KR102508556B1 - Tooth protection structure and mouth guard using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mouth guard, comprising: a main body portion formed in a structure capable of accommodating teeth; and a protection structure formed inside the main body, wherein the protection structure includes: a plurality of protection layers; And characterized in that it comprises a connection frame formed between the plurality of protective layers.

Description

Tooth protection structure and mouth guard using the same {TOOTH PROTECTION STRUCTURE AND MOUTH GUARD USING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a tooth protection structure and a mouth guard using the same, and more particularly, to a technique for adjusting the protective force and thickness of a mouth guard by utilizing a tooth protection structure capable of absorbing shock.

A mouthguard is a device that directly absorbs energy and spreads the remaining energy widely to other places to prevent and alleviate the concentration of impact force. Protection of alveolar bone, 2) Prevention of damage to the lips, tongue, and cheeks due to external force, 3) Protection of teeth, periodontal tissue, and prosthesis from impact closure (a phenomenon in which the mouth closes due to impact) when external force is applied to the lower jaw, 4) Protection from external force Temporomandibular joint protection, 5) concussion or brain damage reduction, etc. functions.

Such a mouth guard may be formed in various forms surrounding teeth, gums, alveolar bone, periodontal tissue, prosthesis, and the like, and may be referred to by various terms such as a mouthpiece, a tooth protector, and an oral protector.

On the other hand, the conventional mouth guard, depending on the thickness of the mouth guard to adjust the protective force against the external impact. Therefore, the conventional mouth guard had to be formed with a very thick thickness to implement sufficient protection. For example, conventional mouthguards have been tested for protective power according to the thickness of the mouthguard (eg, Masahiko Maeda et al., "In Search of Necessary Mouthguard Thickness. Part 1: From the Viewpoint of Shock Absorption Ability", 2008), it is usually formed with a thick thickness of 3mm to 4mm. For reference, Figures 1 and 2 show an example of a conventional mouth guard formed to a thickness of 3mm.

However, the thick thickness of such a conventional mouth guard made people wearing the mouth guard feel uncomfortable, and when the mouth guard was worn, the oral cavity protruded, which also had a bad aesthetic effect. Accordingly, the conventional mouth guard has been utilized only in very limited fields such as intense sporting events, and has been avoided for use in a wider field.

Therefore, there is a need to develop a new technology capable of reducing the thickness of the mouth guard while providing sufficient protection against external impact.

The present invention was invented based on the above-described technical background, and was invented to satisfy the above-mentioned technical needs as well as to provide additional technical elements that cannot be easily invented by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. It became.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of providing sufficient protective power even when the thickness of the mouth guard is thin.

In addition, a problem to be solved is to provide a protective structure capable of providing sufficient protection even to a thin mouthguard.

On the other hand, the technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned technical problem, and may include various technical problems within the scope apparent to those skilled in the art from the contents to be described below.

Mouth guard according to the present invention for solving the above problems, the main body portion formed in a structure capable of accommodating the teeth; and a protection structure formed inside the main body, wherein the protection structure includes: a plurality of protection layers; And it may include a connection frame formed between the plurality of protective layers.

In addition, in the mouth guard according to the present invention, the connection frame may include a 3D grid structure or a 3D mesh structure.

In addition, in the mouth guard according to the present invention, the connection frame, based on the 3D grid structure or 3D mesh structure may form an air layer between the plurality of protective layers.

In addition, in the mouthguard according to the present invention, the main body portion, a first cover element (element) to cover the surface of the outer direction of the teeth; a second cover element to cover an inwardly facing surface of the tooth; and a third cover element to cover the occlusal surface of the teeth, wherein the protection structure may be formed inside the first cover element or the second cover element.

In addition, in the mouth guard according to the present invention, the body portion may be formed to a thickness of 1.5 to 2.5 mm.

Next, the tooth protection structure according to the present invention for solving the above problems, the first protective layer formed on the inside of the tooth protection device for protecting the teeth; A second protective layer formed in a form facing the first protective layer from the inside of the tooth protection device; And it may include a first connection frame formed between the first protective layer and the second protective layer.

In addition, in the tooth protection structure according to the present invention, the first connection frame may include a 3D grid structure or a 3D mesh structure.

In addition, the tooth protection structure according to the present invention, the third protective layer formed in the form facing the second hobo layer from the inside of the tooth protection device; And it may further include a second connection frame formed between the second protective layer and the third protective layer.

In addition, in the tooth protection structure according to the present invention, the first connection frame and the second connection frame may be formed in a shape symmetrical to each other with respect to the second protective layer.

The present invention can provide a technique capable of providing sufficient protective power even if the mouth guard is formed with a thinner thickness than before. Specifically, the present invention, by forming a protective structure including a plurality of protective layers and a connection frame inside the mouthguard, even if the mouthguard is formed to a thinner thickness than the prior art, it is possible to implement sufficient shock absorbing power.

In addition, the present invention can provide a protective structure capable of absorbing a sufficient impact even under a thin thickness condition. Specifically, the present invention utilizes a plurality of protective layers and a 3D lattice structure or a 3D mesh structure formed between the plurality of protective layers to provide a protective structure capable of absorbing sufficient impact even under conditions of thin thickness can do.

In addition, the present invention may provide an additional technique for further improving the impact absorption of the mouth guard. For example, the present invention can further improve the impact absorption of the mouth guard by forming a multi-structure in the protective structure formed inside the mouth guard. In addition, the present invention can further improve the shock absorption capacity of the mouth guard by allowing the protective structures formed of multiple structures to be formed in symmetrical shapes with each other.

On the other hand, the effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and various effects may be included within a range apparent to those skilled in the art from the contents to be described below.

1 is an exemplary view showing an example of a conventional mouth guard.
2 is an exemplary view showing a wearing state of a conventional mouse card.
3 is an exemplary view showing a mouth guard according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is an exemplary view showing a wearing state of the mouth guard according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 and 6 are views comparing a conventional mouth guard and a mouth guard according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is an exemplary view showing a tooth protection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is an exemplary view showing a tooth protection structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 9 is an exemplary view showing a tooth protection structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a 'tooth protection structure and a mouth guard using the same' according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described embodiments are provided so that a person skilled in the art can easily understand the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, matters represented in the accompanying drawings may be different from those actually implemented in the drawings schematically illustrated to easily explain the embodiments of the present invention.

On the other hand, each component expressed below is only an example for implementing the present invention. Accordingly, other components may be used in other implementations of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In addition, the expression 'including' certain components simply indicates that the corresponding components exist as an open expression, and should not be understood as excluding additional components.

The mouthguard according to the present invention, based on the protective structure formed inside the mouthguard, can implement sufficient shock absorption even when formed with a thinner thickness than before. Specifically, when the mouthguard according to the present invention compensates for the decrease in shock absorption caused by the decrease in thickness through an additional protective structure, it is formed with a thinner thickness (eg, 1.5 to 2.5 mm in thickness) than before. Sufficient shock absorbing power can be realized even in

For reference, the term "mouth guard" used herein refers to a protective device worn to protect teeth or gums. The term "mouth guard" may be used as a concept encompassing mouthpieces, tooth protection devices, mouth protectors, etc., and in addition to these devices, it may be used as a concept encompassing various protective devices for protecting teeth or gums. .

Hereinafter, with reference to Figures 3 and 4, look at the mouth guard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Mouth guard according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a body portion 100 formed in a structure capable of accommodating teeth, and a protective structure 200 formed inside the body portion.

First, the body portion 100 is a configuration formed in a structure capable of accommodating teeth. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the main body portion 100 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the outer appearance of teeth and gums so as to accommodate and wrap teeth when worn.

In addition, the body portion 100 may be formed of a flexible material for primary shock absorption. For example, the body portion 100 may be formed of a silicone material, a rubber material, an elastic material, or the like, and through such a material, it is possible to provide a primary protective force capable of resisting an external impact.

In addition, the body portion 100 may be formed to a thickness of less than 3 mm. Specifically, the body portion 100 may be formed to a thickness of less than 3 mm, in contrast to conventional mouth guards formed to a thickness of 3 mm or more for sufficient protection. For example, the body portion 100 may be formed with a thin thickness of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. On the other hand, the thin thickness of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm of the body portion 100 is described in the previously reviewed papers (eg, Masahiko Maeda et al., "In Search of Necessary Mouthguard Thickness. Part 1: From the Viewpoint of Shock Absorption Ability”, 2008), it does not correspond to the thickness that can sufficiently absorb external shock. However, the mouthguard according to an embodiment of the present invention is based on not only the primary protection due to the material and thickness of the body portion 100, but also the secondary protection of the protective structure 200, which will be discussed later. Since the final protective force of the mouth guard is implemented, even if the body portion 100 is formed with a thickness of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm thinner than before, it is possible to implement a protective force capable of sufficiently absorbing external impact.

In addition, the main body portion 100, as shown in Figure 4, the first cover element 110 to cover the outer surface of the tooth (opposite to the oral direction, the surface that can be exposed to the outside), the inside of the tooth It can be divided into a second cover element 120 to cover the surface of the mouth (oral surface) and a third cover element 130 to cover the occlusal surface of the tooth (the surface of the tooth). The first cover element ( 110), the second cover element 120, and the third cover element 130 are formed in a state of being connected to each other without physical division, and through this, form a single body of the mouth guard. The first cover element 110, the second cover element 120, and the third cover element 130 may cover not only teeth, but also gums and alveolar bone around teeth.

Next, the protective structure 200 is a component for supplementing the shock absorbing ability of the body part 100, that is, the protective power. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the protection structure 200 may be formed inside the body part 100 .

As described above, the protection structure 200 implements a secondary protection force that supplements the primary protection force of the body portion 100, and through this, the thickness of the body portion 100 is 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. Even under the condition of being formed with a thin thickness of mm, the mouth guard can realize sufficient protective power.

In addition, the protection structure 200, as shown in Figure 4, may be formed inside the first cover element 110 or inside the second cover element 120, preferably, the third cover It may not be formed inside the element 130 . In other words, the protective structure 200 may be formed in an area to cover an outer surface of the teeth or an area to cover an inner surface of the teeth, among the inner areas of the body portion 100, Preferably, it may not be formed in an area to cover the occlusal surface of the teeth. If the protective structure 200 is also formed in the area to cover the occlusal surface of the teeth, a feeling of heterogeneity or discomfort may be induced when the wearer of the mouthpiece performs a chewing motion, and the air layer of the protective structure 200 This is because the third cover element 130 of the main body 100 may be pierced. Meanwhile, depending on the embodiment, the protection structure 200 may be formed only inside the first cover element 110, the inside of the second cover element 120 and the third cover element 130. may not be formed inside the The impact generated inside the oral cavity is not large, and when the thickness of the second cover element 120 increases, wearing discomfort may occur. may not form.

In addition, the protective structure 200 may preferably include a plurality of protective layers and a connection frame formed between the plurality of protective layers, and a buffering operation for absorbing external impact using these structures. can be implemented.

In addition, the connection frame may preferably include a 3D grid structure or a 3D mesh structure, and based on these structures, an air layer may be formed between the plurality of protective layers, through which, Additional protection that absorbs external shocks can be implemented.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, look at the difference between a conventional mouth guard and a mouth guard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, in the mouthguard according to an embodiment of the present invention, based on the protective structure 200 formed inside the body portion 100, the body portion 100 has a thinner thickness than before. Even when it is formed of, it is possible to implement sufficient shock absorbing power. Specifically, the mouthguard according to an embodiment of the present invention compensates for the decrease in shock absorbing power caused by the decrease in the thickness of the body portion 100 through the protective structure 200, so that the thickness is thinner than before. (For example, a thickness of 1.5 to 2.5 mm), sufficient shock absorbing power can be implemented.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the mouthguard (B) according to one embodiment of the present invention has a thickness thinner than (eg, 3mm) of the conventional mouthguard (A) (eg, 1.5mm). ), it is possible to implement substantially the same or superior shock absorption capacity based on the protection structure 200.

Therefore, the mouthguard (B) according to an embodiment of the present invention, unlike the conventional thick mouthguard (A) that excessively protrudes the wearer's philtrum in a worn state, using a thin thickness, in a worn state It can significantly alleviate the protrusion of the philtrum.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 7 , a specific example of the protective structure 200 will be described.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the protective structure 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of protective layers 210 and 230 and a connection frame 220 formed between the plurality of protective layers. can In addition, the plurality of protective layers 210 and 230 and the connecting frame 220 may be formed of a material having higher strength or hardness than the material of the body portion 100 and having elasticity or flexibility. can In addition, the plurality of protective layers 210 and 230 and the connection frame 220 may be formed of the same material or different materials.

More specifically, the plurality of protective layers 210 and 230 include a first protective layer 210 formed inside the main body 100, and the first protective layer 210 formed inside the main body 100. It may include a second protective layer 230 formed in a form facing the layer.

In addition, the connection frame 220 may be formed between the first protective layer 210 and the second protective layer 230, and the first protective layer 210 and the second The protective layer 230 may be connected to each other and supported.

In addition, the connection frame 220 may include a 3D grid structure or a 3D mesh structure, and based on these structures, an air layer is formed between the first protective layer 210 and the second protective layer 230. can form Specifically, when the connection frame 220 is formed inside the body portion 100, air (not a material forming the body portion 100) between the 3D grid structure or the 3D mesh structure may be formed in a filled state. Therefore, the connection frame 220, by forming an additional air layer inside the body portion 100, it is possible to improve the shock absorption performance of the mouth guard.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 8, a protective structure 300 that may be included in a mouth guard according to another embodiment of the present invention will be looked at.

A mouth guard according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a protective structure 300 composed of three or more protective layers 310, 330, 350 and two or more connecting frames 320, 340, as shown in FIG. can do.

More specifically, the three or more protective layers 310, 330, and 350 include a first protective layer 310 formed inside the body portion 100, and the first protective layer 310 formed inside the body portion 100. A second protective layer 330 formed to face the protective layer, and a third protective layer 350 formed to face the second protective layer inside the body portion 100 may be included. there is.

In addition, the two or more connection frames 320 and 340 include a first connection frame 320 formed between the first protective layer 310 and the second protective layer 330, and the second protective layer It may include a second connection frame 340 formed between the 330 and the third protective layer.

In addition, the first connecting frame 320 connects and supports the first protective layer 310 and the second protective layer 330 through a frame structure, and the second connecting frame 340 is a frame. Through the structure, the second protective layer 330 and the third protective layer 350 may be connected to each other and supported.

The protection structure 300 may further improve shock absorption performance by implementing multiple protection structures. Specifically, the protection structure 300 includes a 'first protection structure' implemented by the first protection layer 310, the first connection frame 320, and the second protection layer 330, Shock absorption performance can be further improved through the 'second protective structure' implemented by the second protective layer 330, the second connection frame 340, and the third protective layer 350.

Meanwhile, the first connection frame 320 and the second connection frame 340 may each include a 3D grid structure or a 3D mesh structure, and based on these structures, the first protective layer 310 A plurality of air layers may be formed between the second protective layer 330 and between the second protective layer 330 and the third protective layer 350 . Specifically, when the first connection frame 320 and the second connection frame 340 are formed inside the body portion 100, between the 3D grid structure or the 3D mesh structure (the body portion It can be formed in a state filled with air (not the material forming 100). Therefore, the first connection frame 320 and the second connection frame 340 further form a plurality of air layers inside the body portion 100 to further improve the shock absorption performance of the mouth guard. can

Additionally, the first connection frame 320 and the second connection frame 340 may be formed in symmetrical shapes with respect to the second protective layer 330 . Therefore, when an impact is applied, the first connection frame 320 and the second connection frame 340 support each other, thereby improving the stability of the protective structure 300 and shock absorption performance can be further improved.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 9, a protective structure 400 that may be included in a mouth guard according to another embodiment of the present invention will be looked at.

Referring to Figure 9, the protective structure 400 of the mouth guard according to another embodiment of the present invention, the first protective layer 410 formed inside the body portion of the mouth guard, the inside of the body portion of the mouth guard may include a second protective layer 430 formed to face the first protective layer, and a connection frame 420 formed between the first protective layer and the second protective layer.

In addition, the connection frame 420 may include a frame structure in which three or more branch frames 422 intersect at one point (core, 421) on a three-dimensional plane.

Therefore, the connection frame 420 can absorb shock more effectively between the first protective layer 410 and the second protective layer 420 by utilizing this structure, and the air layer can be expanded in a larger volume. can be formed.

The embodiments of the present invention described above are disclosed for illustrative purposes, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications and changes within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and these modifications and changes will be considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.

100: body part
110: first cover element
120: second cover element
130: third cover element
200: protective structure
210: first protective layer
220: connection frame
230: second protective layer
300: protective structure
310: first protective layer
320: first connection frame
330: second protective layer
340: second connection frame
350: third protective layer
400: protective structure
410: first protective layer
420: connection frame
421: core
422: branch frame
430: second protective layer

Claims (9)

As a mouthguard,
A body portion formed in a structure capable of accommodating teeth; and
Including a protective structure formed inside the body portion to provide protection against external impact,
The protective structure,
a plurality of protective layers; and
Including a three-dimensional connection frame formed between the plurality of protective layers,
The plurality of protective layers and the three-dimensional connection frame are formed in an area of the body portion to cover the outer surface of the tooth,
mouth guard. According to claim 1,
The protective structure includes a plurality of connecting frames having a three-dimensional shape,
The plurality of connecting frames of the three-dimensional shape are formed in symmetrical shapes with respect to one protective layer of the plurality of protective layers,
mouth guard. According to claim 1,
The three-dimensional connection frame includes a frame structure in which three or more branch frames intersect at one point on the three dimensions,
mouth guard. According to claim 1,
The body part,
a first cover element to cover the outer facing surface of the tooth;
a second cover element to cover an inwardly facing surface of the tooth; and
A third cover element to cover the occlusal surface of the tooth
including,
The protective structure is formed inside the first cover element without being formed inside the third cover element.
mouth guard. According to claim 1,
The body portion is formed to a thickness of 1.5 to 2.5 mm,
mouth guard. As a tooth protection structure,
The tooth protection structure is to provide protection against external impact, and the tooth protection structure:
A first protective layer formed inside the tooth protection device for protecting teeth;
A second protective layer formed in a form facing the first protective layer from the inside of the tooth protection device; and
A three-dimensional first connecting frame formed between the first protective layer and the second protective layer
including,
The first protective layer, the second protective layer, and the first connecting frame are formed in an area of the tooth protecting device to cover the outer surface of the tooth,
tooth protection structure. According to claim 6,
The first connection frame includes a 3D grid structure or a 3D mesh structure,
tooth protection structure. According to claim 6,
A third protective layer formed in a form facing the second protective layer from the inside of the tooth protection device; and
A second connection frame having a three-dimensional shape formed between the second protective layer and the third protective layer
Including additionally,
tooth protection structure. According to claim 8,
The first connection frame and the second connection frame are formed in symmetrical shapes with respect to the second protective layer,
tooth protection structure.

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