Mandibular advancement device
Disclosed herein are mandibular advancement devices comprising an upper splint and a lower splint, where the upper splint comprises one or more upper fins, where each upper fin is located at a distance UD from back of the upper splint; the lower splints comprise one or more lower fins, where each lower fin is located at a distance LD from back of the lower splint; where the position of the upper and lower fins is unchangeable. Also disclosed are methods of reducing partial constriction of airway during sleep for a patient, the method comprising identifying a patient in need thereof; and administering to the patient the disclosed mandibular advancement device. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing a mandibular advancement device, the method comprising obtaining measurements from a patient's dentition; digitally designing a mandibular advancement device; and milling the mandibular advancement device.
1. A set of at least two mandibular advancement devices comprising:
a first mandibular advancement device and a second mandibular advancement device,
the first mandibular advancement device comprising a first upper splint and a first lower splint;
the first upper splint comprises one or more upper fins, wherein each upper fin is located at a first distance UD from back of the first upper splint;
the first lower splint comprises one or more lower fins, wherein each lower fin is located at a first distance LD from back of the first lower splint;
the second mandibular advancement device comprising a second upper splint and a second lower splint;
the second upper splint comprises one or more upper fins, wherein each upper fin is located at a second distance UD from back of the second upper splint;
the second lower splint comprises one or more lower fins, wherein each lower fin is located at a second distance LD from back of the second lower splint;
each first and second upper splint and each first and second lower splint is independently arch-shaped;
each upper splint independently comprises an imprint of a patient's upper dentition along a plane of the upper splint adapted to contact the upper dentition; each lower splint independently comprises an imprint of the patient's lower dentition along a plane of the lower splint adapted to contact the lower dentition;
each fin is “L” shaped, with a leg of the “L” connecting the fin to its respective splint protruding along the occlusal plane buccally, while another leg of the “L” protruding perpendicular to the occlusal plane, and adapted to protrude away from the patient's gingiva;
each splint and its respective fins comprise a single contiguous unit;
wherein each distance UD and each distance LD is unchangeable;
wherein:
i) the first distance UD is different than the second distance UD;
ii) the first distance LD is different than the second distance LD; or
iii) both the first distance UD is different than the second distance UD and the first distance LD is different than the second distance LD;
wherein the sum of the first distance UD and the first distance LD is different than the sum of the second distance UD and the second distance LD by an increment of 0.5 mm in the range of 0.5 mm to 6.0 mm;
wherein each upper fin comprises a front surface and each lower fin comprises a back surface, wherein when one of the first or the second upper splint and the corresponding one of the first or second lower splint are worn together by the patient, the front surface of each upper fin contacts the back surface of the respective lower fin along a contact surface; and
wherein each upper fin and each lower fin are of sufficient height such that when the patient's mouth is opened during sleep, contact between the front surface of the upper fin and the back surface of the lower fin is maintained.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the upper and lower splints is designed digitally and milled as a single unit according to the digital design.
3. The devices of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second upper splint and each of the first and second lower splint independently comprises an empty center, wherein the empty center provides room for a patient's tongue when the device is in use.
4. The devices of claim 1 , wherein a rake angle of the contact surface is selected from the group consisting of a neutral angle, a recline angle, and a procline angle.
5. The devices of claim 1 , wherein the shape of each upper fin and each lower fin is independently selected from a predesigned digital library of fins.
6. The devices of claim 1 , further comprising one or more structural feature configured to accommodate an add on selected from the group consisting of a support member, a ball clasp, retention wire, treatment wire, alignment wires, and a tongue behavior modification wire.
7. The devices of claim 1 , further comprising one or more retention arms.
8. The devices of claim 1 , wherein the set of at least two devices comprises:
i) the first upper splint and the first lower splint;
ii) the first upper splint and the second lower splint;
iii) the second upper splint and the first lower splint; or
iv) the second upper splint and second lower splint.
9. The devices of claim 1 , wherein one of the first or second upper splint contacts a respective one of the first or second lower splint along a plane, wherein the plane is the same as the patient's occlusal plane.
10. The devices of claim 1 , wherein one of the first or second upper splint contacts a respective one of the first or second lower splint along a plane, wherein the plane is at an angle with respect to a patient's occlusal plane.