Cheek and lip expansion device and method

A cheek and lip expansion device, the device comprising:

• a first upper side member;
• a first upper connecting portion;
• a first upper thickened structure disposed between the first upper side member and the first upper connecting portion, the first upper thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the first upper side member and the first upper connecting portion;
• a second upper side member;
• a second upper connecting member;
• a second upper thickened structure disposed between the second upper side member and the second upper connecting portion, the second upper thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the second upper side member and the second lower connecting member;
• a first lower side member;
• a first lower connecting portion;
• a first lower thickened structure disposed between the first lower side member and the first lower connecting portion, the first lower thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the first lower side member and the first lower connecting portion;
• a second lower side member;
• a second lower connecting portion;
• and
• a second lower thickened structure disposed between the second lower side member and the second lower connecting portion, the second lower thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the second lower side member and the second lower connecting portion.

A frame of a cheek and lip expansion device, the frame comprising:

• an upper frame portion including a first upper side member, a second upper side member, a first upper connecting portion, and a second upper connecting portion;
• a lower frame portion including a first lower side member, a second lower side member, a first lower connecting portion, and a second lower connecting portion;
• a first upper thickened structure disposed between the first upper side member and the first upper connecting portion, the first upper thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the first upper side member and the first upper connecting portion;
• a second upper thickened structure disposed between the second upper side member and the second upper connecting portion, the second upper thickened portion having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the second upper side member and the second upper connecting portion;
• a first lower thickened structure disposed between the first lower side member and the first lower connecting portion, the first lower thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the first lower side member and the first lower connecting portion;
• and
• a second lower thickened structure disposed between the second lower side member and the second lower connecting portion, the second lower thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent portions of the second lower side member and the second lower connecting portion;
• a first posterior thickened structure disposed between the first upper side member and the first lower side member, the first posterior thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent frame portions;
• a second posterior thickened structure disposed between the second upper side member and the second lower side member, the second posterior thickened structure having an enlarged cross-section relative to adjacent frame portions;
• wherein:
• the first and the second posterior thickened structures are resistant to bending;
• and
• the first and the second posterior thickened structures are configured to transfer a flexing force acting to press a first frame portion towards a second frame portion.