Dental appliance for constraining the tongue

A set of dental appliances comprising:

• a first dental appliance including:
• a first attachment mechanism adapted to attach onto a first portion of an upper jaw of a patient;
• and
• a first arch linked to the first attachment mechanism, where the first arch is shaped, when worn by the patient, to limit movement of an anterior central zone of the tongue of the patient, preventing back-and-forth motion of the tongue against the palate of the patient while allowing the anterior zone and lateral edges of the tongue to perform movements necessary for speech and swallowing;
• and
• a second dental appliance including:
• a second attachment mechanism adapted to attach onto a second portion of the upper jaw of the patient;
• and
• a second arch linked to the second attachment mechanism, the second arch extending from the second attachment mechanism and including an apex adapted to be positioned posterior to the second attachment mechanism within a buccal cavity of the patient, wherein the second arch is a metal wire that is a single piece, wherein the second arch is shaped and adapted to be positioned above a plane of occlusion of the patient at the apex and such that the apex is below a point where the second arch extends from the second attachment mechanism, the apex of the second arch being spaced apart from a palate of the patient, wherein opposite ends of the second arch are secured at the second attachment mechanism such that when the second arch receives pressure by the tongue of the patient, the second arch constrains the tongue of the patient to limit movement of a posterior zone of the tongue of the patient, maintaining the posterior zone of the tongue spaced apart from the palate of the patient, while allowing at least an anterior zone and lateral edges of the tongue to perform movements necessary for speech and swallowing.

A method of treatment of an enlarged tongue, the method comprising:

• positioning a dental appliance in a buccal cavity of a patient, the dental appliance including:
• an attachment mechanism to attach the dental appliance onto predetermined teeth of an upper jaw of the patient;
• and
• a constraining mechanism linked to the attachment mechanism, where the constraining mechanism includes an arch extending posteriorly and positioned at a predetermined height above a plane of occlusion of the patient and is shaped to limit movement of a posterior zone of the enlarged tongue, preventing the posterior zone of the enlarged tongue from adhering against a palate of the patient while allowing at least an anterior zone and lateral edges of the enlarged tongue to perform movements necessary for speech and swallowing;
• after a first period of time, removing the dental appliance;
• whereby, during the first period of time, a volume of the enlarged tongue is reduced, leading to normal tongue functions and less snoring or improved breathing, or both;
• positioning a first dental appliance in a buccal cavity of the patient, the first dental appliance including:
• an attachment mechanism to attach the first dental appliance onto predetermined teeth of an upper jaw of the patient;
• and
• a constraining mechanism linked to the attachment mechanism, where the constraining mechanism includes an arch extending anteriorly and positioned at a predetermined height above a plane of occlusion of the patient and shaped to limit movement of an anterior central zone of the enlarged tongue of the patient, wherein the constraining mechanism prevents a back-and-forth motion of the enlarged tongue rubbing against a palate of the patient while allowing anterior and lateral edges of the enlarged tongue to perform movements necessary for speech and swallowing;
• after a second period of time, removing the first dental appliance;
• whereby, during the second period of time, a volume of the enlarged tongue is reduced, leading to normal tongue functions and to less snoring or improved breathing or both.

A method for treating an enlarged tongue in a patient, the method comprising:

• attaching a dental appliance onto a portion of an upper jaw of the patient, the dental appliance including:
• an attachment mechanism adapted to attach onto the predetermined teeth of the upper jaw of a patient;
• and
• an arch linked to the attachment mechanism, the arch extending from the attachment mechanism and including an apex adapted to be positioned posterior to the attachment mechanism within a buccal cavity of the patient, wherein the arch is a metal wire that is a single piece, wherein the arch is shaped and adapted to be positioned above and approaching a plane of occlusion of the patient at the apex and such that the apex is below a point where the arch extends from the attachment mechanism, the apex of the arch being spaced apart from a palate of the patient, wherein opposite ends of the arch are secured by the attachment mechanism such that when the arch receives pressure by the enlarged tongue of the patient, the arch constrains the enlarged tongue of the patient to limit movement of a posterior zone of the enlarged tongue of the patient, maintaining the posterior zone of the enlarged tongue of the patient spaced apart from the palate of the patient while allowing at least an anterior zone and lateral edges of the enlarged tongue to perform movements necessary for speech and swallowing;
• constraining, via the arch, a posterior zone of the enlarged tongue to limit the movement of the posterior zone, maintaining the enlarged tongue of the patient spaced apart from the palate of the patient while allowing at least an anterior zone and lateral edges of the enlarged tongue to perform movements necessary for speech and swallowing;
• continuing the constraining for a first period of time at the end of which the volume of the patient's enlarged tongue is reduced, leading to reduced snoring and improved breathing or both;
• and
• discontinuing the constraining.