Dental appliances having attachable upper and lower halves and systems and methods for treating malocclusions

A dental appliance worn adjacent to teeth of a user, the dental appliance comprising:

• a generally U-shaped first shell wherein the first shell has an outside perimeter and an inside perimeter;
• a generally U-shaped second shell wherein the second shell has an outside perimeter and an inside perimeter;
• a first wedge on the outside perimeter of the first shell;
• and
• a second wedge on the outside perimeter of the second shell wherein the second wedge contacts the first wedge to prevent movement between the first shell and the second shell.

A dental appliance worn adjacent to teeth in a mouth of a user, the dental appliance comprising:

• a generally U-shaped upper shell having a base;
• a generally U-shaped lower shell having a base;
• and
• a hinge having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is connected to the upper shell and the second end is connected to the lower shell and wherein the hinge folds at a point between the first end and the second end.

A dental appliance worn adjacent to teeth in a mouth of a user, the dental appliance comprising:

• a generally U-shaped first base;
• a generally U-shaped second base adjacent to the first base;
• and
• a first magnet within the first base.

A dental appliance worn adjacent to teeth in a mouth of a user, the dental appliance comprising:

• a generally U-shaped first shell having an outside perimeter and an inside perimeter;
• a generally U-shaped second shell having an outside perimeter and an inside perimeter;
• and
• a fastening device attached to the first shell and the second shell wherein the fastening device has a male portion attached to the first shell and a female portion attached to the second shell wherein the male portion and the female portion engage to removably attach the first shell to the second shell.

A dental appliance worn adjacent to teeth in a mouth of a user and having a length defined between a first end and a second end, the dental appliance comprising:

• a generally U-shaped first shell having a top surface which receives upper teeth of a user;
• a generally U-shaped second shell having a bottom surface which receives lower teeth of the user;
• and
• a fastening device removably attaching the first shell and the second shell wherein a first distance between the top surface and the bottom surface at the first end is greater than a second distance between the top surface and the bottom surface at the second end.

A dental appliance worn by a user having anterior teeth and posterior teeth, the dental appliance comprising:

• a generally U-shaped upper shell;
• a generally U-shaped lower shell adjacent to the upper shell wherein the upper shell and lower shell are sized to contact the anterior teeth of the user and wherein the upper shell and the lower shell do not contact at least one posterior tooth of the user;
• and
• a fastening device removably attaching the upper shell and the lower shell.

A dental appliance worn in a mouth of a user having upper teeth and lower teeth, the dental appliance comprising:

• a generally U-shaped upper shell which receives the upper teeth;
• a generally U-shaped lower shell which receives the lower teeth;
• and
• a first spring positioned between the upper shell and the lower shell wherein the spring connects the upper shell to the lower shell and wherein the spring provides a resistive force between the upper shell and the lower shell.

A method for treating a malocclusion, the method comprising the steps of:

• creating a first shell based on a shape of upper teeth of a user;
• creating a second shell based on a shape of lower teeth of the user;
• and
• attaching a fastening device to the first shell and the second shell wherein the fastening device has a first member and a second member wherein the first member and second member interlock to removably secure the first shell and the second shell.

A method of correcting dental malocclusions, particularly overjet or overbite, especially in users with a deciduous dentition, comprising the steps of:

• producing a physical or a digital model of the user's mouth;
• producing a dental appliance based on the physical or digital model, the dental appliance comprising an upper shell designed to receive the upper teeth of a user and a lower shell designed to receive the lower teeth of the user wherein the dental appliance comprises connecting means for removably attaching the upper shell to the lower shell;
• and
• fitting the user with the dental appliance and requiring them to wear it in an appropriate fashion until the malocclusion is corrected.