Granted Patent B2

US 12,708,491 · App. 18/775,440 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Inventors: Dena P. Garner (Isle of Palms, SC); Robert C. Molhoek (Edna, MN)

Assignee: Dental Choice Holdings LLC

A61C7/08

Abstract

Claims (37)

1 . An oral appliance, comprising:

an external portion having:

a first body having a first lingual wall extending between an anterior direction and a posterior direction and a first facial wall extending between said anterior direction and the posterior direction;

a first occlusal surface extending between said first lingual wall and said first facial wall;

a second body having a second lingual wall extending between the anterior direction and the posterior direction and a second facial wall extending between the anterior direction and the posterior direction;

a second occlusal surface extending between said second lingual wall and said second facial wall;

a connector extending between said first body and said second body at upper lingual corners of said first and second bodies; and,

a first lobe extending from an anterior end of said first facial wall and a second lobe extending from an anterior end of said second facial wall;

an internal portion having:

an internal support disposed within each of said first body and said second body, each of said internal supports comprising a plurality of protuberances formed integrally with each of said internal supports;

a connector support disposed within said connector, said connector support extending between said internal supports;

each of said plurality of protuberances passing through said first lingual wall and said second lingual wall, respectively and extending from lingual sides of each of said first and second bodies.

2 . The oral appliance of claim 1 , said external portion being formed of a first material.

3 . The oral appliance of claim 2 , said first material being a thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer.

4 . The oral appliance of claim 2 , said internal portion being formed of a second material.

5 . The oral appliance of claim 4 , said second material being ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or polypropylene.

6 . The oral appliance of claim 1 , said internal support defining a bite pad.

7 . The oral appliance of claim 6 , said bite pad being exposed through said external portion or covered by said external portion.

8 . The oral appliance of claim 7 , said bite pad being flush with said first or said second occlusal surface.

9 . The oral appliance of claim 7 , said bite pad being raised relative to said first or said second occlusal surface.

10 . The oral appliance of claim 1 , said connector having a first end and a second end.

11 . The oral appliance of claim 10 , said first end and said second end disposed at a first elevation.

12 . The oral appliance of claim 11 , said connector having a second elevation at a location between said first end and said second end, said second elevation being lower than said first elevation.

13 . The oral appliance of claim 1 , said plurality of protuberances located on said external portion, or located on said internal portion, or located on both.

14 . The oral appliance of claim 13 , each of said plurality of protuberances varying in shape moving in the anterior direction.

15 . The oral appliance of claim 1 , further comprising stippling on said internal portion, or said external portion, or both of said internal portion and said external portion.

16 . An oral appliance, comprising:

an external portion having:

a first body having a first channel shape formed of a first lingual wall extending between an anterior direction, a posterior direction and a first facial wall extending between said anterior direction and the posterior direction, and a first occlusal surface extending between said first lingual wall and said first facial wall;

a second body having a second channel shape formed of a second lingual wall extending between the anterior direction and the posterior direction and a second facial wall extending between the anterior direction and the posterior direction, and a second occlusal surface extending between said second lingual wall and said second facial wall;

a connector extending between said first body and said second body and having a lower elevation between ends of said connector;

a first lobe extending from an anterior end of said first facial wall and a second lobe extending from an anterior end of said second facial wall;

an internal portion having:

an internal support disposed within each of said first body and said second body, said internal support comprising first and second pluralities of protuberances which extend through respective said first and second lingual walls;

a connector support disposed within said connector, said connector support extending between said internal supports;

a stippling formed on a lower surface of said connector, or said connector support, or both.

17 . The oral appliance of claim 16 , said first lobe and said second lobe spaced from said first and second lingual walls and said connector.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (205)