US 9,668,827 B2Granted

Composite oral appliances and methods for manufacture

AssigneeBite Tech, Inc.

InventorsMark Roettger, Robert C. Molhoek, Jon D. Kittelsen, Henry D. Cross, III, Paul A. Broadbent, Paul L. Bradshaw, Paul C. Belvedere, William L. Ballanoff

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Oral appliances adapted to for spacing the occlusal surfaces of the teeth of a user are disclosed. The oral appliances have an integral retention band interconnecting a first bite pad and a second bite pad. The first bite pad can include a first spacer and the second bite pad can include a second spacer that are configured to maintain the spacing of the occlusal surfaces of opposing teeth of a user during clenching or upon an impact to the jaw. Methods for the manufacture of composite oral appliances are also disclosed. The methods include forming a composite oral appliance over a model of a user's mouth.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An oral appliance comprising:

an oral appliance body including a first bite pad and a second bite pad interconnected by a retention band, the retention band integrally formed with the body;
first and second tooth fitment portions, each forming at least a portion of a channel to receive teeth of a user and the first and second tooth fitment portions configured to position the bite pads relative to an occlusal surface of teeth;
and
two or more spacers co-extensive with each bite pad formed from a material having a sufficient hardness to resist substantial deformation when the teeth of a user are clenched while in contact with the two or more spacers;
wherein the two or more spacers in cooperation have a thicker front edge and are tapered to a thinner rear edge or have a thinner front edge and are tapered to a thicker rear edge;
and
wherein the two or more spacers cooperate in a substantially vertical plane relative to tooth-contacting bite pad surfaces to form a wedge.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/044,600Filed 2 Oct 2013 · continuation
Priority: 8 Sep 2000
Published: US 2014/0026896 A130 Jan 2014
Granted: 6 Jun 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

A61C 5/90
Filling or capping teeth: oral protectors for use during treatment, e.g. lip or mouth protectors
A63B 71/085
Body-protectors for players or sportsmen , i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions: mouth…
A61C 7/08
Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by…:…
A61C
Dentistry

Family

Application09/657,421Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Sep 2000
Application10/460,886Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Jun 2003
US 6,626,180 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Sep 2003
Application61/132,588Us provisional application · filed 19 Jun 2008
PCT/US2009/047295Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Jun 2009
Application12/484,216Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Aug 2009
US 8,074,658 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 13 Dec 2011
US 2014/0026896 A1Pre-grant publication · published 30 Jan 2014
US 8,567,408 B2Parent of this continuation
Application12/484,216Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2004/0250817 A1Published application
US 2010/0269836 A1Published application
US 9,668,827 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.