Mandibular leading appliance

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the field of orthodontic instruments, and discloses a mandibular leading appliance which is an occlusion inducing appliance and comprises an appliance body with an upper accommodating groove and a lower accommodating groove, the upper accommodating groove is used for accommodating an upper dentition of a user, and the lower accommodating groove is used for accommodating a lower dentition of the user; the backward offset distance of the lower accommodating groove relative to the upper accommodating groove is smaller than the coverage distance of a user; the condition that the mandible of a child retracts can be effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of dental orthodontic devices, and in particular to a mandibular advancement appliance. Background Art

[0002] As children grow and develop, they often develop malocclusions such as misaligned teeth and tooth-to-skeletal disharmony due to a combination of genetic factors and unhealthy lifestyle habits. These issues not only affect facial aesthetics but can also lead to conditions such as dental caries, periodontal disease, and temporomandibular joint disease. In particular, tooth misalignment caused by mandibular retraction reduces the gap between the mandible and the cervical spine, further altering the position of the tongue and soft palate, causing respiratory distress and even obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. Therefore, orthodontic treatment of mandibular retraction is crucial.

[0003] The basic principle of orthodontics is to apply appropriate corrective force to the teeth, alveolar bone, periodontal tissues, jawbone, and temporomandibular joint, thereby inducing tissue remodeling and ultimately achieving tooth movement. Currently, a wide variety of medical devices are used in orthodontics, primarily including removable appliances, bracket appliances, and bite-inducing appliances. Occlusion-inducing appliances are increasingly used in pediatric orthodontics due to their ease of wear, comfort, and ease of cleaning.

[0004] However, existing bite-inducing appliances still have shortcomings in improving mandibular retrusion in children. Traditional appliances often cannot precisely control the degree of mandibular advancement, which can easily lead to overcorrection or undercorrection. Furthermore, the design of existing appliances fails to fully consider the characteristics of children's oral structure and growth and development needs, which may cause discomfort or affect normal tooth eruption. Furthermore, the material selection and manufacturing process of the appliance also affect its effectiveness and comfort.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the existing technology is in urgent need of improvement. Utility Model Content

[0006] The purpose of this application is to provide a mandibular advancement appliance that can effectively improve the condition of mandibular retraction in children.

[0007] The present application provides a mandibular advancement appliance, which is an occlusion induction appliance, comprising an appliance body having an upper accommodating groove and a lower accommodating groove, wherein the upper accommodating groove is used to accommodate the user's upper teeth, and the lower accommodating groove is used to accommodate the user's lower teeth; the posterior offset distance of the lower accommodating groove relative to the upper accommodating groove is smaller than the user's coverage distance.

[0008] The posterior offset distance of the lower receiving groove relative to the upper receiving groove is smaller than the user's coverage distance. By precisely controlling the degree of mandibular advancement, the problems of overcorrection or undercorrection can be avoided, and the condition of mandibular retraction in children can be effectively improved.

[0009] Preferably, the offset distance of the lower accommodating groove relative to the upper accommodating groove in the rear direction is 2 mm-10 mm smaller than the coverage distance of the user.

[0010] Within this range, effective correction is achieved while also taking into account user comfort and treatment acceptability. This design not only addresses the problem of mandibular retrusion, but also improves the stability of the correction effect and user compliance, thereby enhancing the overall correction effect.

[0011] Preferably, the offset distance of the lower accommodating groove relative to the upper accommodating groove in the rear direction is 0mm-8mm.

[0012] Optionally, the offset distance of the lower accommodating groove relative to the upper accommodating groove in the rear direction is greater than or equal to 3 mm.

[0013] Optionally, the offset distance of the lower accommodating groove relative to the upper accommodating groove in the rear direction is less than 3 mm.

[0014] Preferably, the orthodontic appliance body includes a labial side wall, a lingual side wall and a jaw pad connected between the labial side wall and the lingual side wall, the upper part of the labial side wall, the upper part of the lingual side wall and the upper surface of the jaw pad form the upper accommodating groove, and the lower part of the labial side wall, the lower part of the lingual side wall and the lower surface of the jaw pad form the lower accommodating groove.

[0015] Optionally, the upper receiving groove is provided with tooth grooves that are adapted to all teeth of the user's upper dentition in a one-to-one correspondence, and / or the lower receiving groove is provided with tooth grooves that are adapted to all teeth of the user's lower dentition in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0016] Optionally, at least one local position of the upper accommodating groove and / or the lower accommodating groove is provided with a guide rail groove, and the guide rail groove is used to provide an avoidance space for the user's teeth that need to be avoided to avoid contact between the teeth that need to be avoided and the mandibular advancement appliance, or to provide an eruption space for the user's unerupted teeth.

[0017] Preferably, the appliance body is an integrally formed structure.

[0018] The one-piece structure can reduce the number of parts, avoid assembly and connection steps between multiple components, and thus reduce production complexity. This structural design can also improve the overall strength and stability of the product, reduce quality problems caused by improper assembly, and ensure product consistency and accuracy. The one-piece appliance body can better adapt to the patient's oral cavity, providing a more comfortable wearing experience. The overall design can reduce seams and edges, reduce irritation to the oral soft tissue, and improve the comfort and compliance of the treatment process.

[0019] Preferably, the appliance body is made of at least one of silicone, thermoplastic elastomer, TPU, TPE, polyurethane, nylon, PETG.

[0020] Beneficial effects: The lower jaw forward guide appliance provided by the present application has a lower accommodation groove that is offset rearward from the upper accommodation groove by a distance smaller than the user's coverage distance. By precisely controlling the degree of lower jaw forward guidance, the problem of overcorrection or undercorrection can be avoided, and the condition of children's lower jaw retrusion can be effectively improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 A side view of a lower jaw forward guide appliance provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0022] Figure 2 A top view of a lower jaw forward guide appliance provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0023] Figure 3 A front view of a lower jaw forward guide appliance provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0024] Reference numerals: 1, appliance body; 101, upper accommodation groove; 102, lower accommodation groove; 103, labial side wall; 104, lingual side wall; 105, jaw pad. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, not all. The components of the embodiments of the present application described and shown in the accompanying drawings can be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed application, but only represents selected embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0026] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters represent similar items in the following drawings. Therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further defined or explained in subsequent drawings. At the same time, in the description of this application, the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used to distinguish the description and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0027] Mandibular retrusion has always been a difficult challenge in pediatric orthodontic treatment. While traditional bite-inducing appliances offer advantages such as ease of wear, comfort, and ease of cleaning, they are limited in their effectiveness in correcting mandibular retrusion. This is primarily due to the fact that conventional appliance designs fail to adequately consider the mandibular bone's forward movement, resulting in suboptimal correction and potentially even increased user discomfort.

[0028] Specifically, when a child has mandibular retrusion, their mandible is positioned significantly backward relative to the maxilla. In this case, using a traditional bite-guiding appliance typically aligns the relative positions of the upper and lower receiving slots with the user's current occlusion. However, this design fails to effectively guide the mandible forward.

[0029] Furthermore, if the problem of mandibular retraction is not effectively improved, it may cause a series of serious health problems. First, continuous mandibular retraction will further reduce the gap between the mandibular body and the cervical spine, thereby affecting the user's respiratory function. Secondly, changes in the position of the tongue and soft palate may aggravate sleep breathing problems and increase the risk of children suffering from obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome. In addition, long-term mandibular retraction may also cause temporomandibular joint disorders, leading to chronic pain and functional disorders. These problems not only affect the quality of life of children, but may also have long-term adverse effects on their physical and mental development. Therefore, the development of a new occlusal induction appliance that can effectively improve the condition of mandibular retraction in children is of great clinical significance and urgency.

[0030] To address this problem, a new mandibular advancement appliance design was proposed.

[0031] Please refer to Figure 1-Figure 3 In some embodiments of the present application, a mandibular advancement orthodontic appliance is a occlusal induction orthodontic appliance, comprising an appliance body 1 having an upper accommodating groove 101 and a lower accommodating groove 102, wherein the upper accommodating groove 101 is used to accommodate the user's upper teeth, and the lower accommodating groove 102 is used to accommodate the user's lower teeth; the posterior offset distance of the lower accommodating groove 102 relative to the upper accommodating groove 101 is smaller than the user's coverage distance (in this application, the coverage distance refers to the maximum horizontal distance between the incisal end of the upper anterior teeth and the lip surface of the lower anterior teeth, and correspondingly, the posterior offset distance of the lower accommodating groove 102 relative to the upper accommodating groove 101 is based on the maximum horizontal distance between the bottom of the anterior tooth area of ​​the upper accommodating groove 101 and the lip side surface of the anterior tooth area of ​​the lower accommodating groove 102).

[0032] The core principle of the mandibular advancement appliance of this application is to utilize the unique positioning of the lower receiving slot 102 to guide the mandible forward. Because the rearward offset of the lower receiving slot 102 is smaller than the actual coverage distance, the mandible is naturally guided forward when the appliance is worn. This gradual guidance can gradually improve mandibular retraction while avoiding the discomfort caused by sudden, drastic adjustments.

[0033] The posterior offset distance of the lower receiving groove 102 relative to the upper receiving groove 101 is a key parameter of this design. Based on clinical experience, this offset distance can be set to be 2mm-10mm smaller than the user's actual coverage distance; for example, the posterior offset distance of the lower receiving groove 102 relative to the upper receiving groove 101 can be 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm, 9mm, or 10mm smaller than the user's coverage distance.

[0034] Within this range, effective correction is achieved while also taking into account user comfort and treatment acceptability (avoiding damage to teeth, jaw joints, and jaw bones caused by exceeding physiological limits). This design not only addresses the problem of mandibular retrusion but also improves the stability of the correction effect and the user's treatment compliance, thereby enhancing the overall correction effect.

[0035] In a specific implementation, the posterior offset distance of the lower receiving groove 102 relative to the upper receiving groove 101 can be precisely adjusted according to the actual situation of the user. Generally, the posterior offset distance of the lower receiving groove 102 relative to the upper receiving groove 101 is 0mm-8mm, which can meet the correction needs of most users.

[0036] It should be noted that the entire treatment process of the user is generally divided into multiple treatment stages. A corresponding mandibular advancement appliance will be designed for each treatment stage to gradually improve the problem of mandibular retraction. The posterior offset distance of the lower receiving groove 102 relative to the upper receiving groove 101 in the mandibular advancement appliance in different treatment stages may be different (for example, as the treatment process progresses, the offset distance may gradually decrease); therefore, even for users with severe mandibular retraction before treatment, as the treatment process progresses, the degree of mandibular retraction will gradually change from severe retraction to moderate retraction, and then gradually change to mild retraction, until the correction is completed.

[0037] Under normal circumstances, the maximum horizontal distance between the incisal tip of the upper front teeth and the labial surface of the lower front teeth (i.e., the overlay distance) is 2mm-3mm. In medicine, a coverage distance exceeding 3mm is called deep overlay, which requires correction.

[0038] In some embodiments, the offset distance of the lower receiving groove 102 relative to the upper receiving groove 101 in the rear direction is greater than or equal to 3 mm.

[0039] The posterior offset distance of the lower receiving groove 102 relative to the upper receiving groove 101 is greater than or equal to 3 mm. This situation is applicable to situations where the user's coverage distance is still large (for example, in the early and middle stages of the treatment process, when the coverage distance is large). This design enables the mandibular advancement appliance to guide the user's mandible to move forward, thereby achieving a correction effect. By offsetting the lower receiving groove 102 backward relative to the upper receiving groove 101, but the offset distance is less than the user's coverage distance, the user's mandible can be gradually guided to move forward. This design can achieve a correction effect without causing excessive discomfort to the user. At the same time, this design also allows the offset distance to be adjusted according to the specific situation of the user to achieve a personalized correction plan. Generally, when the user's coverage distance is large, this structure will be used to avoid excessive correction force causing discomfort in wearing and improve treatment compliance.

[0040] In other embodiments, the offset distance of the lower receiving groove 102 relative to the upper receiving groove 101 in the rear direction is less than 3 mm.

[0041] The lower receiving groove 102 is offset less than 3mm posteriorly relative to the upper receiving groove 101. This design is suitable for situations where the user's coverage distance is close to normal (for example, in the later stages of treatment, when the coverage distance is smaller), and in these situations, overcorrection (i.e., excessive advancement) is required to provide sufficient correction force. This design allows the lower dentition to be guided forward excessively when the appliance is worn, thereby generating sufficient correction force to achieve the effect of advancement correction. This design not only improves the user's facial profile but also helps alleviate oral function problems caused by mandibular retrusion, such as difficulty breathing and malocclusion.

[0042] Specifically, the orthodontic appliance body 1 includes a labial side wall 103, a lingual side wall 104 and a jaw pad 105 connected between the labial side wall 103 and the lingual side wall 104. The upper part of the labial side wall 103, the upper part of the lingual side wall 104 and the upper surface of the jaw pad 105 form an upper receiving groove 101, and the lower part of the labial side wall 103, the lower part of the lingual side wall 104 and the lower surface of the jaw pad 105 form a lower receiving groove 102.

[0043] This structural design can effectively accommodate the user's upper and lower teeth, providing stable support for the correction process. The upper accommodating groove 101 is surrounded by the upper part of the labial side wall 103, the upper part of the lingual side wall 104 and the upper surface of the jaw pad 105, and is suitable for accommodating the user's upper teeth. The lower accommodating groove 102 is surrounded by the lower part of the labial side wall 103, the lower part of the lingual side wall 104 and the lower surface of the jaw pad 105, and is suitable for accommodating the user's lower teeth. This design allows the upper and lower accommodating grooves to fit tightly with the user's upper and lower teeth, respectively, improving the correction effect. By rationally designing the relative positions of the upper and lower accommodating grooves, the posterior offset distance of the lower accommodating groove 102 relative to the upper accommodating groove 101 can be smaller than the user's coverage distance. This design can guide the user's mandible to move forward, gradually correct the problem of mandibular retraction, and avoid the discomfort caused by excessive correction at one time. The overall structural design is simple and reasonable, convenient for one-piece molding and manufacturing, and can improve production efficiency and product quality. At the same time, this structure is also convenient for users to wear and clean, improving the comfort and hygiene of use.

[0044] The labial sidewall 103 of the appliance body 1 can be curved to better conform to the outer contours of the user's teeth. The lingual sidewall 104 can be designed to be slightly lower than the labial sidewall 103 to avoid excessive pressure on the tongue. The thickness of the jaw pad 105 can be adjusted based on the user's specific needs.

[0045] In some possible implementations, the upper receiving slot 101 is provided with tooth grooves that are adapted to all teeth of the user's upper dentition, and / or the lower receiving slot 102 is provided with tooth grooves that are adapted to all teeth of the user's lower dentition. Figure 1-Figure 3 In the embodiment, the upper receiving groove 101 is provided with tooth grooves that are adapted to all teeth of the user's upper dentition in a one-to-one correspondence, and the lower receiving groove 102 is provided with tooth grooves that are adapted to all teeth of the user's lower dentition in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0046] This technical solution achieves precise adaptation and fixation of the user's teeth by providing tooth grooves in the upper receiving groove 101 and / or the lower receiving groove 102 that correspond one-to-one to all the teeth of the user's upper and lower dentition. Specifically, the tooth grooves provided in the upper receiving groove 101 match the shape of each tooth in the user's upper dentition, and the tooth grooves provided in the lower receiving groove 102 match the shape of each tooth in the user's lower dentition. This one-to-one design ensures a close fit between the braces and the user's teeth, improving the fixation effect and wearing comfort of the braces. At the same time, this design can also more accurately control the movement direction and force of the teeth, helping to achieve better correction effects. Since each tooth has a dedicated tooth groove, the braces can apply an independent correction force to each tooth, thereby achieving more accurate tooth correction. In addition, this one-to-one design also facilitates the production and adjustment of the braces. The doctor can accurately design the shape and position of each tooth groove based on the patient's tooth model to ensure that the braces perfectly match the patient's dentition.

[0047] In practice, the upper and lower accommodating grooves 101, 102 can be adapted to the user's teeth in a variety of ways. For example, 3D scanning technology can be used to accurately model the user's dentition, and the shape and size of each tooth socket can be designed based on the modeled data. The depth of the tooth socket can be adjusted to suit the height of different teeth. The width and length of the tooth socket can be determined based on the specific dimensions of each tooth to ensure a tight fit.

[0048] To further improve fit, tiny bumps or depressions can be added to the inner wall of the tooth socket. These microstructures can match the subtle features of the tooth surface, providing more precise positioning and better fixation. Furthermore, a soft transition zone can be designed at the edge of the tooth socket to reduce gum irritation and improve wearing comfort.

[0049] This one-to-one matching design, combined with the main structure of the mandibular advancement appliance, can produce significant technical benefits. First, the precisely adapted tooth grooves ensure the stability of the mandibular advancement appliance in the mouth, preventing displacement or dislocation during use. Second, each tooth groove can accurately guide the movement of the corresponding tooth, thereby effectively advancing the mandible. This precise control not only improves the treatment effect, but also reduces unnecessary tooth movement and minimizes the side effects of treatment.

[0050] In other possible embodiments, at least one portion of the upper receiving slot 101 and / or the lower receiving slot 102 is provided with a guide rail groove. The guide rail groove is used to provide a clearance space for the user's teeth that need to be avoided to prevent contact between the teeth and the mandibular advancement appliance, or to provide space for the user's unerupted teeth to erupt. The clearance teeth are teeth that need to be protected from stress, such as teeth with loose roots or newly repaired teeth.

[0051] This design fully considers the individual differences and special needs of different patients, allowing the mandibular advancement appliance to more flexibly adapt to various correction situations. By locally setting guide grooves, it not only ensures the overall correction effect, but also can target specific tooth problems, improving the accuracy and effectiveness of correction.

[0052] The guide grooves can be arranged in a variety of ways. Grooved guide grooves can be provided at specific locations on the inner surfaces of the upper receiving groove 101 and / or the lower receiving groove 102 as needed. These guide grooves can be continuous, long strips or composed of multiple, discontinuous, small grooves. The depth of the guide grooves can be determined based on the teeth to be avoided or the expected eruption height of unerupted teeth. The width of the guide grooves can be designed based on the width of the teeth to be avoided or reserved.

[0053] Preferably, the appliance body 1 is an integrally formed structure.

[0054] One-piece molding reduces the number of parts and eliminates the need for assembly and connection between multiple components, thereby reducing production complexity. This structural design also improves the overall strength and stability of the product, reduces quality issues caused by improper assembly, and ensures product consistency and precision. The one-piece molded appliance body 1 better adapts to the patient's oral cavity, providing a more comfortable wearing experience. The integrated design reduces seams and sharp corners, reduces irritation to oral soft tissue, and improves comfort and compliance during the correction process.

[0055] The one-piece structure of the appliance body 1 can be achieved in a variety of ways. One common method is injection molding, and another is 3D printing. This method is suitable for personalized customization and can accurately control the shape and size of the appliance.

[0056] The appliance body 1 may be made of at least one of silicone, thermoplastic elastomer, TPU, TPE, polyurethane, nylon, and PETG.

[0057] The selection of these materials is crucial for the performance and comfort of the appliance. Silicone has good elasticity and biocompatibility, which can provide a comfortable wearing experience. Thermoplastic elastomers, TPU and TPE have plasticity and elasticity, which can be customized according to the shape of the patient's oral cavity. Polyurethane and nylon have high strength and wear resistance, which can prolong the service life of the appliance. PETG has good transparency and processing performance, which can make the appliance beautiful. By selecting one or more of these materials, a mandibular forward guide appliance with appropriate hardness, elasticity, strength and biocompatibility can be prepared. Such material selection can ensure that the appliance can effectively guide the mandibular forward movement during use, while providing good comfort and durability.

[0058] In specific implementations, different materials or combinations of materials can be selected according to the age, oral condition and treatment needs of the patient. For example, for younger children, silicone or softer thermoplastic elastomers can be selected to provide better comfort. For patients who need stronger treatment, TPU or nylon materials with higher hardness can be selected. In addition, a multi-material composite approach can also be used, such as using a material with higher hardness on the occlusal surface of the appliance, and using a softer material on the part that contacts the oral soft tissue, to balance the treatment effect and comfort.

[0059] In this document, relational terms such as first and second and the like can be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions.

[0060] The above only describes the embodiments of the present application and is not used to limit the protection scope of the present application. For those skilled in the art, the present application can have various modifications and changes. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A mandibular advancement appliance, which is an occlusal induction appliance, comprising an appliance body (1) having an upper receiving groove (101) and a lower receiving groove (102), wherein the upper receiving groove (101) is used to receive the upper dentition of a user, and the lower receiving groove (102) is used to receive the lower dentition of a user; characterized in that: The offset distance of the lower accommodating groove (102) relative to the upper accommodating groove (101) in the rear direction is smaller than the coverage distance of the user; The appliance body (1) comprises a labial side wall (103), a lingual side wall (104) and a jaw pad (105) connected between the labial side wall (103) and the lingual side wall (104); the upper portion of the labial side wall (103), the upper portion of the lingual side wall (104) and the upper surface of the jaw pad (105) form the upper receiving groove (101); the lower portion of the labial side wall (103), the lower portion of the lingual side wall (104) and the lower surface of the jaw pad (105) form the lower receiving groove (102); The upper accommodating groove (101) is provided with tooth grooves that are adapted to all teeth of the user's upper dentition in a one-to-one correspondence, and / or the lower accommodating groove (102) is provided with tooth grooves that are adapted to all teeth of the user's lower dentition in a one-to-one correspondence; At least one local position of the upper accommodating groove (101) and / or the lower accommodating groove (102) is provided with a guide rail groove, and the guide rail groove is used to provide a space for the user's teeth that need to be avoided to avoid contact between the teeth that need to be avoided and the mandibular advancement appliance, or to provide an eruption space for the user's unerupted teeth.

2. The mandibular advancement appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that: The offset distance of the lower accommodating groove (102) relative to the upper accommodating groove (101) in the rear direction is 2mm-10mm smaller than the coverage distance of the user.

3. The mandibular advancement appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that: The offset distance of the lower accommodating groove (102) relative to the upper accommodating groove (101) in the rear direction is 0 mm to 8 mm.

4. The mandibular advancement appliance according to claim 3, characterized in that: The offset distance of the lower accommodating groove (102) relative to the upper accommodating groove (101) in the rear direction is greater than or equal to 3 mm.

5. The mandibular advancement appliance according to claim 3, characterized in that: The offset distance of the lower accommodating groove (102) relative to the upper accommodating groove (101) in the rear direction is less than 3 mm.

6. The mandibular advancement appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that: The appliance body (1) is an integrally formed structure.

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