Intraoral semi-custom discluder device

Abstract

An intraoral semi-custom device for the prevention of chronic tension and common migraine headaches and temporomandibular disorders that are caused by chronic clenching of the posterior mandibular and maxillary teeth by the temporalis muscle. The semi-custom discluder is a small intraoral device which is obtained and modified by an individual wearer. The device includes a trough, curved to correspond to the curvature of the maxillary incisors, from which distally extends a dome shape. The trough is retained by a resilient material, usually silicone, which is placed into the trough by the wearer and then placed over the maxillary incisors by the wearer. The cured silicone acts as a gasket and retains the device around the wearer's upper incisors. Once in place and the wearer their mouth, the dome will come into contact with one or two lower incisor teeth prior to the posterior teeth coming into contact. This renders the temporalis muscles ineffective, preventing high pressure clenching of the posterior teeth, thus preventing tension headache, commom migraine, and temporomandibular disorders. The dome can be modified by the wearer with extension tabs in the event the posterior teeth come into contact with each other prior to the lower incisors contacting the dome.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.