Mouth prop

#1. Field of the Invention

#The invention relates to dental appliances which are used for propping open the mouth to permit the dentist to have a wide and dry field of operation.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#FIG. 1 is a three quarter perspective view of a dental appliance constructed according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a top view of a dental appliance constructed according to the present invention; and

#FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a dental appliance constructed according to the present invention.

#FIGS. 1 through 3 respectively illustrate perspective, top and sectional views of a dental appliance 10 constructed according to the present invention. The tubular support frame 12 is comprised of an upper U-shaped section 14 and a lower U-shaped section 16 which are joined together by curved bights 18 and 20. The upper and lower U-shaped sections 14 and 16 and the bights 18 and 20 of the frame 12 comprise a support means. A pair of cheek deflectors 22 and 24 respectively are removably secured between the upper and lower U-shaped sections 14 and 16 of the tubular support frame 12 by fasteners 26 which fit into apertures 28 provided in the tubular support frame. The cheek deflectors 22 and 24 are curved outwardly away from the support frame 12 in a contour which generally approximates the cheek surface of the mouth. The cheek deflectors 22 and 24 are constructed from a pliable material which bends outwardly away from the tubular support frame 12 upon the inward bending of the bights 18 and 20 caused by compression of the patient'jaws. A plurality of apertures 30 are disposed in the support frame 12 to facilitate removal of saliva from the mouth area. A saliva ejector 32 is attached to the front center of the U-shaped section 16 of the support frame 12. The saliva ejector 32 comprises a cylindrical tube which is coupled to the interior tubular section of the support frame 12 so that saliva may be drawn in through the apertures 30 and out of the saliva ejector 32 upon the application of a suitable source of vacuum. A tongue deflector 34 is removably secured to the front of the U-shaped section 16 of the support frame 12 by means of a fastener 36 which fits in an aperture (not shown) in the front of the bottom U-shaped section 16. The tongue deflector 34 includes a generally elongated section 38 which is shaped to contact a large portion of a patient's tongue when the appliance 10 is disposed in the mouth. The tongue deflector 34 also includes a downwardly curved section 40 which is disposed adjacent to the point of attachment of the tongue deflector to the lower U-shaped section 16 of the support frame 12. The downwardly curved section 40 of the tongue deflector 34 should be sufficiently resilient to depress the patient's tongue downward into the mouth cavity upon insertion of the support frame into the patient's mouth. Upper and lower lip deflectors 42 and 44 respectively are removably secured to the front of the upper and lower U-shaped portions 14 and 16 of the support frame 12 by means of fasteners 46 which fit into apertures. The lip deflectors 42 and 44 are manufactured from a resilient but pliable material which is gently curved to a contour to force the patient's lips away from the mouth opening upon insertion into the mouth.

#The front of the upper U-shaped section 14 of the frame 12 preferably has a solid cross section since it is not necessary to aspirate saliva from the top front portion. In the front portion of the solid cross section, a horizontally disposed slot, (not shown) may be provided for movably receiving fastener 46 to permit lateral adjustment of the position lip deflector 42 with respect to section 14.

#The mouth prop 10 should be sufficiently resilient to support the patient's tongue, cheeks and jaws but sufficiently pliant to be deformed by conscious movement of the patient. The resiliency of bights 18 and 20 should hold the patient's jaws open sufficiently to give the dentist a wide field of operation within the patient's mouth.