that are sized and configured so as to engage corresponding slot locking notches  19  formed within the adjustment slots  18 ′ of the bite block  12 ′. In this way, a force great enough to dislodge the arm locking notches  17  from within the slot locking notches  19  must generally be applied to insert or retract the retention arm  16 ′ relative to one of the adjustment slots  18 ′. In most other respects, the tongue suppressing bite block system  10 ′ of FIG. 4 is substantially similar to the tongue suppressing bite block system  10  depicted in FIGS. 1-3. The retention arm  16 ′, adjustment slots  18 ′, arm locking notches  17  and slot locking notches  19  comprise adjustment means according to the invention. 
     FIG. 5 depicts another embodiment of a tongue suppressing bite block system  10 ″ that includes a bite block  12 ″ and a tongue suppressor  14  substantially identical to the tongue suppressor  14  depicted in FIGS. 1-3. Instead of the plurality of adjustment slots  18  depicted in FIGS. 1-3, however, the bite block  12 ″ in the embodiment of FIG. 5 includes a cavity  40  having a plurality of adjustment ridges  42  that define a plurality of adjustment recesses  44  into which the retention arm  16  may be selectively inserted. The adjustment ridges  42  and recesses  44  are sized and configured so as to define what are essentially a plurality of adjustment slots that are akin to the adjustment slots  18  depicted in FIGS. 1-3. The retention arm  16 , cavity  40 , adjustment ridges  42 , and adjustment recesses  44  comprise adjustment means for selective vertical and lateral movement of a tongue suppression relative to a bite block. 
     The main difference between the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5 is that it requires less material to manufacture than the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-3, thereby decreasing the materials cost of the bite block  12 ″ of the embodiment in FIG. 5 relative to the bite block  12  depicted in FIGS. 1-3. In most other respects, the tongue suppressing bite block system  10 ″ of FIG. 5 functions in substantially the same manner as the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. 
     FIG. 6 depicts yet another embodiment of a tongue suppressing bite block system  50  according to the invention configured for even greater adjustability. More particularly, the tongue suppressing bite block system  50  comprises a bite block  52  that includes a crisscrossing slot system  54  that provides greater degrees of adjustability of the tongue suppressing means relative to other embodiments. The slot system  54  includes a first compression slot  56  extending from the front lower end of the bite block  52  and extending to the rear upper end and a second compression slot  58  extending from the front upper end to the rear lower end of the bite block  52 . 
     A tongue suppressor  60  is provided that includes an insertion peg  62  sized and configured so as to be inserted into one of the compression slots  56 ,  58  of the slot system  54 . The insertion peg  62  is advantageously of greater diameter than the widths of the first and second compression slots  56 ,  58 , and the bite block  52  comprises a resilient and flexible material, at least in the region of the slot system  54 , in order for the compression slots  56 ,  58  to flex open so as to receive therein the insertion peg  62 . The resiliency of the bite block  52  in the region of the slot system  54  causes the compression slots  56 ,  58  to exert sufficient gripping and/or frictional forces onto the insertion peg  62  so as to retain the tongue suppressor  60  in a desired vertical, angular, horizontal, and lateral orientation relative to the bite block  52 . The bite block  52  is sufficiently flexible, however, in the region of the slot system  54  so as to allow for movement of the insertion peg  62  within the slot system  54  by exerting enough force on to the tongue suppressor  60  to overcome the retention forces exerted onto the insertion peg  62  by one or more compression slots  56 ,  58 . This allows adjustment of the position of the tongue suppressor  60  relative to the bite block  52  so as to assume one of a large variety of varying vertical, horizontal, angular and lateral orientations relative to the bite block  52 . The slot system  54  and insertion peg  62  comprise adjustment means for selective lateral and vertical adjustment of a tongue suppressor relative to a bite block. In addition, they comprise means for selective angular and horizontal movement of a tongue suppression relative to a bite block. 
     The tongue suppressor  60  further includes a retention arm  64  configured so as to extend over the surface of the patient&#39;s tongue in order to maintain the tongue in a suppressed orientation beneath the tongue suppressor  60  in the bottom of the patient&#39;s mouth. In addition, the tongue suppressor  60  may include a flange or other protrusion  66  extending from the retention arm  64  distal to the insertion peg  62  in order to provide an additional tongue suppression feature. The interface between the retention arm  64  and  66  may be curved so as to conform to the curvature of the patient&#39;s tongue between the top and side of the tongue so as to provide maximum comfort. 
     FIG. 7 depicts another embodiment of a tongue suppressing bite block system  70  according to the invention. The tongue suppressing bite block system  70  comprises a bite block  72 , which includes a plurality of adjustment recesses  74  comprising individual pairs or sets of recesses  76 , and a tongue suppressor  80 . The tongue depressor  80  includes a retention arm  84  and a pair or set of adjustment prongs  82  that are sized and configured to be selectively received within desired one of the pairs or sets of adjustment recesses  76  within the bite block  72 . The tongue suppressor  80  further includes a flange  86  that functions as described elsewhere in the specification. The adjustment prongs  82  and adjustment recesses  74  comprise adjustment means for selective lateral and vertical adjustment of a tongue suppressor relative to a bite block. 
     In general, the components of the tongue suppressing bite block according to the invention may be formed from resilient and flexible materials such as rubber, latex and other elastomeric materials. Various polymers may be selected for accommodation of stiffness and flexibility as may be structurally required. All or part of the tongue suppressing bite blocks according to the invention may be made from harder and more rigid materials such as thermoset materials, thermoplastic materials, foams and other plastics or composite materials, wood, metal, ceramics, fiberglass and the like. The components of the tongue suppressing bite blocks may be formed using various techniques, such as injection molding, blow molding, tumble molding, casting, vacuum forming, machining and the like. 
     The tongue suppressing bite block according to the invention may comprise higher quality materials that are durable and autoclavable (or otherwise sterilizable) in order to provide a device that can be reused a number of times. In the alternative, the tongue suppressing bite blocks may be formed from inexpensive materials that allow them to be disposable and intended only for a single use. Disposability eliminates risks associated with improper sterilization between uses. In either case, the tongue suppressing bite blocks of the invention may be advantageously sterilized at the point of manufacture and packaged in a sterile manner so as to maintain sterility until opened for use. 
     In order to mask the unpleasant taste that may be detected when using certain materials in the manufacture of the tongue suppressing bite blocks, the apparatus may be coated or infused with one or more flavoring agents so as to provide a more pleasant taste. Examples include bubble gum, mint, grape, cherry, chocolate and the like in order to increase the palatibilty of the device when inserted into the patient&#39;s mouth. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Technology Category: 1