Orthodontic shield, orthotic device and musician embouchure aid and method of producing and using same
OwnerA. Keith Amstutz, Bruce H. Kinnieinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to orthodontic shields, orthotic devices, and musician embouchure aids and the method of producing and using same, and specifically relates to the use of medical silicone to produce a shield which may be used in conjunction with orthodontic aids and appliances, and to produce an orthotic device which may be used to lessen and relieve temporomandibular joint syndrome.
Claims12
A method of producing an orthodontic shield for use as an embouchure aid to reduce or eliminate cuts, abrasions and/or irritations incurred by a wearer of braces or other orthodontic appliances while playing a wind instrument, comrising:
- a. placing a quantity of medical silicone composition over teeth, braces, orthodontic appliances and other sources of oral irritations;
- b. allowing said silicone to set and form so as to leave an impression in said silicone shaped by said teeth, braces, or orthodontic appliances;
- c. removing said silicone from said wearer's mouth;
- d. trimming said silicone to a size and shape which will protect said wearer's lips, gums and mouth tissue from said braces, orthodontic appliances or other sources of oral irritation while not impairing movement or vibration of said lips, gums or mouth tissue during the playing of said wind instrument;
- and
- e. placing said silicone into said wearer's mouth with said silicone being held in place by said braces or other orthodontic appliances fitting into said impression in said silicone.
A method of producing an orthotic device which may be used prophylactically, diagnostically and therapeutically in the treatment of temporomandibular joint syndrome and which may be prepared by the user, comprising:
- a. placing a medical silicone composition into said wearer's mouth and over said wearer's lower set of teeth so as to cover three or four rearward most teeth on each side of said wearer's mouth, shaping said silicone so as to leave an impression from said teeth in said silicone;
- b. allowing said medical silicone to set;
- c. removing said medical silicone from said wearer's mouth;
- d. trimming said silicone so as to leave silicone in sufficient thickness to hold said lower teeth and upper teeth apart approximately 2 to 4 millimeters and reduce pressure on the temporomandibular joint;
- and
- e. placing said silicone into said wearer's mouth so that said impressions in said silicone hold said silicone in place on said teeth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.