Single arch mandibular advancer

A method of using an orthodontic appliance, comprising:

• obstructing closure of a patient's jaw when a first dentition and a second dentition of the patient are in a first relative position in a mesio-distal dimension, wherein the obstructing step comprises engaging a first appliance directly against the second dentition, wherein the first appliance is installed on the first dentition and comprises an overlay that is disposed over multiple teeth on each side of a first midline of the first dentition, wherein the first appliance comprises a first occlusal ridge and a second occlusal ridge that each protrude beyond an occlusal plane between the first dentition and the second dentition, wherein the first occlusal ridge is disposed over the occlusal of a first tooth on a first side of the first midline of the first dentition, wherein the second occlusal ridge is disposed over the occlusal of a second tooth on a second side of the first midline of the first dentition, wherein the obstructing step comprises engaging each of the first occlusal ridge and the second occlusal ridge of the first appliance directly against the second dentition;
• moving a lower jaw of the patient relative to an upper jaw of the patient, and to dispose the first dentition and the second dentition in a second relative position in the mesio-distal dimension;
• and
• closing the patient's jaw after the moving step and with the first dentition and the second dentition being in the second relative position, wherein the closing step comprises directing the first occlusal ridge of the first appliance into a space between an adjacent pair of teeth on a first side of a second midline of the second dentition and directing the second occlusal ridge of the first appliance into a space between an adjacent pair of teeth on a second side of the second midline of the second dentition, wherein a spacing between the first and second dentitions is smaller in the second relative position compared to the first relative position.