Method and apparatus for protecting teeth, preventing the effects of bruxism and protecting oral structures from sports injuries

A method for protecting teeth from sports injury and the effects of bruxism, comprising:

• providing a multi-layer mouth protector including opposed maxillary and mandibular arches, each of the arches having a tough outer layer and a soft deformable but tear resistant inner layer, the inner layer having prefabricated teeth imprints to fit and surround the teeth when the mouth guard is in place;
• and,
• using the mouth guard to protect an individual's teeth, whereby the mouth guard is both strong and abrasion resistant while at the same time being both comfortable and self adapted to fit the mouth of the individual due to the deformable inner layers of the arches.

A wearable, comfortable mouth protector for use with pediatric patients to correct bruxism, comprising:

• a mouth protector having a pair of opposed arches adapted to be positioned adjacent the maxillary and mandibular features of the patient's mouth in which the arches contain a deformable, soft, compliant material adapted to surround the teeth of the patient, said soft, compliant material having prefabricated teeth imprints to provide comfort and cushion for the teeth upon receiving inner or outer force impacts, and to deform with a memory to provide a teeth imprint after use such that the arches comfortably fit the patient from one use to the next, whereby pediatric use is encouraged due to the comfort and non-obtrusiveness of the mouth protector, whereby with parental support and encouragement, children will wear said mouth protector with ease because of the comfort and non-obtrusive operation of said mouth protector.

A method for teaching patients to avoid bruxism, comprising the step of:

• providing a mouthpiece having maxillary and mandibular arches maintained in spaced relationship to be inserted into the patient's mouth and providing spring assemblies between the arches to promote the spacing of the arches and to limit arch movement, whereby wearing the mouthpiece gradually teaches the patient to stop teeth grinding.