Orthodontic appliance for preventing thumbsucking

An orthodontic appliance for deterring insertion of a habit instrument within a mouth, comprising:

• two distal ends for being coupled to orthodontic appliances carried on maxillary molars;
• and
• at least one substantially rigid blocking member coupled at each end to the distal ends and spaced therebetween for deterring insertion of a habit instrument within the mouth, said blocking member depending downwardly from said distal ends and inclined to facilitate being located labially with respect to the lower incisors and lingually with respect to the lower lip when the mouth is closed whereupon the appliance is carried upwardly by the maxillary arch upon opening of the mouth and carried downwardly by the maxillary arch upon subsequent closure of the mouth.

An orthodontic appliance for correcting a habit of inserting a habit instrument within a mouth, comprising:

• a wire member defining distal ends for being coupled to appliances carried on maxillary molars, and two curved portions extending anteriorly with respect to the distal ends through a space between the upper and lower incisors;
• and
• a guard portion coupled at each end thereof to one of the two curved portions and including blocking means spaced between said two curved portions to deter insertion of a habit instrument within the mouth, said blocking means depending downwardly from said two curved portions and inclined to facilitate location in the mouth anteriorly with respect to the lower incisors for deterring insertion of a habit instrument.

An orthodontic appliance for correcting a habit of inserting a habit instrument within a mouth, comprising:

• a frame member including distal ends for being coupled to appliances supported on maxillary molars, and two first portions, each extending anteriorly from a respective distal end;
• and
• a guard portion coupled to the two first portions and being located anteriorly with respect to the lower incisors when the mouth is closed, whereupon opening of the mouth, the appliance is carried upwardly with the maxillary arch and the guard portion is located at least partially within the opening between the upper and lower incisors to deter insertion of a habit instrument within the mouth, wherein the frame member is made of wire and the guard portion is formed by at least one loop of the wire.

An orthodontic appliance for correcting a habit of inserting a habit instrument within a mouth, comprising:

• a frame member including distal ends for being coupled to appliances supported on maxillary molars, and two first portions, each extending anteriorly from a respective distal end;
• and
• a guard portion coupled to the two first portions and being located anteriorly with respect to the lower incisors when the mouth is closed, whereupon opening of the mouth, the appliance is carried upwardly with the maxillary arch and the guard portion is located at least partially within the opening between the upper and lower incisors to deter insertion of a habit instrument within the mouth, wherein the frame member is made of wire and the guard portion is formed by two loops of the wire spaced apart from each other and coupled by a substantially straight portion of the wire.

An orthodontic appliance for correcting a habit of inserting a habit instrument within a mouth, comprising:

• a wire member defining distal ends for being coupled to appliances carried on maxillary molars, and two curved portions extending anteriorly with respect to the distal ends through a space between the upper and lower incisors;
• and
• a guard portion coupled to the two curved portions and being located anteriorly with respect to the lower incisors for deterring insertion of a habit instrument, wherein the guard portion is defined by at least one loop of the wire member.