Oral appliance for use with CPAP headgear

An oral appliance for use by a subject while wearing a nasal CPAP mask comprising a dental tray having a lingual side, a buccal side, an anterior portion, a posterior portion, a right side, a left side, an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper side, and a lower side, wherein the dental tray comprises:

• a buccal wall having an outer surface on the buccal side of the dental tray, wherein the buccal wall comprises a right buccal side which extends from the anterior portion of the tray to the posterior portion on the right side and a left buccal side which extends from the anterior portion of the tray to the posterior portion on the left side;
• a lingual wall having an outer surface on the lingual side of the dental tray, wherein the lingual wall comprises a right lingual side which extends from the anterior portion of the tray to the posterior portion on the right side and a left lingual side which extends from the anterior portion of the tray to the posterior portion on the left side;
• a right side joining portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is attached to the posterior portion of the lingual wall on the right side and the distal end is attached to the posterior portion of the buccal wall on the right side;
• a left side joining portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is attached to the posterior portion of the lingual wall on the left side and the distal end is attached to the posterior portion of the buccal wall on the left side;
• an occlusal opening extending between the buccal wall and the lingual wall from the anterior portion of the tray to the posterior portion of the tray, wherein the occlusal opening allows the subject's teeth to contact each other when the appliance is worn by the subject;
• an upper receptacle portion on the inner surface of the upper side of the tray, wherein the upper receptacle portion comprises a plurality of maxillary dentition recesses for receiving maxillary dentition of the subject, wherein interproximal protrusions extend inwardly from the inner surface of the upper receptacle portion, and wherein each interproximal protrusion is located between adjacent maxillary dentition recesses in order to engage interproximal spaces between the subject's teeth;
• and
• a lower receptacle portion on the inner surface of the lower side of the tray, wherein the lower receptacle portion comprises a plurality of mandibular dentition recesses for receiving mandibular dentition of the subject, wherein interproximal protrusions extend inwardly from the inner surface of the lower receptacle portion, and wherein each interproximal protrusion is located between adjacent mandibular dentition recesses in order to engage interproximal spaces between the subject's teeth,
• wherein contact between the inner surface and interproximal protrusions of the dental tray facilitates maintenance of the subject's jaws in a closed position, thereby allowing the buccal wall to contact the subject's lips and form an intraoral seal, and
• wherein the occlusal opening forms an open channel extending continuously between the buccal wall and the lingual wall from the anterior portion of the tray to the posterior portion of the tray.