Oral appliances, their components, and methods of use for oral mapping and hygiene

A method of using an oral appliance, comprising:

• using a tool while the tool is at least partially within the oral cavity of a living creature;
• moving the tool, with a motion generator comprised of at least one linear and/or rotary motion-producing device;
• and
• retrieving a map from machine-readable memory;
• and
• processing, with non-human processing circuitry, the map to generate control signals for controlling movement of the motion generator;
• and
• the processing circuitry using the map to control the motion generator to move the tool within the oral cavity so that the tool performs one of the functions of:
• cleaning, inspecting, scanning, imaging, dispensing, repairing, and surgery of anatomical features of the oral cavity.

A method for automatically generating an oral map of features within an oral cavity of a living animal, comprising:

• moving a tool relative to a reference point that is fixed relative to oral cavity;
• detecting, using a sensor, positions of the tool, indicating that either the tool or an object mechanically connected to the tool, has hit an obstruction;
• and
• storing oral mapping data, in computer writable memory, based upon the detected positions.

An oral hygiene apparatus comprising:

• an oral hygiene tool;
• a member connected to the oral hygiene tool;
• a connector configured to connect to an actuator;
• wherein the connector is mechanically coupled to the member so that motion of the connector causes the member to move;
• and
• a retention feature which is configured to retain the connector to an actuator and enable the actuator to rotate the connector.

A cartridge, comprising:

• an oral hygiene tool;
• a member connected to the oral hygiene tool;
• a connector configured to connect to an actuator;
• wherein the connector is mechanically coupled to the member so that motion of the connector causes the member to move;
• and
• a retention feature which is configured to retain the connector to an actuator and enable the actuator to rotate the connector.

An oral positioning apparatus, comprising:

• one or more members configured so that the one or more members hold an upper jaw spaced from a lower jaw of a vertebrate, when the one or more members are positioned relative to anatomical features of the vertebrate;
• a cam follower connected to one or more of said locating members either directly or through intermediate members;
• and
• a cam having a plurality of positions which constrain the motion of said cam follower.

An automated oral hygiene apparatus, for automatically performing an oral hygiene task within a mouth of an individual, comprising:

• a probe;
• wherein the probe comprises a tool;
• wherein the oral hygiene apparatus is configured to automatically move and orient the probe within the mouth;
• and
• wherein the oral hygiene apparatus is configured to automatically operate the tool to perform an oral hygiene task.

A method for automatically performing an oral hygiene task within a mouth of an individual, comprising:

• providing an automated oral hygiene apparatus comprising probe, wherein the probe comprises a tool;
• the automated oral hygiene apparatus automatically moving and orienting the probe within the mouth;
• and
• the oral hygiene apparatus automatically operating the tool to perform an oral hygiene task.