Therapeutic and protective dental device useful as an intra-oral delivery system

A method for protecting an arch of teeth by absorbing shock from mechanical impact comprising:

• providing a carrier having at least one recessed inset, wherein said inset has an open end along a surface of said carrier adjacent to said inset, wherein the carrier embraces said arch of teeth;
• and
• providing an insert adapted to fit into the inset, said insert being removable from said carrier, wherein an exposed surface of said insert along said open end of said inset is substantially flush with said surface of said carrier adjacent to said inset when said insert is fit into the inset, and wherein mechanical impact applied to said carrier is absorbed by said insert fit in the inset.

A method of making a dental device adapted to protect an arch of teeth from mechanical force comprising:

• forming a carrier having at least one recessed inset, wherein said inset has an open end along a surface of said carrier adjacent to said inset, wherein the carrier embraces said arch of teeth;
• and
• providing an insert adapted to fit into the inset, said insert being removable from said carrier, wherein an exposed surface of said insert along said open end of said inset is substantially flush with said surface of said carrier adjacent to said inset when said insert is fit into the inset, and wherein said insert fit in the inset is adapted to absorb mechanical force applied thereto.

A dental device for mechanically buffering an arch of teeth from mechanical force comprising:

• a U-shaped carrier having at least one channel for embracing the arch of teeth, said carrier having a buccal/labial portion;
• and
• an insert adapted to be removably received within said buccal/labial portion of said carrier, wherein said insert extends from a position of the wearer's left canine to the wearer's right canine, and wherein said insert has mechanical force distribution and dissipation properties.