WO2019116304A1

WO2019116304A1 - A device for the correction of dental malocclusion

Info

Publication number: WO2019116304A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/060021
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Valenti
Original assignee: Giuseppe Valenti
Priority date: 2017-12-14
Filing date: 2018-12-13
Publication date: 2019-06-20

Abstract

A device (1) for the correction of dental malocclusion allows the patient to wear the device itself without producing a sensation of excessive invasiveness in relation to the dental arches, which are free to touch, and includes a vestibular shield (10), apt to be inserted between the lips and the dental arches of a patient, wherein a smooth outer face, which is apt to be faced towards and to be in contact with lips, and an inner face, which is apt to be in contact with dental arches, are identified, having a profile which allows the upper and lower dental arches to achieve an intercuspation therebetween, wherein the vestibular shield (10) includes a central respiratory opening, for breathing, which has, at the contour thereof, an outer labial support (11) projecting from the outer face of the vestibular shield (10) adhered to the lips, having a shape so as to interfere in use with the lips' sealing during a usual deglutition action, preventing them from closing.

Description

A device for the correction of dental malocclusion

Description

CONTEXT OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for the correction of dental malocclusion which can be used both for therapeutic purpose for the correction of the same, and for purely aesthetical purpose, that is when the malocclusion has not an extent so as to constitute a physiopathological problem, acting through a functional re-adaptation of the deglutition technique and it is suitable to be applied to the teeth of a patient, to correct the course of the neuro-muscular mechanisms which control deglutition by acting as a modulator for the correction of the same and, indirectly, for the correction of the dental malocclusion which is the direct demonstration thereof.

Hereinafter, under intercuspation the direct contact of the teeth of the upper arch with the teeth of the lower arch is meant. The maximum intercuspation is obtained when the higher number of contacts between the teeth of the two arches, required to modulate the extent of the force of the lifting masticatory muscles of the jaw, takes place: masseters, inner and outer time and pterygoid muscles. Should the teeth be physiologically positioned and a valid intercuspation is obtained, the masticatory muscles act with equal intensity by using the minimum force required to produce a valid deglutition action .

The teeth occlusion will take place so as not to influence other body districts, that is physiologically, no alteration of the individual posture due to the occlusion will be caused. This assumes the maximum importance during the deglutition action which takes place, physiologically, without interposition of the tongue between the arches. The deglutition in fact is an involuntary motion which takes place several times per minute and in order to allow it the masticatory muscles contract by making the teeth to come in contact: implementing intercuspation indeed.

Under malocclusion the pathologic condition is meant therefor a correct and physiological matching between the teeth of the two opposing arches is not implemented. Malocclusion can result in an altered alignment of the teeth or an anomalous position thereof (dental malocclusion) or an altered development of the jaw bones (skeletal malocclusion) . The cause factors can be genetic, embryonic, linked to metabolic or endocrinal deficits, general diseases or oral district, defective habits (for example finger suction), or trauma of various degree or results thereof.

The consequences of not treated malocclusion can consist in masticatory, phonetic, aesthetical deficits or more serious symptoms such as algic-dysfunctional syndrome of the temporo-mandibular joint.

The therapy of malocclusions is mainly based upon the orthodontic or, in some cases, surgical-prosthetic treatment. Malocclusion can appear then with a not sufficient alignment of the teeth themselves in the dental arches, or an excessive discrepancy in antero-rear and/or transversal direction of the bone bases sustaining the teeth.

Malocclusion, moreover, by generating even incorrect contacts between the teeth preventing an optimum intercuspation, can cause bruxism.

Under vestibule, or fornix, of the mouth the space is meant between the inner face of the cheeks and of the lips and the outer face of the two gingiva dental arches; under oral cavity, or buccal as such, the space contained between the hard palate, the inner face of the gingiva- dental arches and the so-called mouth floor is meant, which, through the isthmus of the fauces, communicates with the pharynx and in the lower plane thereof there is the tongue .

Then, under surface or vestibular side of each tooth or of a whole dental arch the surface or the side facing outside the mouth, nearer to the lips and cheeks, is meant. The vestibular surface is also called labial for the front teeth and buccal for the rear teeth.

For the sake of completeness, the side opposite to the vestibular side, that is the one facing the oral cavity, the palate or the tongue, is called palate, or lingual, side if one speaks about upper or lower arch, respectively .

Under occlusal surface of a tooth the surface of a tooth going in contact with the opposite tooth is meant; for incisors and canines it is called incisal surface.

Deglutition, one of the physiological functions of the life of each individual, can be defined as an articulated and complex process which, thanks to the coordinated and sequential involvement of several nervous and muscular structures, allows the progression and the transportation of the alimentary bolus from the mouth towards the digestive routes.

Deglutition is a complex praxia which depends upon the coordinated joint of the oropharyngeal, laryngeal and oesophageal muscles, and of several cranial nerves thereamong some are involved directly, such as the trigeminal nerve (V), the facial nerve (VII), the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), the vagus nerve (X) and the hypoglossal nerve (XII), and other ones indirectly, such as the olfactory nerve (I) and the optical nerve (II) .

Deglutition is then defined as the capability to convey solid, gaseous or mixed substances from outside towards the stomach, and this implies that this action is not limited to the passage of food from the mouth to the stomach, but it relates even to the activities which precede the inlet of the substance in the oral cavity. Specifically, in deglutition an individual can intervene voluntarily and decide when a piece of food can be:

• put into the mouth,

• chewed and amalgamated with saliva, and

• pushed with the tongue towards the palate.

From this moment on, all following actions are guided by the central nervous system and occur by reflection and always with the same modes: a) the piece of food starts the progression towards the pharynx by closing the soft palate;

b) the larynx rises;

c) vocal cords close by making the larynx inaccessible to bolus penetration which otherwise would fall in the lungs (suction phenomenon) ;

d) epiglottis lowers by leaving the bolus to go down into the pharynx; and

e) the crico-pharyngeal sphincter is released by allowing the bolus to reach the oesophagus.

These actions are performed in a time interval not higher than 2 seconds during a short respiratory pause. Subsequently, the alimentary bolus uses 8 to 20 seconds to cross the oesophagus and penetrate the stomach.

Deglutition, despite its frequency (2500 deglutitions of saliva per day) and its apparent simplicity, is a highly sophisticated mechanism, strictly linked to other vital functions .

The deglutition dynamics changes in the different periods of life, starting from neonatal age through the stages strictly linked to the age and the development level of the neuromuscular system.

The passage from an infantile deglutition to an adult deglutition takes place within few months and it is favoured by the neuromuscular maturation, the acquisition of the erect position of the head, the need for varying feeding from liquid to solid and by the teeth completion. On the average, children complete the deglutition development around 12-15 months of age. However, it is useful to know the difference between normal deglutition and deviated deglutition.

At rest, in the adult individual the tongue tip touches the retroincisal papilla, point therefrom a progressive mechanism takes place for transporting the bolus into the pharynx thanks to the tongue which pushes the same on the palate, with teeth in occlusion of maximum intercuspation : in the deviated deglutition the tongue tip often pushes against the upper incisors and, as a consequence, it is possible that the contraction of the lips and of the chin-rest muscle and the passage of the tongue in the inter-arch space takes place to reach the lips and activate a suction mechanism, which does not happen, indeed in physiological situations of normal deglutitions .

Then, the tongue often interposes between the teeth by causing the so-called "open bite" between the dental arches. Moreover, often the contraction of the masseter muscles does not take place which instead keep the dental arches tightened by bringing them in maximum intercuspation, to obtain the maximum stability of the deglutition action. On the contrary, during the suction mechanism there is an interposition of the tongue between the arches and the lips, which in turn contract to seal and allow the deglutition action.

The just described deglutitionary process is the physiological one, and the alterations of one or more phases of deglutition then can involve the insurgence of a pathology known as dysphagia, which is an alteration of the normal progression of food from the oral cavity to the stomach, caused by an anatomo- functional dysfunction. Dysphagia often appears as consequence of other disorders and then it can relate to solid food only, semi-liquid or liquid food.

Depending upon the compromised phase, two types of dysphagia can appear, each one thereof is caused by various pathological conditions.

They are the oesophageal dysphagia, that is a dysphagia linked to oesophageal problems, a dysfunction consisting in the difficulty in a correct passage of the bolus in the oesophageal lumen, and the oropharyngeal dysphagia .

In oesophageal dysphagia, the pathologies causing such condition are intrinsic and extrinsic mechanical causes, such as peptic stenosis, neoplasms, aneurysma of the thorax vessels, abnormally large heart, osteoarticular causes, primitive and secondary neuromuscular causes, such as achalasia, widespread oesophageal spasm, scleroderma, collagen vascular diseases, and structural causes, such as cricopharyngeal bar, Zenker diverticulum, osteophytes and skeletal abnormalities, congenital malformations .

In oropharyngeal dysphagia the patient shows difficulty in starting the deglutition action, that is in making the bolus to pass from the oropharynx to the upper oesophagus .

This condition can have several causes thereamong a neurogenic damage, such as for example cerebrovascular ictus, intracranial and spinal trauma, neoplasms, pathologies of the first motoneuron, pathologies of the second motoneuron, syndrome of Guillain-Barre, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, poliomyelitis, metabolic encephalopathies, Parkinson's disease, dementia, or myopathic causes, such as connective diseases, dermatomyositis , serious myasthenia, myotonic dystrophia, oculopharingeal dystrophia, sarcoidosis, paraneoplastic syndromes, or still a cerebral anoxia and operations on tumours of the upper aerodigestive tracts (UAT) . Moreover, a senile involution, iatrogenic causes such as drugs (chemotherapeutic, neuroleptic drugs, etc.)_/ radiant therapy, caustic (intentional, by pills), metabolic causes such as amyloidosis, Cushing's disease, thyrotoxicosis, gastro-oesophageal reflux pathology, infective causes such as diphtheria, botulism, Lyme' s disease, syphilis, mucositis (Herpes Zoster, Cytomegalovirus, Candida, etc.) can be involved.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia then can be induced by several causes which, indirectly, due to the action on the neuromuscular function itself, can has as epiphenomenon the occurrence of a dental malocclusion, which can be treated orthodontically in the attempt at correcting not only the aesthetic appearance but above all the functional one, exactly in the attempt at contrasting the same dysphagia, by favouring a deglutitionary re equilibrium.

2 . Description of the state of art

With reference to the above-described physiological problems and to the consequences thereof, the existing correction methods are based upon a dental and/or orthopaedic (structural of the maxillaries) action for correcting the so-called malocclusion: in this case the malocclusion correction itself produces indirectly the correction of the deglutition function, and not viceversa: the correction values are pre-set by the operator who applies them on the orthodontic device based upon his/her personal evaluation based upon instrumental investigations, such as telecranium and cephalometric tracings .

However, the action directed onto the teeth of an orthodontic device sometimes is perceived by the patient as uncomfortable and invasive, and the related therapies then have a duration limited by the patient's tolerance, by the capability of interpreting the problem and the way to solve it by the operator and often they are not decisive .

Some examples of intra-oral devices relating to problems similar to those described herein are shown in International patent applications No. WO 2009/026,695 Al, No. WO 2013/144,710 Al and NO. WO 2017/125,799 Al , in US patent No. 5,636,379 A, and in US patent application No. US 2017/0, 165, 102 Al .

In particular, documents WO 2009/026,695 Al, WO 2017/125,799 Al and US 5,636,379 A, describe devices for the treatment of malocclusion of different shape, but all comprising an edge, which can be full, holed and/or shaped based upon the occlusal surfaces of the arches which bite it, which inserts between the upper and lower dental arches and which interferes with intercuspation, by preventing then the teeth to touch therebetween, with the purpose of making the device to exert a mechanical action on the dental arches, and this in strong contrast with the idea underlying the present invention.

This type of known devices is commonly designated with the term "bite", since they are bitten by the patient preventing the direct intercuspation of the arches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a correction device allowing to obviate the drawback mentioned with reference to the known art.

In fact, one tries to correct primarily deglutition to obtain then indirectly a correction of the dental malocclusion .

Such action is performed by a device as above specified which characterizes in that it comprises a vestibular shield, which has a shape allowing it to be inserted between the lips and the dental arches, that is the space called vestibule (fornix), of a patient having length even as far as the last molars and height equal to about the height of the vestibule with the arches in occlusion, wherein the following is identified:

• a smooth outer face, facing outside and thus in contact with the inner portion of both lips and cheeks of a patient wearing the device;

• an inner face which can appear, in the simplified version of the device, smooth or it can have a plurality of indentations corresponding to the single dental elements of the occluding upper and lower arch, in each case without producing a mechanical interference to the intercuspation of the dental arches;

• the indentations are then formed by cavities existing on the inner surface of the device suitable to act as a guide in the descent of teeth in arch pushed by the muscular forces in action during deglutition, phonation and breathing so that the side shields themselves of the device adhere to the vestibular, that is external lateral, surface, of the dental arches in occlusion;

• apart from said indentations, there is the possibility that on these inner surfaces of the device even recesses can be placed for receiving orthodontic brackets, used for a fixed orthodontic therapy, allowing to use the subject deglutionary rehabilitation device indeed even during fixed orthodontic therapy;

• at least a central opening, preferably one single hole with oval shape, having at its own outer contour an upper and lower labial support projecting from the vestibular surface of the shield, adhering to the lips, preferably having thickness and length so as to prevent, by contrasting it mechanically, the lips' sealing during a usual deglutition action, the function thereof is not only that of allowing the oral breathing, but above all to prevent, indeed, the contact of the upper and lower lips in deglutition which otherwise would determine the activation of the suction mechanism.

The vestibular shield advantageously has a contour with notches for the anatomical frenula existing on the vestibulum, both anterior and latero-posterior and upper and lower ones.

Generally, the vestibular shield of the device according to the invention has a profile, that is a mainly flat shape, which allows the dental arches to achieve an intercuspation therebetween, not interposing therebetween with physical obstacles. In other words, the teeth touch therebetween, anything of the vestibular shield not interfering with their contact, whereas the lips cannot close due to the above-mentioned labial support.

The object of the present invention is defined by the annexed claim 1, whereas the depending claims relate to accessory aspects of the invention, as described sofar.

The main advantage of the correction device according to the present invention lies in the fact of allowing the patient to wear the device itself without producing a sensation of excessive invasiveness in relation to the dental arches, which are free to touch maxillary dental cuspis on mandibular dental pit.

The operation mechanism of the above-illustrated correction device is based upon the stimulus of the neuromuscular function assigned to the deglutition control, thanks to the presence of the outer labial supports, the opening for oral breathing and the vestibular shields.

In this way the patient is prevented from sealing the lips during deglutition, thus preventing the activation of the suction mechanism characteristic of atypical or deviated deglutition, in favour of a deglutition mechanism of adult type that is with maximum dental intercuspation, without interposition of the tongue between the teeth.

The correct position/ function of the tongue, in its three-dimensional motions, simply develops the arches correctly and pushes the teeth in their physiological destination position, even guided by the indentations existing on the auxiliary vestibular surface, in a correct position both intra-arch and inter-arch considering the absence, herein, of any occlusal interference .

In other words, the arches are free to touch therebetween, and on the contrary it is required that they touch to strengthen the effect of the neuromuscular stimulus and of shape of arches by the tongue, during deglutition .

In fact, deglutition usually takes place with the teeth in a position of maximum intercuspation, by obtaining an effective stability in the correct deglutitory action and, consequently, a correct push of the tongue on the dental arches which will position wherein the deglutitory action is obtained with the best stability, and then with greater safety of the same.

This device then exploits the function which, if performed correctly, allows the survival: in fact the function of deglutition which is performed daily with carelessness is a real life-saving mechanism since a wrong deglutition action would involve the inhalation of liquids or worse of food, and exactly to meet this functional priority the neuro-muscular system, subjected to the action of a small stimulus, such as that of the herein described correction device, adapts quickly, by introducing new symmetric motions which involve subsequently a rebalance of the muscular forces, by determining a correct occlusion with a valid intercuspation .

Therefore, the use of the above-defined correction device can help the correction, the strengthening and the specialization of the deglutition technique, for correcting phonesis disorders, for the correction of the dental-skeletal malocclusion and so on. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ENCLOSED DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described hereinafter according to a preferred embodiment example, provided by way of example and not for limitative purpose with reference to the enclosed drawings wherein:

* figure 1 shows a top plan view of an embodiment example of a device for correcting the malocclusion according to the invention;

* figure 2 shows a bottom plan view of the correction device of figure 1;

* figure 3 shows a front view of the correction device of figure 1, highlighting the device surface in contact with the inner portion of the lips of a patient wearing the device ;

* figure 4 shows a rear view of the correction device of figure 1, highlighting the device surface in contact with the dental arches of a patient wearing the device;

* figure 5 shows a section view of the correction device of figure 1, taken according to plane X-X of figure 4; and

* figure 6 shows a section view of the correction device of figure 1, taken according to plane Y-Y of figure 4.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT EXAMPLE OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures a correction device 1 of malocclusion is represented, comprising a structure, apt to be inserted in a patient's mouth, between the patient's lips and his/her dental arches, without then being inserted in the buccal cavity as such.

This structure is made of elastomeric, silicone material, which preferably is a tenso-elastic material with low stiffness shape memory, so as to develop low forces on the teeth, which are pushed in the correct position, in the order of 5-35 g/cm².

The device is based upon the mechanics of correcting the stimulus of the neuro-muscular mechanisms controlling deglutition, by acting as modulator for the correction of the same, and indirectly for the correction of the dental malocclusion which is its direct symptom.

The correction device 1 comprises a vestibular shield 10 which has a laminar shape, to be inserted between the lips and dental arches, and it has a shape so as to extend laterally at least on a central portion of the dental arches, for example for about 7 cm, whereas the height of the shield will be so as to cover wholly the dental arches from top to bottom, for example with a height of 4 cm.

However, it is to be meant that these sizes could be selected based upon the sizes of the user patient's mouth, that is based upon standard physical parameters which depend upon sex, age and so on.

The shape of the shield 10 is curved and concave, to adapt to the profile of the vestibular surface of the dental arches in intercuspation .

The shape then identifies in the shield 10 an outer face, that is in contact with the patient's lips (figure 3), and a concave inner face, in contact with the patient's dental arches (figure 4) . The outer face has a smooth convex surface, without asperities, except the one referred to a central opening, which will be described hereinafter .

The shield 10 has a contour 2 which, on the upper portion, has a first notch 8 for the upper frenulum, in central position and, at the side ends, respective second notches 9 for the upper side frenula.

Moreover, on the lower portion of the contour 2, the shield 10 has a third notch 14, still in central position for the lower frenulum, and, laterally, respective fourth notches 13 for the lower side frenula.

At the centre thereof, the shield 10 comprises a respiratory opening implemented, in the present example, by a hole 12 allowing oral breathing, with preferably oval shape, or however elongated in the direction of greater length of the shield 10.

It is to be meant that the same function could be performed by a plurality of holes arranged on an elongated area of the vestibular shield 10, or by a grid.

Moreover, the shield 10, at the contour of said breathing opening, comprises a projecting edge 11 implementing a sustain for the lower and upper lips, that is a projecting support for the upper lip and the lower lip, which interferes with the lips and thus prevents from sealing, that is the mutual adhesion of the lips during a usual deglutition action.

The edge or rib 11 projects from the surface of the outer face of the vestibular shield 10, otherwise smooth, by representing the sole asperity, and preferably it has a thickness and a length so as to prevent said sealing between the lips, thus extending therethrough.

The vestibular shield 10 can be smooth or can have on the inner face thereof, that is on the shield surface adhered to the dental arches, a plurality of recesses constituting respective indentations 15 for dental elements, that is teeth, both of the upper arch and of the lower arch, when they are in an occlusion state, that is closed on each other in maximum intercuspation .

On the vestibular shield 10 on the dental indentations 15 even cavities could be present for housing orthodontic brackets which will allow the use of the device even during a fixed orthodontic therapy.

The indentations 15 then are arranged on two rows on each side of the central hole 12, and they have respective cavities which, between the upper row and the lower row, are in contact with one another (figure 4) .

The available indentations 15 could be assigned to the central incisor teeth, to the side incisor teeth, to the canine teeth, to the premolar teeth and to the molar teeth; the indentations for the incisive teeth are formed at the upper and lower edge of the hole 12 (figure 4) .

In each case, the vestibular shield, on the surface adhered to the dental arches having said indentations 15, has a profile allowing the dental arches to achieve an intercuspation therebetween without any interference, that is allowing the teeth to touch and in case to tighten . Therefore, the vestibular shield 10 does not act as bite or byte in the patient's mouth, even if it remains in a prefixed position, but it acts as a guide thanks to the recesses constituting the indentations 15 for the patient's teeth to help in obtaining the correct dental positioning subjected to the deglutitory, phonatory, breathing and functional pushes in general.

It will be noted that, in this device, teeth are not subjected directly to the interference with the vestibular shield, except in a minimum portion for the dental positioning recesses existing on its inner surface. Teeth, however, are strongly exposed to the stimulus induced by the correction device on the neuro muscular function for controlling the deglutition which activates indeed since the device thanks to the vestibular shields and above all to the labial support induces a new deglutition model with respect to the one consolidated over time by the individual.

In fact, by inducing this new deglutition model, the force of the tongue itself, as well as the decreased action and presence of the cheeks, thanks to the side extension of the vestibular shield resting on the dental arches, produces the correction of malocclusion in turn induced by the fact of persisting of an anomalous deglutition method.

It is to be meant that, when one speaks about the deglutition mechanism meant as neuro-muscular stimulus which produces the involuntary phase of deglutition, it cannot be simplified by stating that it is a wrong mechanism in itself, since, even if it causes malocclusion, it performs fully its function of implementing a correct deglutition, which is fundamental for survival .

It is to be meant that the correction of the deglutitory action, still in the physiological field, will determine consequently to its action on muscles a re-equilibrium of malocclusion and a restoration of both intra- and inter arch occlusal harmony by making occlusion more correct from both functional and aesthetical point of view.

The above-described device, in particular the positioning and shape of the indentations 15, could be customized on the patient, that is it could be obtained by mould and transferred to the vestibular shield during manufacturing .

In a simplified version, the shape of the indentations 15 could be obtained based upon standard average values related to the most widespread anatomy in a certain geographical area, with a classification by sex and/or age .

In additional simplified versions the indentations 15 could not be present, the inner surface of the device appearing smooth.

Moreover, on the described indentations 15 there could be additional cavities for receiving orthodontic brackets for treatment of fixed orthodontic apparatus which will allow the use of the device even during an ongoing orthodontic therapy, allowing indeed with deglutition re education a speeding up of the fixed therapy itself.

At last, it is to be meant that the corrections induced by the above-described correction device in case could have a purely aesthetical, and not necessarily therapeutic, purpose.

To the above-described correction device a person skilled in the art, with the purpose of satisfying additional and contingent needs, could introduce several additional modifications and variants, all however comprised within the protective scope of the present invention, as defined by the enclosed claims .

Claims

1. A device (1) for the correction of dental malocclusion comprising a vestibular shield (10), apt to be inserted between the lips and the dental arches of a patient, wherein a smooth outer face, apt to be faced towards and to be in contact with lips, and an inner face, apt to be in contact with dental arches, are defined, having a profile with a shape so as to allow the upper and lower dental arches to achieve an intercuspation therebetween without mechanical interferences, wherein the vestibular shield (10) comprises at least a central respiratory opening, for breathing, which has, at the contour thereof, an outer labial support (11) projecting from the outer face of the vestibular shield (10) adhered to the lips, having a shape so as to interfere in use with the lips' sealing during a usual deglutition action, preventing them from closing .

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said inner face of the vestibular shield (10) has a plurality of indentations (15) which conjugate with the outer dental surface of dental elements of the occluding upper and lower arch, formed by respective recesses shaped in said inner face.

3. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said inner face of the vestibular shield (10) is smooth.

4. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said inner face of the vestibular shield (10) has additional recesses for receiving the brackets of a fixed orthodontic apparatus .

5. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the vestibular shield (10) is made of an elastomeric-silicone material .

6. The device (1) according to claim 5, wherein said elastomeric-silicone material is a tenso-elastic material with shape memory.

7. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the vestibular shield (10) has a laminar shape extending laterally at least on a central portion of the dental arches, whereas the height thereof is so as to wholly cover the dental arches from top to bottom.

8. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the vestibular shield (10) has a curved and concave shape, to adapt to the profile of the surface of the dental arches facing outside the mouth while achieving an intercuspation .

9. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the vestibular shield (10) has a contour (2) which, on the upper portion, has a first notch (8) for the upper frenulum, in central position and, at the side ends, respective second notches (9) for the upper side frenula, and, on the lower portion of the contour (2), a third notch (14), still in central position for the lower frenulum, and, laterally, respective fourth notches (13) for the lower side frenula.

10. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said at least a respiratory opening includes one single hole (12) with elongated shape in the direction of larger extension of the vestibular shield (10) .

11. The device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the labial support (11) is formed by an edge projecting from the outer surface of the vestibular shield (10) surrounding said single hole (12), with a thickness and a length so as to prevent the lips' sealing during deglutition, by extending therethrough.

12. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein said indentations (15) for dental elements are arranged on two rows on each side of the central hole (12), and they have respective cavities which, between the upper row and the lower row, are in contact with one another.

13. The device (1) according to claims 10 and 12, wherein said indentations (15) are intended to the central incisor teeth, to the side incisor teeth, to the canine teeth, to the premolar teeth and to the molar teeth of both arches, the indentations (15) for the incisive teeth being formed at the upper and lower edge of the central hole (12) .

14. The device (1) according to claim 10 or 13, wherein the positioning and the shape of the indentations (15) are customized on a patient, obtained by mould of the dental arches and transferred to the vestibular shield

(10) during manufacturing by the dental laboratory, or obtained on standard average values related to the most widespread anatomy.

15. A use of the correction device (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims for the correction of the dental arches by purely aesthetical purposes.