GB2433203A

GB2433203A - Dieting aid

Info

Publication number: GB2433203A
Application number: GB0525389A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giovanni Salamone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-13
Filing date: 2005-12-13
Publication date: 2007-06-20
Also published as: GB0525389D0

Abstract

To assist a person in limiting their calorie intake, one or more removable bite raisers are fitted over one or more of their molars. The or each bite raiser comprises a top surface adapted to overlie occlusal surfaces of a single molar or of two or more adjacent molars and side surfaces adapted to be biased apart as the bite raiser is fitted over palatal and vestibular surfaces of the molar(s). The bias is sufficient to hold the bite raiser in place over the molar(s), thereby raising the bite to prevent occlusal contact between other teeth making it more difficult for the user to chew solid food. The bite raiser may be formed as a single piece of metallic material or a metal framework over which plastics material is moulded.

Description

1 2433203

DIETING AID

This invention relates to dieting aids.

Not surprisingly, given that a significant proportion of the population in developed countries suffer from obesity or overweight, there is a constant search for new diets and dieting aids. However fashionable individual named diets may prove over a short period, they usually have only a limited currency before being replaced by another dieting fad. The basic reason why people become overweight or obese is quite simple; they eat more than they need for the energy requirements of their lifestyle. Nothing but a permanent reduction in calorie intake in relation to the extent of exercise they take can ever result in that person becoming permanently slimmer. To achieve this dieters must ideally train their bodies to crave less food.

Dieters find it difficult to exert the control necessary to stick to a calorie controlled diet. Even when they can for a limited period, resulting in weight loss, they find that as soon as they stop following the diet, their weight quickly returns to its previous value. Some people become serial dieters, following a diet for a period sufficient to result in some weight loss, then seeing their weight return, and then going on to the same or a different diet and repeating the process over and over again.

Some people, if they could only stick religiously to a diet for sufficiently long, would be able to train their body to want only a smaller quantity of food.

Others are unable to do this and need some permanent means for limiting their food intake. Extreme measures involving surgical intervention such as wiring the jaws together or clamping the stomach or even removing part of the stomach and intestine, while effective, are extremely unattractive.

The present invention seeks to address these long-standing problems by providing dieting aids which result in reduced calorie uptake. In alternative aspects of this invention, as explained in detail below, I provide a dieting aid the use of which is in control of the user, and an alternative form of dieting aid in which control over use of the aid is taken out of the hands of the user.

US 6726473 Guray discloses a dental appliance serving as a temporary and instant bite raiser in fixed orthodontic treatments. The appliance includes a body that is bent over the occlusal surfaces of a molar to be fixed to a molar tube mounted on an orthodontic tensioning wire on the vestibular side of the tooth. The use of such a device is an integral part of an orthodontic treatment and requires the intervention of the orthodontist both to mount the appliance and to remove it.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wearer mountable and removable bite raiser for use as a dieting aid, the bite raiser comprising a top surface adapted to overlie at least part of the occlusal surface(s) of a single molar or of at least two adjacent molars; and respective side surfaces adapted to overlie at least part of palatal and vestibular surfaces of the said molar(s), the side surfaces being configured so that placing of the bite raiser by a user over their own molar(s) causes the said molar(s) to bias the said side surfaces away from each other so that the bite raiser is temporarily clipped to the said molar(s) by the resulting biasing force, thereby raising the bite of the said molar(s) and preventing occlusal contact between other teeth of the user, thereby making it more difficult for the user to chew solid food.

In a second and alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for assisting a person in limiting their calorie intake, the method comprising self-fitting of one or more removable bite raisers over one or more of their molars, the or each bite raiser comprising a top surface adapted to overlie occiusal surfaces of a single molar or of two or more adjacent molars and side surfaces adapted to be biased apart as the bite raiser is fitted over palatal and vestibular surfaces of the molar(s), the bias being sufficient to hold the bite raiser in place over the molar(s), thereby raising the bite to prevent occlusal contact between other teeth making it more difficult for the user to chew solid food.

As indicated above, the bite raiser may be fitted and removed as desired by the user.

Some users may have insufficient willpower to fit the bite raiser in a consistent fashion to restrict their ability to chew solid food and thus to restrict their calorie intake. For such people bite raisers may be fitted by a dental practitioner in a semi-permanent fashion, as explained below, and requiring intervention of the dental practitioner to remove the bite raisers.

Accordingly, in a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of dental intervention as an aid in dieting, the method comprising fitting respective bite raisers on both the left and right sides of the mouth so as to raise the bite in a balanced fashion on both sides of the mouth, each said bite raiser comprising a top surface adapted to overlie at least part of the occlusal surface(s) of a single molar or of two or more adjacent molars and respective side surfaces adapted to overlie at least part of palatal and vestibular surfaces of the said molar(s); the method comprising fitting the said bite raisers for a selected period of time by the use of a removable dental cement, thereby raising the bite for said selected period of time to prevent occiusal contact between other teeth, making it more difficult for the wearer of the bite raisers to chew solid food.

The term "bite raiser" as used herein indicates a device that, when fitted to a tooth so as at least partially to overlie its occlusal surfaces, has the effect of raising the bite of that tooth against an opposing tooth.

The invention is hereinafter more particularly described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a generally schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of dieting aid; and Fig. 2 is a generally schematic perspective view of a metal framework embedded in plastics in a second embodiment.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a bite raiser I formed as a single piece from any of the metal materials commonly used in dental work such as Cr-Ni alloys, Titanium or stainless steel. Bite raiser 1 has a top surface 2 and side surfaces 3, 4. Top surface 2 is adapted to overlie occiusal surfaces of one or more molars and is dimensioned with a length L depending on the number of molars with which it is intended to co-operate. For example, top surface 2 may have a length L of around 25mm to fit over two molars. Top surface 2 typically has a width W corresponding to the width of a molar from vestibular to palatal surfaces and so may have a dimension of the order of 10mm. Side surfaces 3, 4 have a height H less than the erupted height of a molar above the gum line. Height H is typically 10mm to 12mm.

At least top surface 2 is typically between 1mm and 3mm in thickness. Side surfaces 3 and 4 may have a lesser thickness. The side surfaces must, however, have sufficient thickness to be elastically deformed as bite raiser 1 is pushed over two adjacent molars so that the two side surfaces are biased apart by the vestibular and palatal surfaces of the tooth, the resulting bias clipping the bite raiser to the teeth and holding it in place. Top surface 2 and side surfaces 3 and 4 need not be planar and the angle 0 between the top surface and the respective side surfaces may be slightly less than a right angle.

To prevent substantial scratching to the dental enamel as the bite raiser is clipped to the teeth and subsequently removed, it may be coated in plastics or an elastomenc material.

Since the effect of fitting the bite raiser is to raise the bite of the teeth to which it is fitted so that contact between the occlusal surfaces of other teeth in the mouth is prevented with the result that the wearer of the bite raiser finds it more difficult to chew solid food, the bite raiser and the teeth to which it is attached become pressure points within the mouth. The use of a bite raiser coated with plastics or elastomeric material has the additional merit of distributing the pressure or cushioning the blow with each movement of the jaw.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of bite raiser which further enhances this effect. The bite raiser is formed from a metal framework 5 over which a suitable plastics material, such as dental grade acrylic, is moulded, so that the appearance of the finished product is generally similar to Fig. 1. Acrylic plastics are relatively hard and possess the necessary stiffness to provide the bias to hold the bite raiser in position over one or more molars. The top surface 2 of the resultant bite raiser formed by fitting framework 5 (Fig. 2) with acrylic may be provided with a co-moulded softer plastics or elastomeric material on its outer side 6 (Fig. 1) that is better able to cushion the increased pressure created as a result of raising the bite so that only the teeth to which the bite raiser is fitted make contact with occiusal surfaces of the opposed teeth. The under surface 7 (Fig. 1) of the resultant top surface 2 may also be co-moulded with softer material so as to accommodate the particular occiusal surfaces of the molar concerned. Framework 5 may be formed from any of the usual metal materials used in dentistry, and may be formed from lengths of wire connected together, or as a one-piece skeleton.

In an alternative arrangement, the bite raiser may be formed of acrylic resin typically with a length L of 15mm to 20mm and a width W of around 10mm. Being formed entirely of resin without a metal framework therewithin, the material needs to be somewhat thicker in order to provide the necessary bias to hold the bite raiser in place. Otherwise the appearance is substantially the same as Fig. 1. I prefer the bite raiser to have a thickness of 2mm to 3mm in this embodiment.

Bite raisers may also be fitted without the need for bias between the side surfaces against vestibular and palatal surfaces of a molar to be necessary to hold the bite raiser in place, but in that case the bite raiser should be fitted and removed by a dental practitioner. Fitting is by use of a suitable dental cement or adhesive particularly those employed for holding temporary bridges in place, fitting and removal of the bite raiser being as for a temporary bridge.

The illustrated embodiments of bite raiser are adapted to overlie occiusal surfaces of a pair of molars, but persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate that simply by dimensioning the bite raiser appropriately, it may overlie occlusal surfaces ofjust a single molar or of more than two molars.

While only a single bite raiser may be employed, to avoid strain on the mandibular joints, it is preferred to fit similar bite raisers in similar positions on both sides of the mouth to equalize pressure on the joints on both sides of the mouth.

Claims

Claims 1. A wearer mountable and removable bite raiser for use as a

dieting aid, the bite raiser comprising a top surface adapted to overlie at least part of the occlusal surface(s) of a single molar or of at least two adjacent molars; and respective side surfaces adapted to overlie at least part of palatal and vestibular surfaces of the said molar(s), the side surfaces being configured so that placing of the bite raiser by a user over their own molar(s) causes the said molar(s) to bias the said side surfaces away from each other so that the bite raiser is temporarily clipped to the said molar(s) by the resulting biasing force, thereby raising the bite of the said molar(s) and preventing occi usal contact between other teeth of the user, thereby making it more difficult for the user to chew solid food.
2. A bite raiser according to Claim 1, formed as a single piece from a dentally compatible metallic material.
3. A bite raiser according to Claim 2, formed from a Cr-Ni alloy, Titanium or stainless steel.
4. A bite raiser according to Claim 1, comprising a metal framework over ** which plastics material is moulded. IS..

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5. A bite raiser according to Claim 4, wherein the plastics material comprises * 1 dental grade acrylic plastics.

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6. A bite raiser according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein a first plastics material is moulded over said framework, and wherein a second plastics material *S..

that is softer than the first is co-moulded with the first plastics material on the top surface, the first plastics material and the framework being chosen so that the bite raiser is sufficiently stiff and resilient to provide the said bias, while the second material serves to cushion pressure between the tooth or teeth to which the bite raiser is attached and an opposing tooth or opposing teeth via the bite raiser.

7. A bite raiser according to any of Claims 4, 5 or 6, wherein the framework is formed from lengths of wire connected together.

8. A bite raiser according to any of Claims 4, 5 or 6, wherein the framework is formed as a one-piece skeleton.

9. A bite raiser according to Claim 1, formed in one piece from acrylic resin.

10. A bite raiser according to any preceding Claim, wherein the top surface makes respective angles with the side surfaces that are less than a right angle.

11. A method for assisting a person in limiting their calorie intake, the method comprising self-fitting of one or more removable bite raisers over one or more of their molars, the or each bite raiser comprising a top surface adapted to overlie occiusal surfaces of a single molar or of two or more adjacent molars and side surfaces adapted to be biased apart as the bite raiser is fitted over palatal and vestibular surfaces of the molar(s), the bias being sufficient to hold the bite raiser in place over the molar(s), thereby raising the bite to prevent occlusal contact between other teeth making it more difficult for the user to chew solid food.

12. A method according to Claim 11, wherein the bite raiser comprises a bite * raiser according to one of Claims 2 to 10. * I *

* 13. A method of dental intervention as an aid in dieting, the method comprising * 25 fitting respective bite raisers on both the left and right sides of the mouth so as to raise the bite in a balanced fashion on both sides of the mouth, each said bite raiser comprising a top surface adapted to overlie at least part of the occiusal surface(s) of a single molar or of two or more adjacent molars and respective side surfaces adapted to overlie at least part of palatal and vestibular surfaces of the said molar(s); the method comprising fitting the said bite raisers for a selected period of time by the use of a removable dental cement, thereby raising the bite for said selected period of time to prevent occiusal contact between other teeth, making it more difficult for the wearer of the bite raisers to chew solid food.

14. A method according to Claim 13, wherein the bite raisers are configured so that their side surfaces do not provide a biasing force against the palatal and vestibular surfaces of respective teeth or do not provide a sufficient biasing force against the palatal and vestibular surfaces of respective teeth to hold the bite raisers in position without the aid of said dental cement, the bite raisers otherwise being as defined in one of Claims 2 to 10.

15. A wearer mountable and removable bite raiser for use as a dieting aid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

16. A method for assisting a person in limiting their calorie intake, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of dental intervention as an aid in dieting, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. I *4 b *1*I I * * SI,

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