oral appliances

Abstract

The oral appliance of this invention moves the mandible forward while avoiding strain on the temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles. It can be worn for extended periods during sleep, thereby improving snoring. The oral appliance of this invention further expands the space available for the tongue within the oral cavity, while allowing the tongue to naturally reside in front of the palate, thus inducing a switch from mouth breathing to nasal breathing and improving snoring and sleep apnea.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an open oral appliance in front of the palate, and more specifically, to an oral appliance for preventing snoring and sleep apnea, and for improving mouth breathing to nasal breathing. Background Technology

[0002] Snoring occurs when air inhaled through the nose passes through the nasal passages and flows over the uvula or the back of the tongue. This occurs when the airway is narrowed compared to a normal airway (due to compression or distortion of the corresponding area by surrounding tissues for some reason). Within this narrowed and deformed airway, airflow is obstructed and stagnant, causing vibrations in the surrounding soft tissues. These vibrations, or vibrations that shift to the empty space around the nose and resonate, create a noise. When this noise becomes severe enough to interrupt airflow within the affected area, sleep apnea occurs.

[0003] To prevent snoring and sleep apnea, positive pressure devices that force air into the airway during sleep can be used. However, while such devices are effective for snoring and sleep apnea, they are inconvenient to use, difficult to adapt to the human body, and expensive.

[0004] Another surgical method involves removing soft tissue from the oropharynx, but it is prone to recurrence and has postoperative side effects, so it has been abandoned.

[0005] In addition, there is an oral appliance that prevents snoring and sleep apnea by being installed on the upper and lower jaw teeth inside the mouth. This oral appliance allows the tongue to naturally extend forward by moving the lower jaw forward, thereby reducing the pressure the tongue exerts on the airway.

[0006] Oral appliances include an integrated maxillary oral appliance comprising a maxillary tooth insertion portion and a mandibular tooth insertion portion, and a separate maxillary oral appliance, wherein the maxillary insertion portion contains teeth included in the maxillary dentition, and the mandibular insertion portion contains teeth included in the mandible.

[0007] As described above, the maxillary integrated oral appliance consists of a maxillary tooth insertion portion and a mandibular tooth insertion portion configured as one unit. Therefore, when using a maxillary integrated oral appliance, the mandible cannot move while in a forward-moving state, and this state must be maintained during sleep. Consequently, problems such as stiffness or pain in the temporomandibular joint or surrounding muscles or ligaments may occur.

[0008] To address this issue, as described above, in a mandibular-separate oral appliance, the maxillary tooth insertion portion and the mandibular tooth insertion portion are separated from each other, allowing the mandible to move during sleep. Furthermore, the maxillary and mandibular tooth insertion portions are connected by a connecting member to allow mandibular movement. However, even in such a mandibular-separate oral appliance, the movement of the mandible is restricted by the connecting member that passes laterally through the maxillary and mandibular portions to connect them, thus failing to resolve the aforementioned problem.

[0009] Therefore, the inventors of this invention attempt to solve the above problems by providing an oral appliance through Korean Patent No. 10-1463021, which allows the jaw to move naturally after wearing the oral appliance and can relieve muscle and ligament stiffness.

[0010] However, even under these conditions, there are limitations: the temporomandibular joint is still under stress, and the surrounding muscles and ligaments are stiff, leading to pain for users during prolonged wear. Furthermore, as the mandible moves forward, the tongue also moves forward and protrudes, and during extended sleep, the protruding tongue tends to retract. This results in compression of the airway behind the tongue, reducing its effectiveness in relieving snoring and sleep apnea.

[0011] Furthermore, when snoring and sleep apnea occur, the oxygen deficiency gradually worsens. At this time, in order to increase the insufficient oxygen supply, the body will breathe through its mouth. When breathing through the mouth, the jaw rotates downward and backward, and the tongue, which is linked to the jaw, also loses contact with the palate and is placed in a lower position. Over time, the tongue gradually droops backward, compressing the airway and thus worsening snoring and sleep apnea.

[0012] Therefore, there is a need to develop a device that can move the mandible forward, avoiding strain on the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, while simultaneously shifting mouth breathing to nasal breathing by placing the tongue in front of the palate, thereby alleviating snoring and sleep apnea. Summary of the Invention

[0013] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention

[0014] The first problem this invention aims to solve is to provide an oral appliance that moves the mandible forward while avoiding strain on the temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles, and can be worn for extended periods during sleep, thereby improving snoring.

[0015] The second problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide an oral appliance that expands the space in the oral cavity where the tongue can reside, while allowing the tongue to be naturally positioned in front of the palate, thereby inducing mouth breathing to switch to nasal breathing, which can improve snoring and sleep apnea.

[0016] Technical solution

[0017] To address the aforementioned issues, one example of an oral appliance that is inserted into the oral cavity and worn detachably is an oral appliance configured to correspond to the shape of the anterior dentition within the oral cavity. This appliance may include: a first dentition receiving portion configured to correspond to the shape of the maxillary anterior dentition to receive the maxillary anterior teeth; a second dentition receiving portion configured to correspond to the shape of the mandibular anterior dentition to receive the mandibular anterior teeth; and a spacer configured to connect the first dentition receiving portion and the second dentition receiving portion, and having a predetermined thickness such that the maxillary dentition is separated from the mandibular dentition by a predetermined distance or more.

[0018] Furthermore, the first tooth row receiving part, the second tooth row receiving part, and the spacer can be formed as a single unit.

[0019] In addition, the spacer can expand the space inside the oral cavity by separating the maxillary dentition from the mandibular dentition by a predetermined distance or more, and by increasing the thickness of the spacer separating the maxilla and mandible.

[0020] Furthermore, the thickness of the spacer can satisfy the following mathematical formula.

[0021] [Mathematical formula 1]

[0022] (T1-T2) / 6≤T s ≤T1+T2.

[0023] T1: Thickness of the receiving portion of the first tooth row, T2: Thickness of the receiving portion of the second tooth row, T s : Thickness of the spacer.

[0024] In addition, it may include a tongue tip placement portion, which is formed by opening the oral cavity side inner wall surface of the first dental arch receiving portion corresponding to the incisors, and the tongue tip placement portion is a space for placing the tongue tip.

[0025] Furthermore, regarding the tongue placement part, since the oral cavity side inner wall surface corresponding to the incisors of the first dental arch receiving part does not exist, when the user wears it, the user's tongue tip can be placed behind the upper incisors.

[0026] In addition, it may include guide portions disposed at the two ends of the first dental arch receiving portion, wherein the oral cavity side inner wall surface of the first dental arch receiving portion extends a predetermined distance to guide the user's teeth to be received in the first dental arch receiving portion and the second dental arch receiving portion.

[0027] Furthermore, the guide portion can be positioned in the first dental arch receiving portion at a location corresponding to the canine tooth arch.

[0028] Furthermore, the guide portion can extend along the row of canines in the anterior part of the maxilla in the longitudinal direction to further accommodate at least a portion of the minor molars of the maxilla.

[0029] Furthermore, the oral cavity side inner wall of the second dental arch receiving portion can be configured to fix the user's teeth by friction, and the first dental arch receiving portion is configured to be spaced apart from the maxillary teeth by a predetermined interval in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0030] Furthermore, at least a portion of the inner wall between the first and second dental arch receiving portions can be opened.

[0031] Furthermore, the inner wall of the portion corresponding to the incisors in the inner wall between the first and second dentition receiving portions can be opened.

[0032] Beneficial effects

[0033] The oral appliance of the present invention moves the mandible forward while avoiding the burden on the temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles. It can be worn for a long time during sleep, thereby improving snoring.

[0034] Furthermore, the oral appliance of the present invention further expands the space in the oral cavity where the tongue can reside, while allowing the tongue to be naturally positioned in front of the palate, thereby guiding mouth breathing to nasal breathing and improving snoring and sleep apnea. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 A diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of the oral appliance of the present invention and the dental arch of a user's mouth.

[0036] Figure 2 This is a front perspective view of an oral appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the bottom of an oral appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the wearing state of an oral appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 5 This diagram illustrates the state of gas flow in the human body when a user breathes without wearing the oral appliance of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 6This diagram illustrates the state of gas flow in the human body when a user breathes while wearing an oral appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 7 This is a front perspective view of an oral appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 8 This is a top view of an oral appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 9 This is a side perspective view of an oral appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 10 To arrange the oral appliance of a preferred embodiment of the present invention along Figure 9 A cross-sectional view of the section cut by line AA′.

[0045] Figure 11 A state diagram showing the state of wearing an oral appliance of a preferred embodiment of the present invention only on the maxillary dentition, as viewed from inside the oral cavity.

[0046] Figure 12 This diagram illustrates the flow of gases within the human body during mouth breathing.

[0047] Figure 13 This diagram illustrates the flow of gases within the human body during nasal breathing.

[0048] Figure 14 A state diagram illustrating the breathing state when using an oral appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 15 To take a CT image of the user's side before wearing oral appliances.

[0050] Figure 16 To capture a CT image of the user's side after wearing the oral appliance of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0051] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can readily implement the invention.

[0052] As mentioned above, while traditional jaw-separate oral appliances allow for jaw movement during sleep, the restriction of jaw movement by connecting components still leads to stiffness or pain in the temporomandibular joint or surrounding muscles and ligaments. Furthermore, traditional integrated jaw-mounted oral appliances, by fixing the molars to move the jaw forward, compress the temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles during prolonged sleep, causing ligament stiffness. Therefore, they are difficult to wear for extended periods, causing pain for the user. In addition, as the jaw moves forward, the tongue also moves forward and protrudes. During prolonged sleep, the protruding tongue tends to retract backward. This results in compression of the airway behind the tongue, reducing the effectiveness of relieving snoring and sleep apnea. Moreover, when snoring and sleep apnea occur, oxygen deficiency gradually worsens, prompting the body to perform mouth breathing to increase the insufficient oxygen supply. When breathing through the mouth, the lower jaw rotates downwards and backwards. As the tongue moves in conjunction with the lower jaw, it loses contact with the palate and is placed in a lower position. Over time, the tongue gradually droops backwards, compressing the airway and worsening snoring and sleep apnea.

[0053] Therefore, the present invention seeks to solve the above-mentioned problems by providing an oral appliance that is inserted into the oral cavity and detachably worn. The oral appliance is configured in a shape corresponding to the anterior dentition in the oral cavity and includes: a first dentition receiving portion configured in a shape corresponding to the maxillary anterior dentition to receive the maxillary anterior teeth; a second dentition receiving portion configured in a shape corresponding to the mandibular anterior dentition to receive the mandibular anterior teeth; and a spacer configured to connect the first dentition receiving portion and the second dentition receiving portion and having a predetermined thickness such that the maxillary dentition is separated from the mandibular dentition by a predetermined distance or more.

[0054] Therefore, this invention allows the mandible to move forward naturally without fixing the molars, thereby relieving stiffness in the temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles. Thus, the temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles are not burdened, improving the user's wearing experience and significantly reducing pain during prolonged wear while sleeping. Furthermore, this invention expands the space the tongue can occupy within the oral cavity, allowing it to naturally reside in the upper anterior teeth area, reducing excessive pressure on the airway from the tongue. Therefore, this invention can guide a natural conversion from mouth breathing to nasal breathing, thereby improving snoring and sleep apnea while reducing side effects on the stomatognathic system.

[0055] Figure 1 A diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of the oral appliance of the present invention and the dental arch in the user's mouth. (See reference...) Figure 1The user's oral cavity consists of anterior teeth (X) including incisors and canines, micromolars (Y) and macromolars (Z). The oral appliance 10 is configured to correspond to the shape of the anterior teeth (X). Specifically, the oral appliance 10 is configured to correspond to the shape of the anterior teeth (X) in the maxillary dentition (UT) and the shape of the anterior teeth (X) in the mandibular dentition (LT), and accommodates the anterior teeth (X) of the user's oral cavity, but does not accommodate the macromolars (Z).

[0056] As described above, in this invention, the molars are not fixed, allowing the mandible to move forward naturally and relieving stiffness in the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. Therefore, by preventing strain on the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, prolonged wear during sleep does not cause pain to the user. As a result, the wearing experience is significantly improved, making it easier to wear for extended periods during sleep and effectively reducing snoring.

[0057] Figure 2 This is a front perspective view of an oral appliance 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a bottom perspective view of an oral appliance 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 and 3 As shown, the oral appliance 10 is configured to correspond to the shape of the anterior dentition within the oral cavity. Furthermore, the oral appliance 10 includes a first dentition receiving portion 100, a second dentition receiving portion 200, and a spacer 300 connecting the first dentition receiving portion 100 and the second dentition receiving portion 200. The dentition receiving portions 100 and 200 are configured to receive the anterior teeth X corresponding to the incisors and canines in the human oral cavity. The spacer 300 connects the first dentition receiving portion 100 and the second dentition receiving portion 200 and is configured to have a predetermined thickness, such that the dentition UT of the maxillary UJ and the dentition LT of the mandibular LJ are separated by a predetermined interval or more.

[0058] As described above, the oral appliance 10 of the present invention expands the airway by effectively moving the user's mandible forward by accommodating the anterior teeth X in the user's dentition, thereby preventing snoring and sleep apnea. Furthermore, by allowing air entering the oral cavity to enter the nose, nasal breathing can be naturally induced.

[0059] First, the oral appliance 10 is inserted into the oral cavity and can be worn in a detachable manner, configured to correspond to the shape of the anterior dentition in the oral cavity.

[0060] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the oral appliance 10 is shaped to correspond to the anterior dentition in the oral cavity. Specifically, the upper part of the oral appliance 10 is configured to correspond to the anterior dentition in the upper set of teeth (UT) of the upper jaw (UJ), which is called the "upper jaw", and the lower part corresponds to the anterior dentition in the lower set of teeth (LT) of the lower jaw (LJ).

[0061] Furthermore, the present invention can be an integrated oral appliance 10 for both upper and lower jaws, or it can be configured as a single unit without separate connecting components. That is, the aforementioned first dentition receiving portion 100, second dentition receiving portion 200, and spacer 300 can be configured as a single unit without separate connecting components.

[0062] In the case of separate devices connected by connecting members, mandibular movement is restricted, leading to stiffness in the temporomandibular joint, surrounding muscles, and ligaments, which can easily cause pain. This invention solves these problems by integrating the devices into a single unit and allowing for physiological movement within the mouth during wear.

[0063] The materials constituting the oral appliance 10 are commonly used materials in the art, and will not cause harm to the human body when worn in the oral cavity. As long as the structure of the present invention can be formed, they can be used without restriction. For example, medical resin (Dental Resin) or silicone resin materials can be used.

[0064] On the other hand, the molding method for the oral appliance 10 is a commonly used method in this technical field, and there are no restrictions as long as the method is suitable for the material used. Preferably, after creating a real or virtual model of the user's teeth and surrounding tissues, a corresponding molding method can be used, or a method of manufacturing using a 3D printer or CAD / CAM milling machine after 3D design can be adopted.

[0065] Next, the first dentition receiving portion 100 and the second dentition receiving portion 200 will be described. The first dentition receiving portion 100 is configured in a shape corresponding to the anterior portion of the maxillary UJ to receive the anterior portion of the maxillary UJ; the second dentition receiving portion 200 is configured in a shape corresponding to the anterior portion of the mandibular LJ to receive the anterior portion of the mandibular LJ.

[0066] like Figure 2As shown, a first dentition receiving portion 100 is disposed on the upper part of the oral appliance 10. The first dentition receiving portion 10 is configured in a shape corresponding to the anterior dentition of the maxillary UJ in the dentition UT, so as to perform the function of receiving the anterior dentition of the maxillary UJ. In addition, a second dentition receiving portion 200 is configured in a shape corresponding to the anterior dentition of the mandibular LJ in the dentition LT, so as to perform the function of receiving the anterior dentition of the mandibular LJ.

[0067] Therefore, the first dentition receiving portion 100 and the second dentition receiving portion 200 as a whole have shapes corresponding to the anterior dentition in the dentition UT of the maxillary UJ and the dentition LT of the mandibular LJ, respectively, and the shapes can be chord-shaped. Alternatively, they can correspond to the shape of each tooth included in the dentition UT and LT of the maxillary UJ and mandibular LJ, respectively.

[0068] This method of placing the first dentition receiving portion 100 and the second dentition receiving portion 200 on the upper and lower parts of the oral appliance 10, respectively, is not limited by the materials used. For example, it is possible to first create a model of the user's teeth and then mold it to correspond to the model, or to design and process a tooth model file and then fabricate it using a 3D printer or a CAD / CAM milling machine, or any known method.

[0069] Traditional dental appliances, whether one-piece or separate, accommodate the user's front teeth and molars, thus moving the mandible forward. However, prolonged use during sleep puts pressure on the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, causing ligament stiffness. Therefore, they are difficult to wear for extended periods, leading to pain for the user.

[0070] Therefore, this invention accommodates the anterior teeth portion of the maxillary UJ and mandibular LJ dentition (UT, LT), but not the molar portion, thereby allowing the mandible to move forward naturally and relieving stiffness in the temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles. Thus, by preventing strain on the temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles, it does not cause pain to the user even after prolonged wear during sleep.

[0071] In this regard, Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the wearing state of the oral appliance 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. (See reference) Figure 4 The oral appliance 10 only accommodates the anterior teeth X of the maxillary UJ and mandibular LJ dentition UT and LT, thereby allowing the mandible to move forward naturally. Furthermore, it can be seen that the oral appliance 10 does not fix the small molars Y and large molars Z, thus minimizing the pressure applied to the temporomandibular joint. In other words, even if the user wears the oral appliance 10 of the present invention for a long time, it can maintain the user's oral cavity and stomatognathic system in a comfortable state.

[0072] On the other hand, when the anterior portion of the mandibular occlusal joint (LJ) is housed in the second dentition housing 200, the mandibular LJ can move forward a predetermined distance. In this case, when the mandibular LJ moves forward, it can alleviate the phenomenon of the tongue falling backward and directly compressing the airway when lying down, or alleviate the phenomenon of the uvula being pressed backward and compressing the airway due to compression of the uvula, thereby ensuring smooth airflow and preventing snoring and sleep apnea.

[0073] In this regard, Figure 5 To illustrate the state of gas flow in the human body when a user breathes without wearing the oral appliance 10 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 This diagram illustrates the state of gas flow in the human body when a user breathes while wearing the oral appliance 10 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] refer to Figure 5 In snoring, when air inhaled through the nose passes through the nasal passages and flows over the uvula or the back of the tongue, the airway (TH) in that area narrows, causing airflow to stop. At this point, the surrounding soft tissues vibrate, resulting in snoring. Furthermore, when airflow is interrupted, sleep apnea occurs.

[0075] refer to Figure 6 The user's state when wearing the oral appliance 10 of the present invention can be confirmed. When wearing the oral appliance 10 of the present invention, the user's mandible will move forward, and at the same time, the tongue connected to the mandible will also move forward a predetermined distance, thereby relieving airway (TH) compression. Therefore, due to smooth airflow, snoring and sleep apnea can be prevented. In addition, it can also help prevent or treat rhinitis or sinusitis, and improve mouth breathing to nasal breathing.

[0076] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second dentition receiving portion 200 can be configured at a predetermined distance in front of the first dentition receiving portion 100, thereby causing the teeth of the mandibular LJ to move forward relative to their natural position when the anterior portion of the mandibular LJ is received. (See reference...) Figure 4 The first dentition receiving portion 100 and the second dentition receiving portion 200 can be configured such that the anterior portion of the mandibular LJ is located at a predetermined distance in front of the anterior portion of the maxillary UJ.

[0077] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first dental arch receiving portion 100 and the second dental arch receiving portion 200 can fix the user's mandibular LJ by adjusting the distance between the oral cavity side inner wall surface of the oral appliance 10 and the anterior teeth of the maxillary UJ or the mandibular LJ. For example, the present invention can be configured such that, since the second dental arch receiving portion 200 is fixed to the mandibular LJ, the second dental arch receiving portion 200 can be configured such that there is no gap between the oral cavity side inner wall surface of the oral appliance 10 and the teeth of the mandibular LJ, and the first dental arch receiving portion 100 is configured such that the oral cavity side inner wall surface of the oral appliance 10 and the teeth are separated by a predetermined distance to form a gap.

[0078] That is, the present invention can adjust the thickness of the grooves of the first dental arch receiving portion 100 and the second dental arch receiving portion 200 according to the user's dentition and tooth condition, thereby fixing the mandibular joint. Specifically, the oral appliance 10 of the present invention fixes the user's mandibular joint by adjusting the spacing between the oral cavity side inner wall surfaces of the first dental arch receiving portion 100 and the second dental arch receiving portion 200 and the teeth. However, since it does not receive the molar portion, it can achieve fixation to a degree that prevents stiffness in the mandibular joint or surrounding muscles or ligaments.

[0079] Furthermore, the inner wall of the oral cavity side of the second dental arch receiving portion 200 is configured to fix the user's teeth through friction, and the first dental arch receiving portion 100 can be configured to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0080] In other words, as described above, the second dentition receiving portion 200 has a shape corresponding to the anterior portion of the mandibular LJ's dentition LT and can be configured to have no gap with the anterior portion. Thus, the anterior portion of the mandibular LJ fits tightly into the second dentition receiving portion 200, and the anterior portion of the mandibular LJ can be fixed to the second dentition receiving portion 200 by friction. Furthermore, the anterior portion of the mandibular LJ is not easily separated from the second dentition receiving portion 200 unless the external force exceeds the frictional force between the second dentition receiving portion 200 and the anterior portion of the mandibular LJ; therefore, even with prolonged wear, snoring and sleep apnea can be effectively prevented.

[0081] On the other hand, the first dentition receiving portion 100 can be configured to be spaced apart from the teeth of the maxillary UJ by a predetermined distance in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Due to the vertical and horizontal spacing between the first dentition receiving portion 100 and the anterior teeth of the maxillary UJ, the teeth of the maxillary UJ can be easily detached from the first dentition receiving portion 100 when needed, thereby allowing for mandibular physiological activities even during use.

[0082] Therefore, since the user can move their jaw naturally, the jaw can be effectively fixed while the jaw is in a forward-moving state, which can also resolve the stiffness of the surrounding muscles and ligaments.

[0083] Furthermore, the range of the distance between the first dentition receiving portion 100 and the teeth of the maxillary UJ in the vertical or horizontal direction can be changed by adding or subtracting from the reference value according to the tilt angle of the entire occlusal surface of the user, the degree of tooth protrusion, the state of tooth tilting forward and backward, or the position of tooth disengagement in the entire dentition, and thus can be applied without restriction.

[0084] Preferably, the vertical distance between the first dentition receiving portion 100 and the maxillary teeth (UJ) can be determined by the user's dentition, the state of the teeth, etc., and the distance between the teeth of the maxillary UJ and the teeth of the mandibular LJ is preferably determined by the distance and the natural spacing between the teeth of the maxillary UJ and the teeth of the mandibular LJ.

[0085] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the inner wall between the first dental arch receiving portion 100 and the second dental arch receiving portion 200 can be opened. Thus, when the user wears the oral appliance 10, discomfort caused by the sealing of the lower surfaces of the teeth (the contact surfaces when chewing food) can be minimized.

[0086] Preferably, the inner wall between the first dental arch receiving portion 100 and the second dental arch receiving portion 200, specifically, the inner wall corresponding to the lower surface of the incisors, can be opened. This minimizes user discomfort even when wearing the oral appliance 10 for extended periods.

[0087] Related to this, Figure 7 This is a front perspective view of an oral appliance 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. (See reference) Figure 7 It can be seen that a portion of the inner wall between the first dentition receiving portion 100 and the second dentition receiving portion 200 of the oral appliance 10 is opened (BS).

[0088] also, Figure 8 This is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the oral appliance 10 of the present invention. (See reference) Figure 8 As can be seen, the open portion (BS) is the inner wall between the first dentition receiving portion 100 and the second dentition receiving portion 200, which corresponds to the user's incisors when the user wears the oral appliance 10.

[0089] Next, the spacer 300 will be described, which is configured to connect the first dentition receiving portion 100 and the second dentition receiving portion 200, and has a predetermined thickness such that the dentition of the maxillary UJ and the dentition of the mandibular LJ are separated by a predetermined distance or more.

[0090] The spacer 300 is configured to have a predetermined thickness such that the first dentition receiving portion 100 and the second dentition receiving portion 200 are separated by a predetermined distance or more. Thus, by separating the maxillary dentition UT and the mandibular dentition LT by a predetermined distance or more, the thickness of the spacer between the maxilla and mandible is increased, thereby expanding the space inside the oral cavity.

[0091] Therefore, it can prevent discomfort caused by unnatural fixation or placement of the tongue in the mouth, and allows the user's tongue to be comfortably positioned for extended periods. As a result, it keeps the user's oral and maxillofacial system in a comfortable state.

[0092] In this specification, “thickness” refers to the thickness of the oral appliance 10 in the vertical direction relative to the horizontal plane, based on the direction and angle in which it is worn in the user’s mouth.

[0093] The thickness of the spacer 300 is sufficient to be such that the thickness of the first tooth row receiving portion 100 and the second tooth row receiving portion 200 are separated by a predetermined distance. However, preferably, it can satisfy the following mathematical formula 1.

[0094] [Mathematical formula 1]

[0095] (T1-T2) / 6≤T s ≤T1+T2

[0096] (T1: Thickness of the first tooth row receiving section 100, T2: Thickness of the second tooth row receiving section 200, T...) s (Thickness of spacer 300).

[0097] More preferably, the thickness of the spacer 300 can satisfy (T1-T2) / 4≤T s ≤T1+T2.

[0098] When the thickness of the spacer 300 meets the above-mentioned range, when worn, the user's maxillary UJ dentition UT and mandibular LJ dentition LT are separated by a predetermined distance, thereby not only expanding the space in the oral cavity, but also preventing the maxillary UJ and mandibular LJ from opening excessively and putting a burden on the temporomandibular joint.

[0099] If the thickness of the spacer 300 is less than the aforementioned range, the space between the maxillary UJ (UJ) dentition (UT) and the mandibular LJ (LJ) dentition (LT) will not be sufficiently separated, resulting in insufficient space within the oral cavity. Consequently, problems may arise where the tongue is unnaturally fixed or positioned within the oral cavity. Furthermore, if the thickness of the spacer 300 exceeds the aforementioned range, excessive opening of the maxillary UJ and mandibular LJ may cause the side effect of applying pressure to the temporomandibular joint.

[0100] On the other hand, the present invention may also include a guide portion 400 disposed at both ends of the first dental arch receiving portion 100, wherein the oral cavity side inner wall surface of the first dental arch receiving portion 100 extends a predetermined distance to guide the user's teeth to be received in the first dental arch receiving portion 100 and the second dental arch receiving portion 200.

[0101] refer to Figure 2 The guide portion 400 is formed by extending from the first dental arch receiving portion 100 of the oral appliance 10, and can extend downwards from the first dental arch receiving portion 100. In this way, the guide portion 400 can guide the user's teeth when the appliance is worn, so that the user's teeth can be easily received in the first dental arch receiving portion 100 and the second dental arch receiving portion 200.

[0102] Specifically, Figure 9 This is a side perspective view of an oral appliance 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 To guide the oral appliance 10 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention along Figure 9 A cross-sectional view taken along line AA′. (Reference) Figure 9 It can be confirmed that the guide portion 400 is disposed at both ends of the first tooth row receiving portion 100. Additionally, refer to... Figure 10 As can be seen, the oral cavity side inner wall of the first dental arch receiving portion 100 of the oral appliance 10 extends a predetermined distance to form the guide portion 400.

[0103] As described above, when the guide portion 400 extends from the first dentition receiving portion 100 of the oral appliance 10, the guide portion 400 also performs the function of forming the first dentition receiving portion 100. Specifically, as described below, the present invention, by configuring the tongue tip placement portion 500 (described later), has a structure in the first dentition receiving portion 100 having an opening on the oral cavity side inner wall surface corresponding to the incisors. However, while the guide portion 400 can realize the function of receiving the teeth of the maxillary UJ, it can also realize the function of guiding the teeth of the maxillary UJ and mandibular LJ in a way that makes it easy to receive the teeth of the first dentition receiving portion 100 and the second dentition receiving portion 200.

[0104] When the guide portion 400 is positioned in the second dentition receiving portion 200, structurally, the oral appliance 10 needs to be configured in a manner that fixes the maxillary UJ through the first dentition receiving portion 100 and moves the mandible forward. As described above, when the oral appliance 10 is configured to fix the maxillary UJ, it is difficult to configure the tongue tip placement portion 500, which has a structure with an opening on the oral lateral wall surface corresponding to the incisors in the first dentition receiving portion 100. Without the tongue tip placement portion 500, if the oral appliance 10 is worn for a long time, the protruding tongue will retract during prolonged sleep, resulting in compression of the airway located at the back of the tongue. This leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of relieving snoring and sleep apnea, and mouth breathing will continue.

[0105] On the other hand, the guide portion 400 can be positioned in the first dentition receiving portion 100 at a location corresponding to the canine dentition. Furthermore, there is no particular limitation on the length of the guide portion 400 extending from the first dentition receiving portion 100; it can be extended to an appropriate length according to individual oral conditions. Preferably, the guide portion 400 can extend along the length of the canine dentition in the anterior portion of the maxillary UJ, so as to further receive at least a portion of the small molar portion of the maxillary UJ.

[0106] Relatedly, see reference Figure 1 As can be seen, the first dentition receiving portion 100 receives the anterior teeth X but not the molars Z, and the guide portion 400 is positioned at the position of the corresponding canine teeth and extends along the dentition to further receive a portion of the small molars Y. On the other hand, it can be seen that the second dentition receiving portion 200 only receives the anterior teeth X, but does not receive the small molars Y or the molars Z.

[0107] refer to Figure 4 As can be seen, as the guide portion 400 extends along the length of the dentition from the first dentition receiving portion 100, the oral appliance 10 further receives a portion of the small molar portion Y of the maxillary UJ.

[0108] There are no particular restrictions on the shape of the guide section 400, as long as it is appropriate to adopt a shape that can perform the above functions within the range that will not cause discomfort to the user's oral movements.

[0109] Furthermore, the guide portion 400 can be positioned at at least on the right or left side of the first dentition receiving portion 100, which can be determined taking into account the user's oral structure or oral comfort, but preferably, it can be formed with corresponding shapes on the right and left sides of the first dentition receiving portion 100. In this case, it is easier to receive the teeth of the maxillary UJ, and the problem of it being too easy to fall out when worn by the user can be solved.

[0110] The oral appliance 10 may also include a tongue tip placement portion 500, which provides space for placing the tongue tip by opening the oral cavity side inner wall surface of the first dental arch receiving portion 100 corresponding to the incisors.

[0111] With the tongue placement part 500, the user can easily place the tongue in front of the palate and behind the central incisors of the maxillary UJ when wearing the oral appliance 10. Therefore, the tongue can be placed at the front within the physiological range, maximizing the airway expansion effect, thereby relieving the compression of the airway located behind the tongue and preventing snoring and sleep apnea.

[0112] refer to Figure 9 and Figure 10 As can be seen, the tongue tip placement portion 500 is opened through the oral cavity side inner wall of the incisor corresponding to the first dental arch receiving portion 100. As described above, the tongue tip placement portion 500 is formed by an opening in front, which has the advantage of providing space for the tongue tip to be placed, and as described below, even when wearing the oral appliance 10, the tongue can be placed in a natural position in front of the upper part.

[0113] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tongue tip placement portion 500 does not have an oral cavity lateral inner wall surface of the first dental arch receiving portion 100 corresponding to the central incisors of the anterior teeth. Therefore, when the user wears the device, the user's tongue tip can be placed behind the upper incisors. In a natural state, the human tongue tip is located behind the upper incisors. Therefore, if the tongue tip can be naturally placed behind the upper incisors even when wearing a dental appliance, comfort can be provided to the user even when wearing a dental appliance.

[0114] The present invention is equipped with a tongue tip placement part 500, so that when the user wears the oral appliance 10 of the present invention, the tongue tip can be naturally placed behind the upper incisors, so that it can be worn for a long time while sleeping without any discomfort or foreign body sensation.

[0115] Figure 11 A state diagram showing the state of wearing an oral appliance of a preferred embodiment of the present invention only on the maxillary ulnae (UT) from the inside of the oral cavity. (Reference) Figure 11 When the user wears the oral appliance 10, the user's tongue TT can be naturally positioned behind the upper incisors (OS) along the direction A. Therefore, the tongue can be positioned at the front within the physiological range.

[0116] On the other hand, for ease of understanding, this invention... Figure 11 The illustration shows a state where the appliance is worn only on the dentition UT of the maxillary UJ, but the wearing state of the oral appliance 10 of the present invention is not limited to this.

[0117] The present invention, by including a tongue tip placement part 500, has the effect of inducing nasal breathing.

[0118] Generally, when snoring and sleep apnea occur, oxygen deficiency occurs, causing the body to breathe through the mouth to increase the amount of oxygen. When breathing through the mouth, the mandible rotates downwards and backwards, and the tongue, which is linked to the mandible, loses contact with the palate and is placed in a lower position. Over time, the tongue gradually droops backwards, compressing the airway. As a result, snoring and sleep apnea worsen.

[0119] Specifically, Figure 11 This is a diagram illustrating the flow of gases within the human body during mouth breathing. (Reference) Figure 11 As the mandible rotates downwards and backwards during mouth breathing, the position of the tongue (TT), which is connected to the mandible, also decreases. As described above, the downward-lowering tongue (TT) droops backwards, thereby compressing the airway, resulting in snoring and sleep apnea.

[0120] on the other hand, Figure 12 This diagram illustrates the flow of gases within the human body during mouth breathing. (Reference) Figure 12 Because the jaw and tongue do not move downwards during nasal breathing, the downward-sloping tongue will not droop backwards and compress the airway. Therefore, to effectively prevent snoring and sleep apnea, mouth breathing should be avoided and nasal breathing should be induced.

[0121] Therefore, by configuring the tongue tip placement part 500, the present invention enables the user to avoid mouth breathing and smoothly perform nasal breathing while using the oral appliance 10. Specifically, the tongue tip placement part 500 guides the tongue to be placed on the front side of the palate. In this way, by placing the tongue on the front side of the palate, the air inhaled through the mouth can be physically blocked during mouth breathing, and mouth breathing will naturally be converted into nasal breathing.

[0122] Increased nasal breathing eliminates the excessive airway compression caused by a drooping tongue, allowing air to flow more smoothly into the airway and effectively preventing snoring and sleep apnea. Furthermore, it reduces tonsil swelling and dry mouth, and the increased air intake through the nose increases lung capacity, thereby improving breathing quality and increasing oxygen saturation.

[0123] Figure 14 A state diagram illustrating the breathing state when using the oral appliance 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. (Refer to...) Figure 14When wearing oral appliance 10, the user mainly breathes through the nose ((A)) rather than through the mouth ((B)). The user's tongue TT is stably placed on the front side of the palate through the tongue tip placement part 500, and physically blocks the air inhaled through the mouth, so mouth breathing ((B)) naturally converts to nasal breathing ((A)).

[0124] and, Figure 15 To obtain a CT image of the user's side before wearing oral appliances, Figure 16 To obtain a CT image of the user's side after wearing the oral appliance 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 15 and Figure 16 It is known that even after wearing the oral appliance 10, the tongue can naturally rest behind the upper incisors in the oral cavity (TT). Therefore, the present invention can prevent discomfort caused by unnatural fixation or placement of the tongue in the oral cavity by expanding the oral cavity space, and can allow the user's tongue to be comfortably placed for a long time.

[0125] In other words, the tongue tip placement part 500 of the present invention allows the user's tongue TT to be placed behind the upper incisors, providing comfort when wearing it. By stably placing the tongue TT in front of the palate of the upper incisors, it can relieve symptoms such as airway compression, and at the same time induce mouth breathing to switch to nasal breathing, which can more effectively prevent snoring and sleep apnea.

[0126] Ultimately, the oral appliance 10 of the present invention can effectively treat snoring and sleep apnea. Furthermore, by accommodating the anterior teeth but not the molars, natural movement can be achieved even during prolonged use of the oral appliance 10, thus alleviating stiffness in the related muscles and ligaments caused by mandibular prognathism. Moreover, even when wearing the oral appliance 10, there is no pain, malocclusion, or temporomandibular joint disorder, and the smooth flow of air through the airway can improve rhinitis or sinusitis.

[0127] The oral appliance 10 described above is not limited to the structure of the above embodiments, but can be selectively combined to constitute all or part of each embodiment, so that the above embodiments constitute various modifications.

Claims

1. An oral appliance, inserted into the oral cavity and capable of being worn detachably, characterized in that, The oral appliances are configured in a shape corresponding to the anterior dentition within the oral cavity. The oral appliances include: The first dentition receiving portion is configured in a shape corresponding to the maxillary anterior dentition to receive the maxillary anterior teeth; The second dentition receiving portion is configured in a shape corresponding to the anterior dentition of the mandible to receive the anterior dentition of the mandible; The tongue tip placement area, which is a space for placing the tongue tip, is formed by opening the oral cavity side inner wall surface of the first dental arch receiving area corresponding to the incisors; A spacer, configured to connect the first dentition receiving portion and the second dentition receiving portion, and having a predetermined thickness, such that the maxillary dentition is separated from the mandibular dentition by a predetermined distance or more, thereby increasing the intraoral space by a predetermined thickness; and Guide portions are disposed at the two ends of the first dental arch receiving portion, and the oral cavity side inner wall surface of the first dental arch receiving portion extends a predetermined distance to guide the user's teeth to be received in the first dental arch receiving portion and the second dental arch receiving portion. The guide portion is positioned in the first dentition receiving portion at a location corresponding to the canine dentition. The guide portion extends longitudinally along the inner side of the canine dentition in the maxillary anterior portion to further receive at least a portion of the maxillary small molar portion. The predetermined thickness satisfies the following mathematical formula: [Mathematical Expression 1] (T1-T2) / 4≤Ts≤T1+T2 Where T1 is the thickness of the first tooth row receiving portion, T2 is the thickness of the second tooth row receiving portion, and T... s For the predetermined thickness.

2. The oral appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first tooth row receiving part, the second tooth row receiving part, and the spacer are formed integrally.

3. The oral appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, Regarding the tongue placement part, since the oral cavity side inner wall surface corresponding to the incisors of the first dental arch receiving part does not exist, when the user wears it, the user's tongue tip is placed behind the upper incisors.

4. The oral appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The oral cavity side inner wall of the second dental arch receiving part is configured to fix the user's teeth by friction, and the first dental arch receiving part is configured to be separated from the maxillary teeth by a predetermined interval in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

5. The oral appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least a portion of the inner wall between the first and second dental arch receiving portions is opened.

6. The oral appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that, In the inner wall between the first dentition receiving portion and the second dentition receiving portion, the inner wall of the portion corresponding to the incisors is opened.

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