Intraoral discluder device and method for preventing migraine, tension headache, and temporomandibular disorders

A method for using a semi-custom intraoral discluder device, comprising the steps of:

• providing a semi-custom intraoral discluder device that includes
• a trough having a front wall and a rear wall sized and configured to accommodate at least one upper or lower incisor, wherein the front wall is disposed adjacent to the front of the incisor and the rear wall is disposed adjacent to the rear of the incisor when the trough is in the wearer's mouth, and
• a protrusion attached to the trough and having a contact surface that extends a substantial distance anteriorly from the front wall of the trough and a substantial distance posteriorly from the rear wall of the trough when the trough is in the wearer's mouth, wherein the contact surface is spaced a predetermined distance from the trough such that the protrusion is configured to prevent contact between opposing upper and lower teeth;
• and
• placing the intraoral discluder device on at least one of the wearer's upper or lower incisors so that the protrusion will contact at least one opposing incisor tooth prior to contact between upper and lower teeth, whether the mandible is in a protrusive position or a retrusive position.

A semi-custom intraoral discluder device comprising:

• a prefabricated trough having a front wall and a rear wall sized and configured to accommodate at least one upper or lower incisor, wherein the front wall disposed is adjacent to the front of the incisor when the trough is in the wearer's mouth;
• a quantity of adaptable material disposed within the trough and adapted to conform to the shape of the incisor, to assist in retaining the device in the wearer's mouth;
• and
• a protrusion attached to the trough and having a contact surface that projects a substantial distance anteriorly from the front wall of the trough and posteriorly from the rear wall of the trough when the trough is in the wearer's mouth;
• wherein the trough, the adaptable material, and the protrusion all are formed of a biocompatible material;
• wherein the protrusion has a length in the anterior/posterior direction in the range of about 8 mm to about 12 mm, and wherein the protrusion projects anteriorly from the front wall of the trough by at least about 3 mm, and wherein the contact surface is spaced a predetermined distance from the trough, such that the protrusion is configured to prevent contact between opposing upper and lower teeth, whether the mandible is in a protrusive position or a retrusive position.