Lingual splint for human jaws fixation for orthognathic surgery

#The present disclosure generally relates to maxillofacial surgery systems, and particularly to a lingual splint for fixing together a maxillary jaw and a mandibular jaw of a patient for an orthognathic surgery.

#The fixation of a maxillary jaw and a mandibular jaw closed together, also known as the upper and lower dental occlusal arches during orthognathic surgery is known as intermaxillary fixation or stabilization. The orthognathic surgery is employed in the treatment of some of dentofacial deformities such as mandibular or maxillary excess or deficiency, in combination with orthodontic therapy to correct and remove the deformity.

#Interocclusal acrylic splint techniques represent the earliest methods of securing the maxillary jaw and mandibular jaw. The method involves utilizing heavy metallic wires that are placed in the brackets of the teeth and a custom made acrylic interocclusal splint is placed between the teeth of the jaws, and subsequently the maxillary and mandibular jaws secured to one another with a relatively light ligature wire, thus accomplishing intermaxillary fixation or stabilization and the acrylic splint maintain the correct predetermined position of the teeth. Also these surgical templates are usually unstable and bulky which may affect position of the lips and cause interferences or contact with inter-maxillary fixation and also do not provide a surgeon a clear view of interocclusal relations during the operation. Thus, surgeons are reluctant to use them. In addition, the placement, repositioning, and removal of the templates may further complicate the surgical procedure and increase the operation time. In addition, the arch wire, brackets and ball hooks, sometimes, loosen during usage and disturb the fixation competency. Also the sharp ends of the intermaxillary wire may cause irritation of the soft tissues in a patient's mouth. In addition, several steps are required, and any quicker release is not possible. There is, therefore, a need for a fixation system in an intermaxillary fixation or stabilization procedure that eliminates the inter-maxillary fixation wire and interocclusal acrylic and provides easy, quick, and accurate release and fixation of the jaws.

#The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present teachings, by way of example only, not by way of limitation. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

#FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary locking mechanism for releasably fixing a maxillary jaw and a mandibular jaw of a patient together, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

#FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary splint, a mandibular jaw, and a maxillary jaw of a patient, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

#In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it should be apparent that the present teachings may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and/or circuitry have been described at a relatively high-level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings. The following detailed description is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the methods and devices disclosed in exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. For purposes of explanation, specific nomenclature is set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice the disclosed exemplary embodiments. Descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments are provided only as representative examples. Various modifications to the exemplary implementations will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations and applications without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the implementations shown but is to be accorded the widest possible scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

#Herein is disclosed an exemplary splint for releasably fixing together a maxillary jaw and a mandibular jaw of a patient during orthognathic surgery. The exemplary splint provides a facility for a dentist and/or a surgeon to fix together the maxillary jaw and the mandibular jaw of a patient easily and quickly when the surgeon intends to implement a surgical operation on the patient that necessitates the patient's jaws fixation.

#Furthermore, the exemplary splint may provide a facility for a dentist and/or a surgeon to release a patient's jaws fixation simply and quickly. An exemplary splint may include an upper locking member that may be attached to a maxillary row of teeth and a lower locking member that may be attached to a mandibular row of teeth. When a patient closes his/her jaws, an upper locking member and a lower locking member may be latched together. An exemplary splint may further include a release ligature wire. A dentist and/or surgeon may be able to release a patient's jaws fixation by simply and quickly pulling a release ligature wire.