WO2010035303A1

WO2010035303A1 - Improved stress-relieving mouthpiece

Info

Publication number: WO2010035303A1
Application number: PCT/IT2009/000432
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alessandro Rampello
Original assignee: Alessandro Rampello
Priority date: 2008-09-25
Filing date: 2009-09-23
Publication date: 2010-04-01
Also published as: ITRM20080142U1

Abstract

The object of this invention is to provide a stress-relieving mouthpiece comprising: - two symmetrical horizontal interocclusal elements (3, 4), vaguely triangular in shape with rounded angles, which, at the sides, are integral with two vertical symmetrical cheek guards (1, 2 ); - two small vertical fins (7, 8) departing from two horizontal elements and bounding the interior of the lower teeth, at the premolars and molars,- - an arched front band (5) connecting the two lateral guards and placed inside the lower vestibular trough; - a band (6) connecting the two horizontal occlusal planes along the palatal arch and passing beneath and in contact with the roof of the palate.

Description

Improved stress-relieving mouthpiece

Field of the invention

Countless universal stress-relieving mouthpieces have been proposed over the year, basically made of silicone or similar material, which are placed between the dental arches.

These devices essentially act as a sort of bolster between the upper and lower jaw, to prevent or alleviate the consequences of teeth clenching. The known devices feature a number of inconveniences, which restrict their effectiveness: some are unstable, others do not feature any element suited to the postural re-education of the tongue and, consequently, of the jaw, of the hyoid bone and of the spine, as well as the posture of the head. To overcome these inconveniences, various stress-relieving mouthpieces have been invented, in recent years, featuring additional components, in particular for the purpose of achieving the postural re-education of the tongue, the hyoid bone, the jaw and the spine; at present, there is no information concerning a universal palatal-arch shaped mouthpiece. Description of the invention This invention relates to a stress-relieving mouthpiece, consisting of two horizontal interocclusal elements, with a vaguely triangular shape and rounded angles, on the sides of which, and integral with the mouthpiece, are two symmetrical vertical cheek guards; two small vertical fins departing from the two horizontal elements and bound the mouth side of the lower dentition, at the premolars and molars; an arched front band connecting the two cheek guards, which is placed inside the lower front vestibular trough; a band connecting the two horizontal occlusal planes, following the contour of the palatal arch and passing close to the arch of the palate.

The entire mouthpiece may consist of a single block of atoxic plastic and/or silicone material of varying thickness, according to the function or, alternatively, of an assembly of components, made from the same or, if necessary, different materials. The present embodiment, therefore, relates to an arched mouthpiece, so shaped in order to adapt to the dental arches and be comfortably inserted inside the mouth, in such a manner as to ensure maximum stability and adherence; in particular, the band connecting the horizontal elements bounds the palatal arch and the back of the tongue and keeps the mouthpiece steady, contrasting its expulsion from the mouth, while at the same time carrying out the function of the postural re-education of the tongue and, consequently, of the jaw, hyoid bone and spine, as well as the posture of the head.

Description of the drawings The preferred embodiment is described, by way of example, in the following drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a front and 3/4 view from above of the stress-relieving mouthpiece.

Figure 2 illustrates a rear and 3/4 view from above of the stress-relieving mouthpiece.

Figure 3 illustrates a front view of the stress-relieving mouthpiece.

Figure 4 illustrates a rear view of the stress-relieving mouthpiece. Figure 5 illustrates a 3/4 front view from below of the stress-relieving mouthpiece.

Figure 6 illustrates a 3/4 rear view from below of the stress-relieving mouthpiece.

Description of an embodiment of the invention

The stress-relieving mouthpiece described in the present invention comprises:

- two symmetrical lateral vertical cheek guards 1 and 2, right and left, of varying shapes and sizes, which, in the illustrated embodiment are oval-shaped;

- two symmetrical horizontal interocclusal elements 3 and 4, right and left, of varying shapes and sizes, which, in the illustrated embodiment, are vaguely triangular in shape with rounded angles;

- a connecting band (5), of varying shape and dimensions, which, in the illustrated embodiment, is long and narrow and forms an arc at the front connecting the two lateral guards 1 and 2 and is placed inside the lower front vestibular trough;

- a band (6) which forms an arc beneath the palate and connects the two horizontal occlusal elements (3 and 4), passing close to the roof of the palate with a slight front inclination;

- two fins (7 and 8) of varying shapes and dimensions, which, in the illustrated embodiment, have a slightly semi-oval shape and extend downwards from the two horizontal occlusal planes 3 and 4 and bound the interior side of the lower teeth at the premolars and molars. As mentioned previously, the mouthpiece may be made from a single block of atoxic plastic and/or silicone material, of varying thickness depending on the function, or from an assembly of parts made using the same or different materials. Based on the attached drawings, the embodiment of the stress-relieving mouthpiece is U- shaped, so that it can be easily inserted into the oral cavity and to ensure maximum stability and adherence.

Each element of the mouthpiece has a specific function, as follows: - the two lateral guards 1 and 2 serve the purpose of stabilising the mouthpiece and balancing the perioral muscles;

- the two horizontal interocclusal elements 3 and 4 serve the fundamental purpose of increasing the vertical dimension of the mouthpiece and, therefore, of increasing and distancing the occlusal plane; this translates into a balancing effect of the muscular occlusal and dental loads, being interposed between the teeth antagonistic to the rear lateral sectors, this deconditions the neuromuscular system, protects the teeth from the parafunctional loads and, at the same time, the temporomandibular structures;

- the front band (5) fits into the lower vestibular trough, in between the front lower teeth and the lower lip, while the band (6) - or palatal arch - bounds the roof of the palate and the back of the tongue;

- the two bands (5 and 6) connect the horizontal elements (3 and 4) and the lateral elements (1 and 2) and keep the entire mouthpiece in place, contrasting its expulsion from the mouth;

- the band (6), in particular, besides carrying out the function mentioned above, together with the band (5), also serves the fundamental purpose of ensuring the postural re-education of the tongue and, consequently, of the jaw, hyoid bone and spine and the posture of the head.

The semi-oval vertical fins (7 and 8) serve the purpose of further stabilising the mouthpiece and holding it in place, helping keep the two interocclusal planes stable between the opposite teeth.

The surfaces of all the above mentioned elements are smooth, rounded and atraumatic. In another embodiment of the invention, the surfaces of the horizontal elements (3 and 4) may feature some small holes or a rough texture, for the purpose of applying a resinous substance or a self-polymerizing resin, to compensate any anomalies in the occlusal curves and balance and/or customize the mouthpiece.

The shape, thickness and materials used to make the mouthpiece are the result of in-depth technical and scientific studies and have been subjected to load tests. Having regard to the two lateral vertical cheek guards 1 and 2, they meet the requirement of being small-sized, while at the same time being capable of balancing and contrasting the perioral muscles, and likewise their extension, thickness and general form render the mouthpiece stable and firm enough to support the two interocclusal elements (3 and 4). The two interocclusal planes (3 and 4) meet the requirement of being small-sized, while at the same time being able to cover the occlusal surfaces of the side and back teeth, without occupying vital space and interfering with the movements of the tongue; this has led to a triangular design, with rounded angles, with the rear section wider than the front to adapt to the greater breadth of the back teeth, molars; the front section is narrower to adapt to the smaller breadth of the lateral rear teeth, premolars and canines; the thickness of the resin, and its resistence, are determined based on the state of the art for similar devices, and objective clinical assessments. Moreover, the invention also provides that the two elements (3 and 4) may feature a rough-textured surface, with small holes, to allow the application of a self- polymerizing resin on both sides, connected through the holes, for customizing and tailoring the mouthpiece to the different occlusal surfaces, with the possibility to adjust and adapt the resin.

The front band (5) has a design, length, width, height and thickness such as to confer on the mouthpiece an arched form, so that it can better adapt and adjust to the form of the dental arches. The band (6), a.k.a. cross-palatal arch, has an anatomical design, width, height and thickness that are the result of clinical tests and objective assessments, being placed as it is beneath the roof of the palate; in order not to cause any undesired reflexes, create no traumatisms and be well-accepted and tolerated its shape and size must be as small as possible. The length of the band (6) may be either standard or variable, according to the height, curvature and extension of the palatal arch, which changes from one individual to another; this component may be adapted in a variety of ways, the most practical being to design the band (6) with a series of anchoring steps at the two lateral ends, to allow variations in its length; once the ideal length for the wearer has been established, the excess sections of the band can be cut off to ensure a comfortable fit. The vertical fins (7 and 8) feature a slightly broader rear section (at the molars), to improve stability, while the front section (at the premolars and canines) narrows considerably so as not to take space from and interfere with the tongue; the arched thickness of the fins (7 and 8) can house the hole for receiving the anchoring step of the palatal band (6).

Claims

1. An improved stress-relieving mouthpiece comprising: two symmetrical lateral vertical cheek guards 1 and 2, right and left; two symmetrical horizontal interocclusal elements 3 and 4, right and left; a connecting band (5), of varying shape and dimensions, which forms an arc at the front connecting the two lateral guards 1 and 2 and is placed inside the lower front vestibular trough; two fins (7 and 8) of varying shapes and dimensions, which extend downwards from the two horizontal occlusal planes 3 and 4 and bound the interior side of the lower teeth at the premolars and molars; wherein a a band (6) forms an arc beneath the palate and connects the two horizontal occlusal elements (3 and 4), passing close to the roof of the palate.

2. An improved stress-relieving mouthpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two interocclusal planes (3 and 4) feature a triangular design, with rounded angles, with the rear section wider than the front to adapt to the greater breadth of the back teeth, the molars, while the front section is narrower to adapt to the smaller breadth of the lateral rear teeth, the premolars and canines.

3. An improved stress-relieving mouthpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two interocclusal planes (3 and 4) feature a rough-textured surface, with small holes, to allow the application of a self-polymerizing resin on both sides, connected through the holes, for customizing and tailoring the mouthpiece to the different occlusal surfaces, with the possibility to adjust and adapt the resin.

4. An improved stress-relieving mouthpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein the band (6) may be of standard length.

5. An improved stress-relieving mouthpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein the length of the band (6) may be adapted to the height, curvature and extension of the palatal arch, which changes from one individual to another, by means of a series of anchoring steps at the two lateral ends, to allow variations in its length.

6. An improved stress-relieving mouthpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein the band (6) enables the postural re-education of the tongue, hyoid bone, jaw, spine and the posture of the head and spine, for general postural gnathological functional purposes.

7. An improved stress-relieving mouthpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vertical fins (7 and 8) feature a slightly broader rear section (at the molars), to improve stability, while the front section (at the premolars and canines) narrows considerably so as not to take space from and interfere with the tongue.

8. An improved stress-relieving mouthpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein the arched thickness of the fins (7 and 8) can house the hole for receiving the anchoring step of the palatal band (6).