Dental arch splint

Abstract

The invention relates to a dental arch splint comprising two arms (16, 18) symmetrical to each other with respect to a median plane Pm, said two arms (16, 18) having two front ends (24, 20) joined together and two rear ends (22, 26) independent of each other, each of said two arms (16, 18) having a bottom wall (28, 30) and an inner rim (32, 36) opposite an outer rim (34, 38). Each of said two rear ends (22, 26) has a breakable free end (42, 44). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Dental arch splint

[0001] The present invention relates to a gutter for the dental arch of the lower and upper jaws.

[0002] Known intraoral devices comprising two paired mouthpieces are particularly suitable for the treatment of sleep apnea and snoring.

[0003] The two gutters are adapted to engage respectively in the lower dental arches, or mandible, and upper dental arches or maxillary, thanks to a thermoformable material and they are connected together by two lateral connecting rods.

[0004] The gutters comprise two branches symmetrical to each other with respect to a median plane, and the two branches have two front ends joined together and two rear ends independent and spaced apart from each other. Also, each of the two branches has a bottom wall and an inner rim opposite an outer rim forming a U-shaped section. The bottom walls and the two rims extend continuously into the front ends of the branches.

[0005] Furthermore, one of the aligners, adapted to engage in the upper dental arch, has two posterior pivots extending laterally from the two rear ends opposite each other, respectively, while the other aligner, adapted to engage in the lower dental arch, has two anterior pivots extending laterally from the two front ends opposite each other, respectively.

[0006] And the anterior and posterior pivots of the two gutters are respectively connected together by two lateral connecting rods. These connecting rods operate in traction, or in compression to be able to produce a mandibular thruster.

[0007] Reference may be made to document EP2143397, which describes such gutters.

[0008] The oral cavity of individuals is more or less large and such intraoral devices are more or less well supported. It is therefore necessary to provide devices of different sizes. Consequently, their unit costs are high.

[0009] Also, a problem that arises and that the present invention aims to solve is to provide inexpensive gutters that can be adopted by all individuals.

[0010] In order to solve this problem, a dental arch splint is proposed comprising two branches symmetrical to each other with respect to a median plane, said two branches having two front ends joined together and two rear ends independent of each other, each of said two branches having a bottom wall and an inner rim opposite an outer rim. And, said two rear ends each have a breakable free end.

[0011] Thus, a characteristic of the invention lies in the implementation of a free breakable end of the two rear ends of the two branches. In this way, depending on the dimensions of the subject's dental arches, the free breakable or non-breakable ends of the branches of the gutters are broken. In other words, if the subject's dental arches are relatively large, the free breakable ends are kept and the thermoformable material is extended in one piece in each of the gutters up to the free breakable ends.

[0012] Consequently, thanks to a single dimension of gutters, produced in series at an advantageous cost, it is possible to produce intraoral devices adapted to the oral cavity of a large number of individuals.

[0013] Advantageously, the free breakable ends are respectively delimited by two transverse thinning lines. In this way, it is easier to separate the free breakable ends from the rear ends of the gutters.

[0014] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the average depth defined by the average height of said rims relative to said bottom walls is less than seven millimeters. In this way, and as will be explained in more detail in the remainder of the description, the thermoformable polymer material used does not reach the gum of individuals when the intraoral device is in place in the oral cavity. Thus, not only is the gum preserved, but in addition the device is less bothersome and consequently, the acceptance times are shorter.

[0015] It will also be observed that less thermoformable polymer material is used and consequently the overall cost of the device is significantly reduced.

[0016] Preferably, said inner rim and said outer rim have a substantially identical height relative to said bottom wall. In this way, the intraoral device made of the two gutters is less bulky and is better accepted.

[0017] Also, said inner and outer edges are advantageously notched in line with said two free breakable ends. In other words, the two free breakable ends are respectively made up of the sole extension of the bottom wall. Indeed, the thermoformable polymer material rests on the extension of the bottom wall and does not need to be retained laterally by the two edges.

[0018] And further, when the breakable ends are broken, the thermoformable polymer material is then adjusted at the break.

[0019] Preferably, said two free breakable ends extend respectively in an arc in the extension of said bottom wall. In this way, they can extend in line with the molars of the dental arches without being uncomfortable.

[0020] Also, according to another object, there is provided an intraoral device comprising two gutters as described above, and said two gutters are connected together by two lateral connecting rods.

[0021] Advantageously, the intraoral device is provided with two sets of connecting rods of different dimensions in order to be able to adapt to different advances of one jaw relative to the other.

[0022] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention, given for informational purposes but not as a limitation, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0023] [Fig-1] is a schematic perspective view from the front right side of an intraoral device according to the invention;

[0024] [Fig.2] is a rear schematic view of the device illustrated in [Fig.l]; and,

[0025] [Fig.3] is a schematic perspective view from above of an element shown in [Fig.l] and [Fig.2].

[0026] [Fig.l] shows an intraoral device 10 according to the invention comprising an upper gutter 12 intended to engage in a dental arch of the upper jaw, and a lower gutter 14 intended to engage with a lower dental arch.

[0027] The gutters 12, 14 are applied against each other along a joint plane Pj. In addition, they have a common median plane Pm.

[0028] Thus, the upper gutter 12 has two upper branches, an upper right branch 16 and an upper left branch 18 symmetrical to each other with respect to the median plane Pm.

[0029] The upper right branch 16 has a right front upper end 20 and opposite a right rear upper end 22, while the upper left branch 18 has a left front upper end 24 and opposite a left rear upper end 26. Also, the right front upper ends 20 and left front upper ends 24 converge towards each other and join, while the right rear upper ends 22 and left rear upper ends 26 are independent and spaced apart from each other.

[0030] We will now refer to [Fig. 3] illustrating in perspective in the greatest detail the upper gutter 12 alone.

[0031] The upper gutter 12 is molded in one piece from a thermoplastic polymer material. The chosen polymer material is rigid at room temperature. In addition, it can remain in the oral cavity without health risk. For example, the gutter is molded from Polyoxymethylene.

[0032] We find there the two upper branches right 16 and left 18 symmetrical to each other with respect to the median plane Pm.

[0033] Thus, the upper right branch 16 has a right upper bottom wall 28 while the upper left branch 18 has a left upper bottom wall 30, the two upper bottom walls 28, 30 joining continuously where the front right 20 and front left 24 ends meet.

[0034] The upper right branch 16 has a right inner upper edge 32 opposite a right outer upper edge 34, while the upper left branch 18 has a left inner upper edge 36 opposite a left outer upper edge 38. And the two inner upper edges 32, 36, on the one hand, and the two outer upper edges 34, 38, on the other hand, join respectively in a continuous manner where the front right 20 and front left 24 upper ends join.

[0035] We also find in this [Fig.3] the upper right rear ends 22 and left rear ends 26. And the upper right rear end 22 comprises a free right breakable end 40, while the upper left rear end 26 comprises a free left breakable upper end 42. These free breakable upper ends 40, 42 extend respectively in the extension of the bottom walls 28, 30 in the shape of a half-moon. They extend for example over a maximum distance of 3 mm.

[0036] Also, they are respectively delimited from the bottom walls 28, 30 by two transverse grooves 44, 46. These transverse grooves 44, 46 constitute a local thinning allowing these free breakable ends 40, 42 to be easily broken.

[0037] It will be observed that the two rear ends of the branches 16, 18, are devoid of a rim at the right of their free breakable end 40, 42.

[0038] Furthermore, the upper gutter 12 has a right rear pivot 48 extending laterally from the right rear end 22 and opposite, a left rear pivot 50 extending from the left rear end 26 coaxially to the right rear pivot 48. The role of these rear pivots 48, 50 will be explained in the remainder of the description.

[0039] Reference will be made before this to [Fig.2] showing in rear view according to the arrow Va represented in [Fig.l] the intraoral device 10.

[0040] Thus, we find the upper gutter 12 and opposite, the lower gutter 14. Then appear the right internal edge 32 opposite the right external edge 34, and the left internal edge 36 opposite the left external edge 38.

[0041] We also find the two bottom walls 28, 30 extended respectively by the free breakable upper ends 40, 42. And the right internal rim 32 has a height Hi close to the height He of the right external rim 34.

[0042] Also, the average height Hm of the straight edges 32, 34 relative to the straight bottom wall 28, i.e. the depth of the upper gutter 12, is less than 7 mm.

[0043] The left rear end 26 is symmetrical to the right rear end 22 with respect to the mean plane Pm. Consequently, the average height of the left edges 36, 38 with respect to the left bottom wall 30 is also less than 7 mm.

[0044] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the average height of the edges relative to the bottom wall is around 6 mm.

[0045] Also, the lower gutter 14 is symmetrical to the upper gutter 12 with respect to the joint plane Pj.

[0046] The lower gutter 14 thus has two lower right 16' and left 18' branches symmetrical to each other with respect to the median plane Pm. And these two branches 16', 18' have, on the one hand, a lower right rear end 22' and a lower left rear end 26' and on the other hand, two lower bottom walls 28', 30' extended respectively by two free breakable lower ends 40', 42'.

[0047] The two lower right 16' and left 18' branches of the lower gutter 14 also have a lower right internal edge 32' opposite a lower right external edge 34', and a lower left internal edge 36' opposite a lower left external edge 38'.

[0048] Thus, just as for the two upper branches 16, 18, the average height Hm of the right lower edges 32', 34' relative to the right lower bottom wall 28' is less than 7 mm, just like the average height of the left lower edges 36', 38' relative to the left lower bottom wall 30'. It is also advantageously close to 6 mm.

[0049] In [Fig. 2], the single lower gutter 14 is fitted with an element 52 made of a thermoformable polymer material. It extends in the gutter in one piece from one end 22' to the other 26' and over the two free breakable lower ends 40', 42'.

[0050] This element 52 extends into the gutter up to the edges 32', 34', 36', 38'. And the identical element made of the same thermoformable polymer material is installed in the upper gutter 12.

[0051] We will return to [Fig.l] where the two gutters 12, 14, are paired by means of two lateral links, a right link 54 and a left link 56. To do this, the lower gutter 14 has a right front pivot 58 and opposite, a left front pivot 60. And the right link 54 thus connects the right front pivot 58 of the lower gutter 14 and the right rear pivot 48 of the upper gutter 12, while the left link 56 connects the left front pivot 60 of the lower gutter 14 to the left rear pivot 50 of the upper gutter 12.

[0052] Two connecting rods 54, 56 make it possible to obtain a relative degree of freedom of the two gutters 12, 14 with respect to each other, in particular in directions included in the median plane Pm.

[0053] Thus, depending on the dimensions of the subject's oral cavity, and in particular the length of his dental arches, the free breakable ends 40, 42; 40', 42' of the two gutters 12, 14 are broken or not.

[0054] Also, the two gutters 12, 14 are each lined, as indicated above, with an element made of thermoformable polymer material. The maximum thickness of the polymer material element is also less than 7 mm. In other words, the material is flush with the edges 32, 34, 36, 38; 32', 34', 36' and 38'.

[0055] For a first use, the element is brought to a temperature above room temperature, for example to 60°C, so as to be softened. Then the intraoral device 10 is installed in the oral cavity while the subject forcibly engages his dental arches respectively in the two gutters thus furnished in order to mark his impressions there.

[0056] When the thermoformable polymer cools, the impressions remain.

[0057] The subject can thus install the intraoral device 10 in his oral cavity whenever necessary to remedy the problems of sleep apnea and snoring.

[0058] Also, the height of the gutters 12, 14 is lower than the height of the gutters of the prior art and consequently, the intraoral device 10 is less prominent. Consequently, the subject is less bothered. Furthermore, the thickness of the polymer material is such that it does not reach the subject's gums. Therefore, the latter are preserved.

Claims

Claims

1. Gutter for dental arch comprising two branches (16, 18) symmetrical to each other with respect to a median plane Pm, said two branches (16, 18) having two front ends (24, 20) joined together and two rear ends (22, 26) independent of each other, each of said two branches (16, 18) having a bottom wall (28, 30) and an inner rim (32, 36) opposite an outer rim (34, 38); characterized in that said two rear ends (22, 26) each have a breakable free end (42, 44).

2. Gutter according to claim 1, characterized in that the free breakable ends (42, 44) are respectively delimited by two transverse thinning lines (44, 46).

3. Gutter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the average depth defined by the average height of said edges (32, 36, 34, 38) relative to said bottom wall is less than seven millimeters.

4. Gutter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said inner rim (32, 36) and said outer rim (34, 38) have a substantially identical height relative to said bottom wall (28, 30).

5. Gutter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said inner (32, 36) and outer (34, 38) edges are notched in line with said two free breakable ends (40, 42).

6. Gutter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said two free breakable ends (40, 42) extend respectively in an arc in the extension of said bottom wall (28, 30).

7. Intraoral device comprising two gutters according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said two gutters (12, 14) are connected together by two lateral connecting rods (54, 56).

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