GB2494232A

GB2494232A - A device and method for measuring and improving a person's bite

Info

Publication number: GB2494232A
Application number: GB201209245A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian David Worthington
Original assignee: Kapitex Healthcare Ltd
Current assignee: Kapitex Healthcare Ltd
Priority date: 2011-08-30
Filing date: 2012-05-25
Publication date: 2013-03-06
Also published as: GB201209245D0; GB201114973D0

Abstract

A device 10 comprising a handle or grip portion 11 and a bite portion having bite surfaces 12,13 to engage a person's upper and lower set of teeth, inclined at an angle of up to 40Â° between each other. The surfaces 12,13 may be resilient or formed with a material in which a bite makes an impression, and may have the form of a replaceable overlay, and may be marked with measuring indicia 15. A method of measuring a user's bite using the device is also provided.

Description

A DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MEASURING

AND IMPROVING A PERSON'S BITE

Field of the Invention

The invention as herein described is for usc in assessing and increasing the extent of a person's bite. As used herein a person's bite is the size of the gap between opposed biting surthces in their month, which a person can achieve themselves without force being applied in to open their mouth.

The measure is a useful index of how well a person can use their jaws, for example following surgery or an accident. A view can then be taken as to the extent of any therapy required and the effect of any therapy undertaken. The device also enables a user to is increase the size of the bhe.

Background to the invention

A number of ailments can lead to a lowering of the extent to which a person can open their mouth. This loss can be direct result of the physical problem, caused indirectly or also be the result of a surgical procedure, including dental work. The problem can lie with a person's teeth, the mandibular joint, or on occasions even in muscular problems in the neck or shoulder.

During the treatment phase, which can include the usc of splints or stretching techniques, following any loss of capacity to open the mouth, it is vital for the medical practitioner to be able to assess the initial size of the bite and subsequently to be able to measure any change in this bite. The aim is to restore the bite to a value which lies within the normal range, and which for adults typically lies in the region of 40 -60mm.

A number of methods and equipment to carry out the measurement is available of varying complexity. For example, one simple method uses a ruler of some sort to determine the gap between a pemon's upper and lower set of teeth. This has the disadvantage that one is unsure whether a person is opening to the thil extent and also of taking an accurate reading due to parallax errors.

A second means of assessing the value is to insert fingers kilo the person's mouth. This is firstly dangerous as the person can bite down, possibly involuntarily, and is moreover highly inaccurate and incapable of giving a precise result.

At the other end of the complexity spectrum, devices such as variants on the THERABIlTETt System can be used. These are however quite expensive and complicated pieces of apparatus to use.

It is an object of the current invention to provide a device which seeks to address the above problems and which is easily and safely usable, and can also be manufactured relatively cheaply.

Summary of the]uvention

Accordingly. the inventor provides a device to measure and/or increase a person's bite, the device comprising a handle or grip portion and a bite portion, said bite portion including a first bite surface to engage a person's upper set of teeth, a second bite surface to engage a person's lower set of teeth; the first and second bite surface meeting along a common edge and at an angle of up to 400; typically and preferably 10_200. As can be seen by then illustrated embodiments, the bite portions do not need to engage the entire set of teeth, but merely to engage on a portion thereot thereby allowing the separation of the two sets of teeth to be determined. Typically the bte portion would engage on the incisors.

The device is light enough to be easily handled by a user and to provide a good measure of the extent of a pcrsor's bite. It is so sized as to fit between the open teeth of a human user's mouth.

an Preferably, in any embodiment of the invention, one or both of the bite surfaces includes a plurality of measuring elements, such as indieia, to assist the user in determining the size of the bite.

litany embodimentofthe device it ispreferred thatthe surface of one orboth bite surfaces is overlaid with or formed from a material in which a bite leaves an impression.

Also in any embodiment of the device it is preferred that the surface of one or both bite surfaces is overlaid with or formed from a resilient materiaL This cushions the impact of $ biting onto the surface. Further advantageously, the thickness of such an overlay increases towards the common edge of the bite surfaces to provide greater cushioning for those having smaller bitcs, and who arc the most likely to be suffering discomfort hi any embodiment of the device it is preferred that the surface of one or both bite surfaces is overlaid with a replaceable overlay formed from a material in which a bite leaves an to Impression.

Also in any embodiment of the device it is preferred that the surface of one or both bite surfaces is overlaid with a replaceable overlay formed from a resilient material.

The overlay is optionally inset into the or both surfaces so that the overlay is co-planar with the surface. Further advantageously, the overlay is replaceable. Yet finther advantageously is one or both of the bite surfaces comprises a series of grooves separated by a regular distance from each other.

In any embodiment of the invention it is preferred that the surface of one or both bite surfaces is marked with indicia to assist a user in determining the size of a bite. Preferably said indicia comprise a series of grooves, and more preferably separated by a regular distance. Said indieia or grooves are preferably substantially parallel with the common edge of the bite surfaces so that a bite mark (or tooth alignment) adjacent an indiciunt on each bite surface may be used (with knowledge of the angle between said bite surfaces) to determine the extent of the bit Also in any embodiment of the invention it is preferS that said bite surfaces are joined by a stabilising member to prevent the angle between the bite surfaces from changing.

Preferably, at least a portion of the section through the device through the bite surfaces and the stabiising member is I-shaped, thereby facilitating a user breathing whilst the device is in use. The 1-shaped form of the stabilising member provides air passages should a user's lips attempt to seal around the device when in use.

In any embodiment of the invention it is further preferred that said handle or grip portion is formed from a rigid material and said bite portion is formed from an elastomerie material.

This allows the bite portion to flex on use.

s Also included within the scope of the invention is a device substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings.

The inventor also provides a method of measuring a person's bite comprising the steps of: providing a device as described herein; causing a person to open his mouth to the fullest extent he can, without using external force; inserting the device into thc mouth, between the teeth, until the bite surfaces engage an upper and lower tooth, without applying an opening force on the teeth; causing the person to bite down on the bite surfaces; and using the position of the bite on the bite surfaces to determine the extent of the person's bite.

The scope of the invention also includes a method of measuring a person's bite substantially is as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings.

Brief Descrintion of the Drawings The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show byway of example only, three embodiments of a bite measurement device. In the drawings: * Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device; * Figure 2 is a top view of the device of Figure 1; * Figure 3 is a sectional view through A -A of Figure 1; * Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a device; and * Figure 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a device.

Description of the Invention

The present invention provides a simple to use means of assessing the size of a person's bite. The device disclosed can be used by a professional practitioner as part of an examination treatment, but can also be self-administered. The device is lightweight and can be readily manufactured most conveniently from a plastic material. In addition the handle part of the device can be made into a variety of aesthetically pleasing shapes to encourage use of the device by younger people.

In its broadcst aspect the device comprises a handle (or grip) portion by which the device is to gripped and two substantially opposed bite surfaces, one bite surface to engage the upper row of the user's teeth the other surface to engage the Iowcr teeth. The bite surfaces include a means of enabling the extent of the user's bite to be quantified and can include a measuring scale.

is Referring initially to Figure 1, the device 10 has a handle porfion 11 for the user to grip whilst in use. The device 10 in the exemplified embodiment is shaped like a whistle to encourage use by, for example, younger users but other shapes can be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

The device 10 comprises'a fiit, substantially planar bite surface 12 and a second bite surface 13, also substantially planar. The surfaces 12 and 13 in use normally engage the upper and lower bite of the user, although the alternative mode of engagement can also be used. The first and second surfaces 12, 13 area! an angle B to each other, which can have a value of up to 40°, although angles of 1020° are preferred.

The surfaces 12, 13 are linked by a support element 14. The support element 14, acts to stop the surfaces 12, 13 which are typically made of a plastics material (for ease, cost effectiveness, and to comply with Health Rcgulations), and so resilient, from bending towards each other in use, and so giving a false reading. In the illustrated embodiment, the an support element 14 is thinner than the vidth of the surfaces 12, 13. Apart from the savings in material, this also gives the device 10 an I-shaped cross-section (see Figure 3). This improves the safety of the device 10 and the comfort to the user, as air can pass around the sides of the device 10 and so the user is not hindered in breathing.

Although a ineasurcrnent can bc recorded by a user or assistant making a mark on the bite surfaces with a pen, in a preferred embodiment, the surfaces 12, 13 presented to the user are sufficiently soft for the user's teeth to make a physical impression which rcmains for a sufficiently long time after the device 10 is withdrawn from the user's mouth for the measurement to be noted.

En addition, to further facilitate the measurement process, the suifaces 12, 13 can have markers along their length which allow a number to be ascribed to a person's bite. The to markers can be simply lines or dashes delineating distance, e.g. from the common edge of the bite surfaces. En the illustrated embodiment, the markers consist of a plurality of grooves 15 made in the surfaces 12, 13 which grooves 15 arc set at regular distances from a neighbouring groove 15 along the length of the surface 12, 13.

is Although, as indicated above, the bite surfaces 12, 13 can be made of a material sufficiently soft for teeth to make an impression therein, the Figures show an alternative embodiment.

In this embodiment, the device 10 is made predominantly of a plastics material in which it would be difficult for the peion's teeth to make an impression. To form the bite surfaces 12,13, the corresponding portion of the device 10 is overlaid with an overlay 16 which is sufficiently soft to allow a user's teeth to make an at least temporary mark, and can be of an elastomeric material. Further, the sloping surfaces of the device 10 on which the overlay 16 is located are thinner than the remaining portions of that surface by an amount which enables the overlay 16 to sit flush with the remaining portions. The chance of the overlay 16 accidentally being caught and pulled off is thereby reduced.

Although in one embodiment of the device 10, the overlay 16 is permanently fixed to the device 10, in a further embodiment, each overlay 16 is replaceable so that the device 10 can here-used a multiple number of times following cleaning.

an En use therefore, a user (or a helper), takes a device 10. if the device 10 is of the type in which the overlay 16 is replaceable, the user cheeks that the overlay 16 is in place or needs to be replaced. If this is the case, then a suitable overlay 16 is fixed in position.

The user then opens his mouth to the fullest extent he can, without utilising an external force to cause the opening. The user grips the device 10 by the handle portion 11 and inserts the device 10 into the mouth, between the teeth, with the joining edge 17 formed between the two surtlices 12, 13 as the leading edge. The device 10 is inserted until the s surftces 12, 13 engage the upper and lower sets of teeth, without applying an opening force ontheteeth. Theuserthenbitesdownonthebitesurfacesl2,l3andameasurementis taken.

If desired and suitable, the device 10 can be cleaned for re-use and, where applicable, a now to overlay 16 installed to replace the used overlay. Further use of the same or identical device can over time show the progress of the user in improving the bite. The device is also of aid inassistingthcuserto increase thesizcofthebitc asthebitesurfacescanact tostrengthen the user's facial muscles. The user is able therefore to carry out exercises easily by themselves and, due to the portability of the device at place and time suitable for them.

The second embodiment of the device 40 shown in Figure 4 has a handle portion 41 of a rigid plastics materiaL Attached thereto by conventional means is a bite wedge 42 formed from an elastometic material. This embodiment allows the end of the device 41 which is inserted into the user's mouth, to flex which can be beneficial to the user. The profile of the zo handle portion 41 has a curved region 43 along the surface joined to the bite wedge 42 which curved region 43 flNtly assists a user in gripping the device and secondly renders the device 40 safer to bite and reduces the risk of dental damage.

Figure 5 illustrates a device 50 having a thinner bite wedge 51 than in the other illustrated n embodiments for use with user's having a smaller bite or for whom the greater flexibility of a thinner wedge is advantageous.

Et will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A device to measure and/or increase a person's bite, the device comprising a handle or grip portion and a bite portion, said bite portion including: a liNt bite surface to engage a person's upper set of teeth, and a second bite surface to engage a person's lower set of teeth; said first and second bite surfaces meeting along a common edge and at an angle of up to4O°.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said bite surfaces meet at an angle of between 10° and 20°.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A device according to either Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the surface of one or both bite surfaces is overlaid with or formed from a material in which a bite leaves an impression.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the surface of one or both bite surfaces is overlaid with or formed from a resilient material.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A device according to Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the surface of one or both bite surfaces is overlaid with a replaceable overlay formed from a material in which a bite leaves an impression.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A device according to Claim 1,2 or 5 whcitin the surface of one or both bite surfices is overlaid with a replaceable overlay formed from a resilient materiaL 7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the surface of one or both bite surfaces is marked with indicia to assist a user in determining the size of a bite.8. A device according to Claim 7 wherein said indicia comprise a series of grooves.9. A device according to any preceding claim wherein said bite surfaces are joined by a stabilising member to prevent the angle between the bite suthces from changing.10. A device according to Claim 9 wherein at least a portion of the section through the device through the bite surfaces and the stabilising member is I-shaped, thereby facilitating a user breathing whilst the device is in use.ii. A device according to any preceding claim wherein said handle or grip portion is formed from a rigid material and said bite portion is formed from an elastomeric material.12. A device substantiaLly as described herein, with reference to and as illusü-ated by any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings 13. A method of measuring a person's bite comprising the steps of: providing a device according to any of claims 1 to 12; causing a person to open his mouth to the fullest extent he can, without using extcrna.l force; inserting the device into the mouth, between the teeth, until the bite surfaces engage an upper and lower tooth, without applying an opening force on the teeth; causing the person to bite down on the bite surfaces; and using the position of the bite on the bite surfaces to determine the extent of the person's bite.14. A method of measuring a person's bite substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>