Palatal support element; training device to learn the physiological position of the tongue in the palate.

Abstract

Palatal support element for use in myofunctional training, speech therapy or orthodontic therapy, characterized in that it has a rounded, arched shape to fit the palate.

Description

[0001] Very delicate, swallowable rubber bands are used in myofunctional training as myofunctional training elements to actively learn the physiological position of the tongue on the palate. Very small, equally swallowable adhesive dots are also used. Alternatively, edible discs such as potato chips can be used to actively practice positioning the tongue on the palate. For suction exercises on the palate, there are training teats with an air chamber. However, when relaxed, the air fill pushes the tongue away from the palate and into a deep, unphysiological resting position. This is about, on the one hand, actively practicing the correct position of the tongue in the physiological place on the palate, and on the other hand, about recognizing and processing parafunctional stimuli, such as the need to suck, without causing damage to the structures.Furthermore, speech therapy includes the so-called "button exercise" to strengthen the lips. This involves a fairly large, flat button placed behind the lips, which must be held in place against external tension. Flat functional elements anatomically adapted to the palate have not yet been introduced.

[0002] Oral vestibular plates are established in orthodontic and myofunctional therapy. The positioning of a conventional oral vestibular plate is always rigid: the shield is always positioned intraorally in the oral vestibule, and the handle is always positioned extraorally in front of the lips. A cap, bite block, or sublingual element can also be attached to the inner surface of the oral vestibule plate.

[0003] The handle adds dimension to the palatal plate, thus providing greater protection against swallowing. The position of the handle, emerging from the lip cleft, also ensures that the entire plate does not slip sideways. In the conventional design, the handle of a palatal plate looks identical to the handle of a pacifier, which always compromises the patient wearing the palatal plate. Alternatively, newer, elastic palatal plates are available that feature a "lip training wedge." However, the addition of the lip training wedge makes the palatal plate frontally stiff and can potentially lead to high biomechanical forces on the incisors, which cannot be assessed or accounted for from an orthodontist's perspective.

[0004] Conventional handles are currently made of relatively hard plastics in the Shore D range or the upper Shore A range. Due to their established "pacifier ring" shape and their relatively hard material properties, the handle of the vestibular plate cannot be used for other therapeutic purposes within the oral cavity, such as as a myofunctional training element. Myofunctional elements on the vestibular plate in the lingual area are not yet known.

[0005] It is scientifically proven that well-fitting elastic vestibular plates support anterior mouth closure and thus also ensure the physiological function of posterior mouth closure between the base of the tongue and the velum. This is accompanied by the creation of a negative intraoral pressure during deglutition and the subsequent maintenance of the negative pressure in the Donders space through an anterior and posterior physiological tongue rest position. Under these physiological conditions, the tongue is not only spontaneously placed in the correct position on the palate, but it remains there, sucked in by the negative intraoral pressure as long as the mouth closure valves are closed. The innovative elastic vestibular plates thus have a passive, positive effect on correct tongue rest position and the learning of the correct tongue rest position.

[0006] The invention stated in the main claim is based on the problem that a flat functional element anatomically adapted to the hard palate for palate support, for suction, positioning and pressing the tongue on the palate, for sucking and sucking does not yet exist.

[0007] The palatal support element described in the main claim, with a shape that matches the hard palate, is shaped to mimic the space directly on the palate with an anatomically adapted, arched, and rounded shape, and is thin enough to also allow for physiological tongue attachment to the functional element. To fulfill the function of a myofunctional training element, the palatal support element is designed to fit snugly against the palate within the dental arch, is flat and rounded, and is arched like the palate.

[0008] The training device according to the invention and its embodiments described below make it possible to perform tasks related to perception in the oral cavity, the positioning of the tongue in the oral cavity, and the balancing of the tongue and the surrounding muscles within the framework of myofunctional therapy. The advantage of myofunctional therapy with the training devices according to the invention lies in the faster and more targeted application to the muscles in terms of strength, dosage, tone, and coordination.

[0009] Simply by inserting the palatal attachment element into the oral cavity – i.e., simply through the tactile stimulus itself – the perception and location of the tongue and awareness of the necessary change in position of the tongue on the palate can be trained. By actively touching the training element on the palate, the therapist can guide the patient's tongue and lead to the correct positioning of the tongue on the palate, even if the patient has difficulty locating their tongue and cannot easily find the desired position of the tongue themselves. The functional element is suitable as a training aid for exercises to press the tongue cranially against the palate, to suck the tongue onto the palate, and to place the tongue flatly on the palate. The palatal attachment element is also suitable for exercises for sucking and sucking in a sagittal direction.

[0010] It is possible, and the invention provides for this, that the training device can be designed in such a way that it can be used in conjunction with a thin suction tube for the simultaneous suction of water. The palate support element is advantageously suited to breaking sucking habits (e.g., thumb sucking, lower lip sucking), since the training device can be used to replace the parafunctional object, and instead of the habit, a meaningful exercise is offered that allows the need to suck to be consciously addressed.

[0011] The "flat" design of the suction element provided by the invention allows the tongue to remain in its natural position, namely flat against the palate, even when the training device according to the invention is placed in the oral cavity. This reduces the risk of pacifier-related disturbances to the myofunction of the tongue, the resting position of the tongue, the position of the lower jaw, and eugnathic dentition.

[0012] Furthermore, it is possible and provided according to the invention that the palate attachment element can be used in conjunction with a thin tube or a probe and a pressure measuring device for simultaneous oral negative pressure measurement.

[0013] The palatal support element can be used individually and can be designed with a stem for manual handling or connected to the shield of a plate or palatal plate by means of a bar. The combination of a palatal plate with a palatal support element, which can be used as an oral functional element for active tongue training—for palatal support, for suction, positioning, and pressing the tongue against the palate, for sucking and sucking—is unknown to date. In combination with a palatal plate, the palatal support element can be connected to the labial or lingual wall of the shield.

[0014] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is accordingly presented in secondary claim 1. In this design, the palate support element is located on the labial wall of the palatal plate and, when the palatal plate is worn conventionally, protrudes from the mouth in the manner of a handle. The handle thus has an extraoral and, when the device is rotated 180°, an intraoral function as a palate support element. Its design allows the handle to be used in the mouth as a training or suction element. Due to its anatomical shape, adapted to the palate, the handle itself is a functional element and, as such, is recognizable even in the extraoral position; it thus loses the compromising appearance one would associate with a pacifier, but is visually classified as a myofunctional training element.

[0015] The palatal plate with this innovative handle can be used in the classic, conventional position, with the handle extending extralabially and the shield positioned within the vestibule. Or it can be rotated 180°, so that the handle becomes a palatal attachment element and is located on the palate in the mouth as an intraoral myofunctional element, while the shield now lies extraorally in front of the lips. Rotating the palatal plate 180° to position the handle, which normally extends extralabially, intraorally and use it in the mouth is unknown.

[0016] In the classic, conventional extraoral position, the palatal attachment element is positioned in front of the lips, resembling a handle, and its stem is positioned between the lips. The innovative handle can be used for manual holding during myofunctional exercises and for assistance from the therapist. It can be held outside the mouth by the instructor and used for lip strengthening exercises as part of myofunctional training. As the therapist pulls on the handle, the lip force exerted by the therapist holds the shield in the mouth, strengthening the perioral muscles.

[0017] In the inverted position, the handle becomes an intraoral myofunctional training or suction element in the sense of a palatal support element. In this inverted position, the shield, now located extraorally, can be held extralabially by the therapist and manually moved to control and specifically move the intraoral functional element, e.g., more to the side, more cranially or caudally, more anteriorly / posteriorly. The position of the palatal support element can thus be controlled by the therapist. By the therapist pulling on the extraoral shield, the new combination device also solves the problem that an exercise for pressing and holding the tongue against the palate using a suction element while simultaneously pulling extraorally has not been known to date.

[0018] The application possibilities of the palatal plate with its innovative handle in both conventional and inverted positions allow the therapist to quickly perform several different exercises with the patient: in the conventional position of the palatal plate, they can practice both spontaneous passive tongue positioning under oral negative pressure and lip strength under a given oral negative pressure; in the inverted position with the palatal plate in place, they can practice tactilely supported active physiological positioning of the tongue, as well as pressure, suction, and sucking exercises. All of these exercises can be performed quickly with a single device.

[0019] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is presented in secondary claim 2. In this design, the palatal attachment element is located on the lingual side of the vestibular plate. A bar runs from the inner side of the plate between the anterior teeth, then follows the palatal wall of the upper incisors and terminates in the palatal attachment element, which rests against the hard palate. The bar can have various widths and thicknesses, meaning it can be located on just two or all four incisors.

[0020] In this variant, the palatal support element is not connected to the labial side, but to the lingual wall of the shield. In this design, with the palatal support element on the lingual side of the shield, tongue positioning can be actively trained, while simultaneously the shield of the palatal plate located in the oral vestibule promotes and maintains negative oral pressure. This passively initiates the physiological resting position of the tongue, and active tongue exercises for physiological positioning, pressure, suction, and sucking can also be performed. The bar above the anterior teeth can be used orthodontically as a jig and for bite elevation.

[0021] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is presented in secondary claim 3. In this design, the suction or training element for oral use is curved, rounded, and centrally or decentrally perforated to specifically promote tongue positioning on the palate.

[0022] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is presented in secondary claim 4. In this design, the suction or training element for oral use is curved, rounded, and thin in the center, without a hole.

[0023] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is presented in secondary claim 5. In this embodiment, the suction or training element for oral use is provided with tactile stimuli.

[0024] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is presented in secondary claim 6. In this embodiment, the palate support element is connected to a plate that can be placed extraorally or in the oral vestibule for myofunctional exercises.

[0025] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is presented in secondary claim 7, which includes a prefabricated palatal support element. In its prefabricated form, the design follows the arch of the palate. To increase the efficiency of therapy and improve comfort when using the training or therapy device according to the invention, an advantageous implementation of the inventive concept provides for it to be available in several sizes—widths, thicknesses, lengths, curvature shapes, and rounded shapes.

[0026] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is presented in secondary claim 8, which includes customization of the palate support element. To increase the efficiency of therapy and improve comfort when using the training or therapy device according to the invention, an advantageous implementation of the inventive concept provides for it to be adapted to the anatomical characteristics of the individual person. The term "anatomical characteristics" encompasses both those anatomical parameters that are subject to natural variation, such as tooth position, jaw width, tongue size, or the like, as well as those anatomical parameters that are altered as a result of illness and / or accidents.

[0027] A variety of different methods are known for adapting devices intended for use in the oral cavity, such as the palate attachment element according to the invention. For example, an impression of the oral cavity can be created using an impression material, on the basis of which the element can be adapted. Furthermore, it is also possible for the oral cavity and / or the skull to be scanned using an imaging method, with the palate attachment element being adapted based on the results of such a scan. In addition, it is also possible and provided for by the invention that it can be adapted based on a combined method that includes both the use of impression material and the execution of an imaging method.In this case, adaptation does not only mean highly individualized adaptation to a single person, but also explicitly includes the selection of a suitable embodiment of the training or therapy device according to the invention from a pool of different "off-the-shelf sizes" from a set of pre-designed palatal attachment elements or oral vestibular plates. In all described embodiments, it is advantageously provided that the training or therapy device can be designed modularly, i.e., that individual components, such as the myofunctional section(s), can be releasably attached to one another and / or to other components of the training device.Furthermore, it is advantageously also possible, and provided for by the invention, for the dimensions of the described myofunctional sections to be adapted and / or adaptable to various parameters of the respective therapy to be performed. Such parameters include, for example, the type and extent of the myofunctional disorder, the age and general health of the person being treated, or similar factors.

[0028] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is presented in secondary claim 9. Due to their technical features, the training or therapy devices described above have a further advantage over devices known from the prior art, namely that they can form a basis for scientifically standardizing both speech therapy with aids and orthodontic therapy with the "palatal attachment element." Such reproducible scaling, which complies with scientific methodology, is not possible with the aids and devices known from the prior art.

[0029] An advantageous material-technical embodiment of the invention is presented in secondary claim 10. In order to impart high durability to the training device and improve user comfort, the invention provides that the training device is made at least in sections from a synthetic elastomer. Synthetic elastomers are characterized by high flexibility and good biocompatibility. Advantageously, the synthetic elastomer has a temperature resistance of at least 100°C. This makes it possible for the training or therapy device to be sterilized by boiling. Elastomers are also characterized by being relatively soft and supple, so that the use of elastomers reduces the risk of pressure sores developing when using the training or therapy device.The elasticity of the material is also important for a secure and comfortable fit and patient acceptance. In a preferred implementation of the inventive concept, the synthetic elastomer is a silicone or TPE. To increase the durability of the training or therapy device and reduce its tendency to become contaminated, it is intended that it be manufactured in one piece. With the one-piece construction, which is advantageously provided for the training or therapy device according to the invention, this tendency to accumulate dirt is significantly reduced, as the number of cracks, crevices, and cavities is reduced.

[0030] An advantageous material-technical embodiment of the invention is presented in secondary claim 11. Thus, the device can be made entirely or partially from an edible elastic material. A "gummy bear-like" material with a hard, elastic quality would be suitable. This means that a myofunctional training device does not necessarily have to be made of a durable material such as silicone or TPE. A temporarily durable, edible base material is possible for myofunctional exercises with a training element over a limited time interval, e.g., for exercises lasting 5-15 minutes.

[0031] Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to Fig. 1 to 7. They show: Fig. 1 - The palatal attachment element (1) on the labial shield side of a vestibular plate (3). Perspective view of an embodiment from above. Near the shield is the bridge (2), which connects the palatal attachment element to the shield. In the illustrated embodiment, the palatal attachment element is flat, rounded, and designed without a hole. It also corresponds to the handle (9) of the vestibular plate. Fig. 2 - The palatal attachment element (1) on the labial shield side of a vestibular plate (3). Perspective view of a side embodiment. The palatal attachment element (1) also corresponds to the handle (9) of the vestibular plate. The lateral view shows the convex curvature of the palatal attachment element cranially (5) matching the palate and the concave curvature caudally (6) suitable for the attachment of the tongue. Fig. 3 - The perforated palatal attachment element (1) on the labial shield side of a vestibular plate (3). Perspective view of an embodiment from above. Near the shield is the bar (2) that connects the palatal attachment element to the shield. In the illustrated embodiment, the palatal attachment element is flat, rounded, and designed with a hole (7). It also corresponds to the handle (9) of the vestibular plate. Fig. 4 - The palatal attachment element (1) is perforated on the labial shield side of a vestibular plate (3). Perspective view of a side view of an embodiment. The palatal attachment element (1) also corresponds to the handle (9) of the vestibular plate. Here, the handle is perforated in the center, so that in the lateral view, the curvature of the palatal attachment element appears interrupted cranially (8). Fig. 5 - The palatal attachment element (1) is perforated on a vestibular plate (3). Perspective view from the front. Viewed from the anterior, the central hole (7) in the palatal attachment element (1) is visible, interrupting the palatal curvature. Fig. 6 - Vestibular plate (3) with palatal attachment element (1) on the labial side of the shield. Internal perspective. The inner side of the shield is devoid of any functional element in this posterior view. Fig.7 - Palatal attachment element (1) on the lingual shield wall of a vestibular plate (3). Cross-section through the sagittal-median plane. The shield of the vestibular plate lies in the upper (14) and lower vestibule (15), behind the upper lip (12) and lower lip (13) and in front of the upper (16) and lower incisors (17). A bar (2) is attached to the lingual side of the shield, which runs palatally between the incisors (16, 17) and terminates in the palatal attachment element (1). This rests with its convex palatal attachment surface (5) on the hard palate (10). Below it is the tongue (11), which nestles against the lingual attachment surface (6). List of reference symbols 1 palatal attachment element 2 Stem between shield and palatal attachment element 3 Shield of the vestibular plate 4 Posterior end of the shield 5 Palatal attachment surface with a curvature that corresponds to the shape of the palate 6 Tongue-side attachment surface 7 Hole in the palatal attachment element 8 Hole in the palatal attachment element, which appears in perspective as an interrupted curvature. 9 Handle of the vestibular plate 10 palates 11 Tongue 12 Upper lip 13 Lower lip 14 Upper vestibule 15 Lower vestibule 16 Upper incisor 17 Lower incisor

Claims

[1] Palatal attachment element for use in the context of myofunctional training, speech therapy or orthodontic therapy, characterized by that it has a rounded, curved shape to match the palate. [2] Palate attachment element according to independent claim 1, characterized by that it is located labially on the shield of a vestibular plate. [3] Palate attachment element according to secondary claim 2, characterized by that it is located lingually on the shield of a vestibular plate. [4] Palatal attachment element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it can be used extraorally as a handle or intraorally as a functional element. [5] Palate attachment element according to independent claim 3, characterized by that it is arched, rounded, and has central or decentralized holes. [6] Palate attachment element according to independent claim 4, characterized bythat the palate attachment element is arched, rounded and thin, without a hole. [7] Palate attachment element according to independent claim 5, characterized by that the palate attachment element is provided with tactile stimuli. [8] Palatal attachment element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it is on a stem so that it can be held outside the mouth, moved and pulled forward. [9] Palate attachment element according to independent claim 6, characterized by that it is attached to an extraoral plate on a pedicle, so that it can be held, moved and pulled forward outside the mouth using the plate. [10] Palate attachment element according to independent claim 7, characterized by that it is manufactured in a prefabricated manner or that sections of the device are designed in a modular manner with regard to widths, thicknesses, lengths, curvature, roundness and tactile shapes. [11] Palate attachment element according to independent claim 8, characterized by that it can be customized using conventional or digital manufacturing methods or sections of the device can be designed in a modular way. [12] Palate attachment element according to independent claim 9, characterized by that it provides standardization and scaling with respect to the size and shape of the palatal attachment element, the bar or stem, the plate or vestibular plate. [13] Palate attachment element according to independent claim 10, characterized by that it is made at least in part from a synthetic elastomer. [14] Palate attachment element according to independent claim 11, characterized by that it may be made wholly or partly from an edible elastic material. [15] Palatal attachment element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat it can be used as an oral functional element together with a thin suction tube for simultaneous suction of water. [16] Palate attachment element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it can be used as an oral functional element together with a thin tube or probe and pressure gauge for simultaneous oral negative pressure measurement.

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