Mouth guards, kits, and methods

A mouth guard comprising at least one or both of an upper generally arched-shaped member and a lower generally arched-shaped member, wherein:

• a) the upper generally arched-shaped member is configured to fit adjacent at least a portion of interior and exterior surfaces of a user's upper dentition, the upper generally arched-shaped member consisting of a moldable polymeric material;
• b) the lower generally arched-shaped member consists of the same moldable polymeric material that is configured to fit adjacent at least a portion of interior and exterior surfaces of the user's lower dentition;
• c) the lower generally arch-shaped member comprises a posterior lower right molar extension and a posterior lower left molar extension each consisting of the same moldable polymeric material, the posterior lower right and the posterior lower left molar extensions formed integrally with and projecting generally perpendicularly away from the lower generally arch-shaped member and generally toward the upper generally arch-shaped member;
• d) the upper generally arch-shaped member comprises a posterior upper right molar extension and a posterior upper left molar extension consisting of the same moldable polymeric material, the posterior upper right and posterior upper left molar extensions formed integrally with and projecting generally perpendicularly away from the upper generally arch-shaped member and generally toward the lower generally arch-shaped member;
• e) so that when the user bites or clenches, the posterior upper right molar extension impinges on the posterior lower right molar extension, and the posterior upper left molar extension impinges on the posterior lower left molar extension;
• f) the upper and lower generally arch-shaped members having an anterior shape to form a gap ranging from about 5 to about 15 mm and sufficient for at least a portion of the user's tongue to extend forward into the gap without being impeded in forward movement by the apparatus;
• g) the posterior lower right molar extension, posterior lower left molar extension, posterior upper right molar extension, and posterior upper left molar extension each configured such that, when the apparatus is in the user's mouth, the molar extensions create a tendency to keep the user's airway open by maintaining the gap.

A mouth guard comprising at least one or both of an upper generally arched-shaped member and a lower generally arched-shaped member, wherein:

• a) the upper generally arched-shaped member is configured to fit adjacent at least a portion of interior and exterior surfaces of a user's upper dentition, the upper generally arched-shaped member consisting of a moldable polymeric material;
• b) the lower generally arched-shaped member consisting of the moldable polymeric material that is configured to fit adjacent at least a portion of interior and exterior surfaces of the user's lower dentition;
• c) the lower generally arch-shaped member consisting of a posterior lower right molar extension and a posterior lower left molar extension each consisting of the moldable polymeric material, the posterior lower right and the posterior lower left molar extensions projecting generally perpendicularly away from the lower generally arch-shaped member and generally toward the upper generally arch-shaped member;
• d) the upper generally arch-shaped member consisting of a posterior upper right molar extension and a posterior upper left molar extension consisting of the moldable polymeric material, the posterior upper right and posterior upper left molar extensions projecting generally perpendicularly away from the upper generally arch-shaped member and generally toward the lower generally arch-shaped member;
• e) so that when the user bites or clenches, the posterior upper right molar extension impinges on the posterior lower right molar extension, and the posterior upper left molar extension impinges on the posterior lower left molar extension;
• f) the upper and lower generally arch-shaped members having an anterior shape to form a gap ranging from about 6 to about 8 mm sufficient for at least a portion of the user's tongue to extend forward into the gap without being impeded in forward movement by the apparatus;
• g) the posterior lower right molar extension, posterior lower left molar extension, posterior upper right molar extension, and posterior upper left molar extension each configured such that, when the apparatus is in the user's mouth, the molar extensions create a tendency to keep the user's airway open by maintaining the gap.