Systems and methods for personalized oral care

Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods for providing personalized oral care. The system for oral care includes an oral insert. The oral insert is sized and shaped according to a user's oral cavity and has multiple fluid nozzles and an outlet conduit for directing fluid out of the user's oral cavity. Pressurized fluid provided through the nozzles is directed, for example, into interdental spaces between the user's teeth. In some variations, the system includes an oral insert and an elastomeric substrate attached to the oral insert. In some variations, the elastomeric substrate includes a textured surface that vibrates and / or mechanically oscillates and / or translates along the surfaces of the user's teeth. In some variations, the system for oral care includes a microbiota collection chamber. Some variations include a dental shim device used to obtain oral structure data and alignment between the upper and lower arches.

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 833,926, filed on 15 April 2019, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 879,983, filed on 29 July 2019, which are each incorporated herein by reference as a whole.

[0002] Brushing your teeth, cleaning between your teeth (e.g., flossing), and rinsing your mouth with disinfectant are methods recommended by dentists to prevent periodontal disease, gum disease (e.g., gingivitis), and / or tooth loss. However, for various reasons, few individuals include all of these steps as part of their regular dental hygiene practice. Without adequate cleaning, bacterial levels in the mouth can rise, increasing the likelihood of cavities, gum disease, and even systemic inflammation. Elevated levels of inflammation have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (e.g., developing atherosclerotic plaque, heart attack, stroke), and other diseases or conditions.

[0003] Currently, water flossing devices that provide high-speed fluid jets, as well as electric toothbrushes with vibrating bristles, are available. High-speed bristle movement can remove plaque and / or biofilm more efficiently than manual brushing. However, these devices can be cumbersome and time-consuming to use, reducing the possibility of consistent and thorough oral care. Therefore, improved devices and methods for oral care are desirable. [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] Described herein are systems and methods for providing comprehensive, personalized oral care. One variation of the system for oral care comprises an oral instrument having multiple fluid nozzles, which are sized and molded according to the user's oral cavity. The system may also include a handle attached to the oral instrument, the handle having a fluid conduit that provides fluid communication between the fluid nozzles of the oral instrument and a fluid reservoir. The system may also include a fluid pump configured to pressurize fluid from the reservoir and a fluid regulator, such as a fluid switching device, configured to deliver and distribute the pressurized fluid to the nozzles of the oral instrument. The fluid reservoir may contain water, disinfectant, liquid medication, flavored solution, cleaning solution, polishing solution, microbiome collecting fluid, and / or any combination of the solutions listed above, as well as equivalents. The fluid may also contain an active ingredient that may help reduce bad breath and may be fluoride-containing. The fluid nozzles of the oral instrument may be positioned in areas corresponding to the interdental spaces between the user's teeth, so that the fluid jets formed by the nozzles can be directed into the interdental spaces. Alternatively, or in addition, the fluid nozzle may be located offset from the interdental space but may be directed toward the interdental space (for example, the fluid nozzle may be angled so that the fluid jet axis can be directed toward the interdental space). In some modifications, the fluid nozzle may be located in a recess along the outer surface of the oral implant. The recess may have a flared shape, with the narrowed region of the recess located at the outlet opening of the fluid nozzle, the width of the recess increasing outward, and the width of the widened region of the recess allowing for unobstructed diffusion of the fluid jet spray. In some modifications, the width of the widened region of the recess may approximate the width of the fluid jet spray. A recess (e.g., a depression, cavity, etc.) surrounding the fluid nozzle outlet opening may help direct the fluid jet. Fluid jets passing through the spaces / gaps between teeth may produce a flossing effect and may help remove debris and / or biofilm trapped in those spaces / gaps.Optionally, the fluid may consist of a disinfectant (and / or any other solution) that passes through the interdental spaces and then circulates throughout the oral cavity, reducing the microbial community and / or inhibiting bacterial and / or fungal growth.

[0005] Oral implants may also include an outflow conduit configured to guide fluid from the posterior or lingual region of the user's oral cavity to the anterior or facial region. The outflow conduit may be sized and molded to facilitate the release of pressurized fluid after passing through interdental spaces and circulating throughout the oral cavity, so as not to accumulate in the user's mouth. The outflow conduit may include a central port located between the upper and lower portions of the oral implant, the posterior opening of the central portion may be configured to guide fluid to the anterior and / or facial region of the user's oral cavity. Optionally, the outflow conduit may also include a first lateral fluid cavity and a second lateral fluid cavity, the first and second lateral fluid cavities communicating with the central port.

[0006] One variation of a system for cleaning a user's oral cavity may comprise a fluid reservoir and an oral implant. The oral implant may comprise an upper portion sized and molded to receive the user's upper teeth, a lower portion sized and molded to receive the user's lower teeth, a plurality of fluid nozzles located within the upper and lower portions and directed toward the interdental spaces between the user's teeth, and an outflow conduit located between the upper and lower portions. The outflow conduit may be configured to guide fluid from the posterior or lingual region of the user's oral cavity to the anterior or facial region. The fluid outflow conduit may comprise a central port located in the central region of the oral implant, and the posterior opening of the central port may be configured to guide fluid from the posterior or lingual region of the user's oral cavity to the anterior or facial region of the user's oral cavity. In some variations, the fluid outflow conduit may comprise a central port located in the central region of the oral implant, a first fluid cavity on the right side of the oral implant, and a second fluid cavity on the left side of the oral implant, the first and second fluid cavities of which may be in fluid communication with the central port. The anterior region of the central port may extend (e.g., protrude) from the anterior region of the oral implant, and the anterior extension of the central port may have a tapered shape with one or more concave surfaces configured to combine fluid flows from the posterior or lingual region of the user's oral cavity and to guide the combined fluid flows to the anterior or facial region of the user's oral cavity. The first and second fluid cavities may each have a posterior section with a cross-section having a certain perimeter and a lofted section with a cross-section that increases in cross-sectional area toward the anterior region of the user's oral cavity. The first fluid cavity may have a first opening located in the posterior region of the user's oral cavity, and the second fluid cavity may have a second opening located in the posterior region of the user's oral cavity, and the surface of the oral implant around the peripheral edges of the first and second openings may have a concave or convex contour. For example, the first and second openings may have a tapered elongation shape, the elongation shape having dimensions that narrow as it extends laterally from the central region of the oral implant.

[0007] In addition, the system for cleaning the user's mouth may include a handle, which comprises a fluid reservoir and a fluid conduit that communicates with multiple fluid nozzles in the oral implant. In some modifications, the oral implant may have a U-shaped curve corresponding to the curvature of the user's mandible and / or maxilla. The upper portion of the oral implant has a U-shaped curve corresponding to the curvature of the user's maxilla, and the lower portion of the oral implant has a U-shaped curve corresponding to the curvature of the user's mandible. In some modifications, each fluid nozzle may be located in a recess along the outer surface of the oral implant. The recess may have a first end at the opening of the fluid nozzle and a second end at the opening along the outer surface of the oral implant. The recess may have a flared shape such that the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening along the outer surface exceeds the cross-sectional area of ​​the fluid nozzle opening. For example, the diameter of the opening along the outer surface may exceed the diameter of the fluid nozzle opening. The first end of the flared recess may be circular, and the second end may be ellipsoidal. In some variations, the depression may have one or more concave contours and / or be circular or ellipsoidal in shape.

[0008] In some variations, the oral implant may comprise a plurality of fluid manifolds and a manifold connector, the plurality of fluid manifolds may be in fluid communication with a plurality of fluid nozzles, and each fluid manifold terminates at a manifold opening in the manifold connector. The handle may comprise a mounting mechanism configured to removably hold the oral implant and a fluid switching device assembly, the fluid switching device assembly may comprise a motor and a rotor connected to the motor. The mounting mechanism may comprise a sealing ring configured to provide a watertight interface between the manifold connector and the handle. The handle may further comprise an elastomer vibration damper located between the fluid switching device assembly and the oral implant. The manifold openings of the manifold connector may be arranged in a circle, and the rotor may be a rotatable plate having a first fluid opening configured to continuously align with each of the manifold openings in the manifold connector as the motor rotates the rotatable plate. The manifold openings of the manifold connector may be spaced apart from each other by the spacing between the openings, and the first fluid opening of the rotatable plate may have a width greater than the spacing between the openings so that the first fluid opening always maintains a fluid connection with at least one manifold opening. In some modifications, the rotatable plate may have a second fluid opening. The second fluid opening may be located radially opposite the first fluid opening. The manifold openings of the manifold connector may be arranged in a circle, and the fluid switching device assembly may further include a manifold block having a plurality of fluid channels configured to align with the manifold openings in the manifold connector. The rotor may be a rotatable plate having fluid openings configured to align continuously with each of the fluid channels in the manifold connector as the motor rotates the rotatable plate. Alternatively, the manifold openings of the manifold connector may be arranged in a circle, and the rotor may be a rotatable barrel having a first fluid opening configured to align continuously with each of the manifold openings in the manifold connector as the motor rotates the barrel.In some variations, the rotatable barrel may have a second fluid opening. The second fluid opening may be located radially opposite the first fluid opening. The manifold openings of the manifold connector may be spaced apart from each other by the spacing between the openings, and the first fluid opening of the rotatable barrel may have a width greater than the spacing between the openings so that the first fluid opening always maintains a fluid connection with at least one manifold opening.

[0009] In some variations, the oral implant may optionally include an elastomer substrate positioned along the outer surfaces of an upper and lower portion. The upper and lower portions may include a rigid substrate. The combination of the rigid upper and lower portions with the elastomer substrate may constitute a hybrid oral implant. The elastomer substrate may have multiple openings that are compatible with multiple fluid nozzles. The elastomer substrate may have a textured surface that corresponds to the locations of the buccal and lingual surfaces of the user's teeth. In some variations, the elastomer substrate may have a textured surface that can optionally vibrate along the surface of the user's teeth and / or otherwise mechanically oscillate, and / or translate, and / or be manually actuated to contact it. Vibration of the textured surface along the buccal, lingual, occlusal, mesial, distal, and / or incisal surfaces of the teeth may produce a brushing effect along those tooth surfaces. In some variations, the textured surface (which may include bristles) of the elastomer substrate may be located in areas corresponding to the facial, lingual, occlusal, mesial, distal, and / or incisal edges of the user's teeth. Optionally, the handle may further include a vibration mechanism that causes vibrational motion of the elastomer substrate. The handle may be attached to the oral implant so that vibrational motion from the vibration mechanism is transmitted to the elastomer substrate. The fluid conduit may include a fluid valve (e.g., a fluid regulator or switching device) configured to regulate fluid flow to a plurality of fluid nozzles, and the fluid conduit may be mechanically coupled to a vibration mechanism so that vibrations caused by fluid flow through the fluid conduit combine with vibrational motion from the vibration mechanism to cause vibration of the elastomer substrate. The vibration mechanism may include an eccentric rotating mass vibration motor and / or a linear resonant actuator, and / or an electromagnetic vibration motor.

[0010] In some modifications, the upper and lower portions of the oral implant may consist of a material having a first durometer value on a hyphenometer, and the elastomer substrate may consist of a material having a second durometer value on a hyphenometer lower than the first durometer. For example, the first durometer value may be about 60 Shore A to about 100 Shore D. The elastomer substrate may consist of a biocompatible elastomer, and the rigid substrate may consist of a biocompatible UV-curable photopolymer.

[0011] In some variations, the elastomer substrate may be releasably attached to the oral implant. For example, the oral implant may further comprise a first mounting structure on an upper and / or lower portion and a second mounting structure on the elastomer substrate, the mounting structures being configured to interlock. The first mounting structure may have grooves, and the second mounting structure may have projections configured to align with the grooves so that the first and second mounting structures interlock. Alternatively, or in addition, the releasable mounting mechanism may comprise an adhesive for bonding the elastomer substrate to the oral implant. The oral implant may further comprise a first mounting structure on an upper and / or lower portion and a second mounting structure on the elastomer substrate, the first and second mounting structures being made of one or more magnetic materials.

[0012] Some variations of the system for oral care may include a fluid reservoir comprising a fluid opening, a check valve on the bottom configured to supply fluid to a handle, and an elevated plate positioned across the fluid opening such that a gap exists between the elevated plate and the fluid opening. The width of the elevated plate may exceed the width of the fluid opening. For example, the width of the elevated plate may be at least twice the width of the fluid opening.

[0013] In some modifications, the oral implant may further comprise an elastomer substrate. The combination of the oral implant with an elastomer substrate may constitute a hybrid oral implant. The hybrid oral implant may comprise a rigid substrate (e.g., any of the oral implants described herein) and an elastomer substrate attached to the rigid substrate. The elastomer substrate may have multiple openings that align with multiple fluid nozzles when the elastomer substrate is attached to the rigid substrate. In some modifications, the elastomer substrate may comprise a textured surface that can be optionally configured to vibrate along the surface of the user's teeth and / or otherwise mechanically oscillate, and / or translate and / or be manually actuated to contact them. Vibration of the textured surface along the facial, lingual, occlusal, mesial, distal, and / or incisal edges of the teeth may produce a brushing effect along those tooth surfaces. In some variations, the textured surface (which may include bristles) of the elastomer substrate may be positioned in areas corresponding to the facial, lingual, occlusal, mesial, distal, and / or incisal edges of the user's teeth. An oral care system with a hybrid oral intubation may combine two or more of the recommended oral care steps, i.e., combining the functions of flossing, brushing, and / or rinsing in a single step (e.g., flossing and rinsing, flossing and brushing, flossing, brushing and rinsing, etc.). This may help the user adopt a more thorough daily oral care routine. Optionally, the handle may have a vibration mechanism, a mechanism for inducing movement, or the ability to be manually oscillated or activated. In some variations, the elastomer substrate may be releasably mounted to a rigid substrate. The elastomer substrate may consist of a material having a first hardness value (i.e., durometer), and the rigid substrate may consist of a material having a second hardness value (i.e., durometer) that is higher than the first hardness value (i.e., harder, more rigid).For example, the elastomer substrate may be made from an elastomer, and the rigid substrate may be made from a polymer such as a UV-curable photopolymer. The elastomer substrate may be made from any suitable flexible, pliable, and / or shape-conforming material, which may help improve the overall comfort of the hybrid oral implant in the oral cavity by providing a softer and / or smoother interface between the rigid substrate and the user's teeth and gums. Another variation of the system for oral care comprises an oral implant comprising a rigid substrate (without an elastomer substrate) that is sized and molded according to the user's oral cavity and has multiple fluid nozzles. Fluid reservoirs, solutions, vibration mechanisms, and any of the components and / or features described herein may be used in combination with oral implants with rigid and elastomer substrates (i.e., hybrid oral implants) and / or oral implants with a rigid substrate instead of an elastomer substrate.

[0014] One variation of the hybrid oral implant may comprise a rigid substrate, which is sized and molded according to the user's oral cavity, and an elastomer substrate attached to the rigid substrate. The rigid substrate may comprise multiple fluid nozzles located in areas of the rigid substrate corresponding to the interdental spaces between the user's teeth (and / or optionally, in concave surfaces along other tooth surfaces, including, but not limited to, the occlusal surface, facial surface, and / or lingual surface), and the elastomer substrate may comprise multiple openings that align with the multiple fluid nozzles when the elastomer substrate is attached to the rigid substrate. The elastomer substrate may further comprise textured surfaces corresponding to the locations of the facial surface, lingual surface, occlusal surface, mesial surface, distal surface, and / or incisal edge of the user's teeth. In some variations, the elastomer substrate may be configured to vibrate, and optionally, the textured surfaces may be located in areas of the elastomer substrate corresponding to the locations of the occlusal surface and / or incisal edge of the user's teeth. The oral implant may further comprise a handle comprising a fluid conduit that fluidizes into multiple fluid nozzles of the rigid substrate. In some variations, the handle may further include a vibration mechanism that causes vibrational motion of the elastomer substrate. The handle may be mounted on a rigid substrate so that the rigid substrate transmits vibrational motion from the vibration mechanism to the elastomer substrate. Alternatively, or in addition, the handle may be mounted on a rigid substrate, and the vibration mechanism may be mechanically coupled to the elastomer substrate. The fluid conduit may include a fluid valve configured to regulate fluid flow to a plurality of fluid nozzles, and the fluid conduit may be mechanically coupled to a vibration mechanism so that vibrations caused by fluid flow through the fluid conduit combine with vibrational motion from the vibration mechanism to cause vibration of the elastomer substrate. The vibration mechanism may include an eccentric rotating mass vibration motor and / or a linear resonant actuator, and / or an electromagnetic vibration motor.

[0015] In some variations, the rigid substrate may be made of a material having a first durometer value on a durometer, and the elastomeric substrate may be made of a material having a second durometer value on a durometer lower than the first durometer. For example, the first durometer value may be from about 60 Shore A to about 100 Shore D. The elastomeric substrate may be made of a biocompatible elastomer, and the rigid substrate may be made of a biocompatible UV-curable photopolymer.

[0016] In some variations, the elastomeric substrate may be releasably attached to the rigid substrate. For example, the oral insert may further include a first attachment structure on the rigid substrate and a second attachment structure on the elastomeric substrate, and the attachment structures may be configured to interlock. The first attachment structure may include a groove, and the second attachment structure may include a protrusion configured to be aligned with the groove such that the first and second attachment structures interlock. Alternatively, or in addition, the releasable attachment mechanism may include an adhesive that joins the elastomeric substrate to the rigid substrate. The oral insert may further include a first attachment structure on the rigid substrate and a second attachment structure on the elastomeric substrate, and the first and second attachment structures may be made of one or more magnetic materials.

[0017] The textured surface of the elastomeric substrate may include a repeating pattern of grooves and / or protrusions. The elastomeric substrate may include an upper surface configured to contact the user's upper teeth, a lower surface configured to contact the user's lower teeth, and a standoff structure spanning between the upper and lower surfaces. The standoff structure may be a first standoff structure, and the elastomeric substrate may include a second standoff structure spanning between the upper and lower surfaces. The first standoff structure may be located on the left side of the elastomeric substrate, and the second standoff structure may be located on the right side of the elastomeric substrate. In some variations, the first and second standoff structures may be vertical posts spanning between the upper and lower surfaces of the elastomeric substrate and may be positioned to align with one or more of the user's molars, premolars, or canines.

[0018] In some variations of the hybrid oral insert, the rigid substrate has an upper portion having an upper trough configured to receive the user's upper teeth, a lower portion having a lower trough configured to receive the user's lower teeth, and a fluid outflow conduit located between the upper and lower portions of the rigid substrate and configured to direct fluid from the posterior or lingual region of the user's oral cavity to the anterior or facial region. The fluid outflow conduit may include a central port located in a central region of the rigid substrate, and a posterior opening of the central port is configured to direct fluid from the posterior or lingual region of the user's oral cavity to the anterior or facial region of the user's oral cavity. Alternatively, or in addition, the fluid outflow conduit may include a central port located in a central region of the rigid substrate, a first fluid cavity on the right side of the rigid substrate, and a second fluid cavity on the left side of the rigid substrate, and the first and second fluid cavities may be in fluid communication with the central port. The anterior region of the central port may extend from the anterior region of the rigid substrate, and the anterior extension of the central port may have a tapered shape having one or more concave surfaces. The one or more concave surfaces may be configured to combine fluid flows from the posterior or lingual region of the user's oral cavity and to direct the combined fluid flows to the anterior or facial region of the user's oral cavity. Each of the first and second fluid cavities may have a posterior section having a cross-section with a constant perimeter and a lofted section having a cross-section with an increasing cross-sectional area toward the anterior region of the user's oral cavity. The first fluid cavity may have a first opening located within the posterior region of the user's oral cavity, and the second fluid cavity may have a second opening located within the posterior region of the user's oral cavity. The surface of the rigid substrate around the peripheral edges of the first and second openings may have a concave or convex contour. For example, the first and second openings may have a tapered elongated shape, and the elongated shape may have dimensions that become narrower as it extends laterally from the central region of the substrate.

[0019] In some variations, the rigid base plate may have a U-shaped curve corresponding to the curvature of the user's mandible and / or maxillary arch. The upper portion of the rigid base plate may have a U-shaped curve corresponding to the curvature of the user's maxilla, and the lower portion of the rigid base plate may have a U-shaped curve corresponding to the curvature of the user's mandible.

[0020] One variation of the hybrid oral implant may comprise a rigid substrate, which is sized and molded according to the user's oral cavity; an elastomer substrate attached to the rigid substrate; and a vibration mechanism that causes vibrational motion of the elastomer substrate. The elastomer substrate may have textured surfaces corresponding to the locations of the buccal and lingual surfaces of the user's teeth. The elastomer substrate may comprise an upper surface configured to contact the user's upper teeth, a lower surface configured to contact the user's lower teeth, and a standoff structure spanning between the upper and lower surfaces.

[0021] Any of the personalized oral care systems described herein may comprise a fluid reservoir, a customized oral insert comprising a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port, connectable to the fluid reservoir and in fluid communication with a fluid nozzle or opening, and a collection chamber configured to be attached to the fluid outlet conduit or port of the oral insert. The customized oral insert may further comprise an upper substrate configured to receive the user's upper teeth, a lower substrate configured to receive the user's lower teeth, and an array of fluid nozzles or openings located within the upper and lower substrates, the fluid inlet port may communicate with the fluid nozzles or openings. The oral care system may further comprise a microbiome collection fluid in the fluid reservoir. The microbiome collection fluid may consist of saline solution. Optionally, a sample stabilizing fluid in a collection container, the sample stabilizing fluid consisting of a liquid suspension such as a preservation solution. The collection chamber is configured to be attached to the oral insert by a snap lock and / or any suitable releasable mounting mechanism. The collection chamber may comprise an opening and a liquid-tight cover disposed removably across the opening.

[0022] A variation of a method for collecting an oral microbiome sample may include the steps of: inserting an oral implant into the user's oral cavity, the oral implant comprising one or more fluid openings and a fluid outlet conduit or port, which are in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir containing a microbiome collection fluid; delivering the microbiome collection fluid from the fluid reservoir to the user's oral cavity at a fluid pressure of about 40 psi or more; and collecting an oral microbiome sample by accumulating a certain volume of the microbiome collection fluid using a collection chamber coupled to the fluid outlet conduit or port. The fluid pressure may be about 40 psi to about 200 psi. One or more fluid nozzles or openings of the oral implant may be positioned to correspond to the subgingival region and / or interdental region of the user's oral cavity, such that the fluid jet from the fluid opening is directed toward the subgingival region. The step of delivering the microbiome collection fluid into the user's oral cavity may include directing the microbiome collection fluid to the subgingival and / or interdental regions of the user's oral cavity through one or more fluid openings. The microbiome collection fluid may consist of saline solution. The collection chamber may contain a sample stabilizing fluid. The step of delivering the microbiome collection fluid may include pumping the microbiome collection fluid into an oral implant for a specified duration. The specified duration may be approximately 1 second to approximately 10 seconds. Optionally, the method for collecting a microbiome sample may include priming the oral implant by pumping the microbiome collection fluid through the oral implant before inserting the oral implant into the user's oral cavity. The step of priming the oral implant may include pumping the microbiome collection fluid through the oral implant for a specified duration of approximately 1 second to approximately 20 seconds. After priming the oral implant, the method may include connecting the collection chamber to a fluid outflow port. In some variations, the method may include the step of sealing the collection chamber with a liquid-tight cover after collecting the oral microbiome sample.

[0023] Also disclosed herein are dental shim devices for oral scanning. The dental shim device may comprise first and second alignment portions having an upper surface and a lower surface, respectively, for positioning and maintaining upper and lower teeth at selected positions; a bridge portion having a length spanning between the first and second alignment portions; and one or more orientation alignment markers on the facial surfaces of the first and second alignment portions and / or the bridge portion. The upper and lower surfaces of the first and second alignment portions may be in contact with the incisal edges and / or occlusal surfaces of the upper and lower teeth. In some modifications, the upper surface may have a first surface area and a first width, and the lower surface may have a second surface area and a second width, where the first width may exceed the second width. Alternatively, or in addition, the first surface area may exceed the second surface area. The first and second matching portions may each have side walls that are sized to reserve a fixed vertical offset between the upper and lower teeth, for example, the fixed vertical offset may be about 5 mm to about 20 mm. The side walls may be made of a rigid material, and / or the upper and lower surfaces may be made of a flexible material configured to conform to the contours of the upper and lower teeth. The flexible material may be moldable, and / or the flexible material may consist of one or more of rubber-like materials, dental wax, dental impression materials, gingival barrier materials, and foams. In some modifications, the flexible material may be curable from an elastic state to a rigid state, for example, the flexible material may be curable using one or more of chemical curing, thermal curing, room temperature curing, and light curing. The length of the bridge portion may have a curve that approximates the curve of the dental arch, and / or the curved length may be configured to conform to the curve or width of the dental arch. The curved length of the bridge portion may further have a convex facial surface. The convex facial surface may be tapered such that the upper portion of the facial surface protrudes forward and tapers inward toward the lower portion of the facial surface. The bridge portion may be made of a flexible material. The first end of the curved length may be attached to the first fitting portion, and the second end of the bridge length may be attached to the second fitting portion.The upper and lower surfaces of the first and second alignment portions may be in contact with the lingual and / or facial surfaces of the upper and lower teeth. The selected positions of the upper and lower teeth may be in a closed-bite (e.g., jaw-closed) position. The length of the bridge portion may comprise one or more linear sections. In some variations, the length of the bridge portion may comprise mounting tabs. The first and second alignment portions, the bridge portion, and / or orientation alignment markers may be made from a non-reflective, opaque material. For example, the first and second alignment portions, the bridge portion, and the orientation alignment markers may be made from an opaque material.

[0024] In some variations, the alignment markers may include a vertical midline indicator positioned midway along the length of the bridge portion. The alignment markers may form an asymmetrical arrangement. One or more alignment markers may be molded and positioned such that the position of each individual upper and lower tooth is unique relative to one or more alignment markers. One or more alignment markers may be arranged and molded such that alignment between the upper and lower arches can be determined by aligning the relative positions of the upper and lower teeth to one or more alignment markers. The alignment markers may include one or more 3D structures extending from the facial surfaces of the first and second alignment portions and / or bridge portions. Alternatively, or in addition, the alignment markers may include one or more visual marks located on the facial surfaces of the first and second alignment portions and / or bridge portions. In some variations, one or more visual markers may include raised and / or recessed areas that form as oblique parallel patterns and / or semicircles and / or blocks and / or notches at locations known to each other. Alternatively, or in addition, one or more visual markers may include non-uniform oblique parallel patterns.

[0025] Optionally, the oral shim device may include a stabilizing structure configured to contact the first and second matching portions and to engage with the external anatomical structures of the wearer's oral cavity. The stabilizing structure may be configured to engage with one or more of the wearer's jaw, forehead, and cheek.

[0026] A dental shim device for acquiring oral data may comprise an upper tray having a surface that contacts the upper teeth of the upper dental arch and an upper handle extending from a curved portion of the upper tray; a lower tray having a surface that contacts the lower teeth of the lower dental arch and a lower handle extending from a curved portion of the lower tray; and an adjustable occlusal joint engaging with the upper and lower trays, the adjustable occlusal joint being configured to adjust the offset and angle between the upper and lower trays. The adjustable occlusal joint comprises a concave groove on the upper tray and a ball on the lower tray opposite the concave groove, the ball being movable within the concave groove to adjust the offset and angle between the upper and lower trays. The concave groove may comprise a concave cavity. Alternatively, or in addition, the concave groove may comprise a curve configured to engage with the ball in its position within the concave groove and to retain the offset and angle. Optionally, the tooth contact surface of the upper tray may be made of a flexible material configured to conform to the contour of the upper teeth, and the tooth contact surface of the lower tray may be made of a flexible material configured to conform to the contour of the lower teeth. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0027] [Figure 1A] Figure 1A depicts a top view of the user's oral biostructure.

[0028] [Figure 1B] Figure 1B depicts a partial cross-sectional lateral view of the tooth and surrounding gingiva.

[0029] [Figure 1C] Figure 1C depicts a lateral view of the tooth and surrounding gum tissue.

[0030] [Figure 1D] Figure 1D depicts a perspective view of one modified example of a personalized oral care system.

[0031] [Figure 1E] Figure 1E-1F depicts a side view of an oral care system with a microbiome sample collection chamber. [Figure 1F] Figure 1E-1F depicts a side view of an oral care system with a microbiome sample collection chamber.

[0032] [Figure 1G] Figure 1G depicts a side view of the microbial flora sample collection chamber.

[0033] [Figure 1H] Figure 1H depicts a perspective view of another variation of a personalized oral care system.

[0034] [Figure 1I] Figure 1I shows a perspective view of one modified oral implant.

[0035] [Figure 2A] Figures 2A-2B depict exploded perspective views of modified hybrid oral implants (i.e., oral implants with an elastomer substrate). [Figure 2B] Figures 2A-2B depict exploded perspective views of modified hybrid oral implants (i.e., oral implants with an elastomer substrate).

[0036] [Figure 2C] Figure 2C depicts a side view of one modified example of a hybrid oral implant.

[0037] [Figure 3A] Figure 3A depicts a perspective cross-section of one modified oral implant.

[0038] [Figure 3B]Figures 3B-3D depict a cross-sectional view, a front view, and a perspective view, respectively, of one modified example of a three-splitter fluid nozzle or fluid opening. [Figure 3C] Figures 3B-3D depict a cross-sectional view, a front view, and a perspective view, respectively, of one modified example of a three-splitter fluid nozzle or fluid opening. [Figure 3D] Figures 3B-3D depict a cross-sectional view, a front view, and a perspective view, respectively, of one modified example of a three-splitter fluid nozzle or fluid opening.

[0039] [Figure 3E] Figures 3E-3F depict front and perspective views, respectively, of one modified example of a three-splitter fluid nozzle or fluid opening. [Figure 3F] Figures 3E-3F depict front and perspective views, respectively, of one modified example of a three-splitter fluid nozzle or fluid opening.

[0040] [Figure 3G] Figures 3G-3I depict a cross-sectional view, a front view, and a perspective view, respectively, of one modified example of a bifurcated fluid nozzle or fluid opening. [Figure 3H] Figures 3G-3I depict a cross-sectional view, a front view, and a perspective view, respectively, of one modified example of a bifurcated fluid nozzle or fluid opening. [Figure 3I] Figures 3G-3I depict a cross-sectional view, a front view, and a perspective view, respectively, of one modified example of a bifurcated fluid nozzle or fluid opening.

[0041] [Figure 3J] Figures 3J-3K depict cross-sectional and perspective views of one modified example of a bifurcated fluid nozzle or fluid opening, respectively. [Figure 3K] Figures 3J-3K depict cross-sectional and perspective views of one modified example of a bifurcated fluid nozzle or fluid opening, respectively.

[0042] [Figure 3L] Figure 3L depicts a front view of another bifurcated fluid nozzle or opening.

[0043] [Figure 3M] Figure 3M-3R depicts a front view of another modified example of a three-split fluid nozzle or fluid opening. [Figure 3N] Figure 3M-3R depicts a front view of another modified example of a three-split fluid nozzle or fluid opening. [Figure 3O] Figure 3M-3R depicts a front view of another modified example of a three-split fluid nozzle or fluid opening. [Figure 3P] Figure 3M-3R depicts a front view of another modified example of a three-split fluid nozzle or fluid opening. [Figure 3Q] Figure 3M-3R depicts a front view of another modified example of a three-split fluid nozzle or fluid opening. [Figure 3R] Figure 3M-3R depicts a front view of another modified example of a three-split fluid nozzle or fluid opening.

[0044] [Figure 3S] Figures 3S-3T depict front views of other modifications of the fluid nozzle opening. [Figure 3T] Figures 3S-3T depict front views of other modifications of the fluid nozzle opening.

[0045] [Figure 3U] Figures 3U-3V depict a side perspective view and a front view, respectively, of a recess with a fluid nozzle opening. [Figure 3V] Figures 3U-3V depict a side perspective view and a front view, respectively, of a recess with a fluid nozzle opening.

[0046] [Figure 3W] Figure 3W depicts a posterior-supervised perspective view of one modified oral implant.

[0047] [Figure 4A] Figure 4A depicts a top view section of one modified oral implant.

[0048] [Figure 4B]Figures 4B-4C depict a lateral section of the oral implant shown in Figure 4A. [Figure 4C] Figures 4B-4C depict a lateral section of the oral implant shown in Figure 4A.

[0049] [Figure 4D] Figure 4D depicts a cross-sectional view of one modified example of the posterior opening of an oral implant.

[0050] [Figure 4E] Figures 4E-4G depict three top and rear views of other modifications of a fluid outflow conduit in a modified oral implant, respectively. [Figure 4F] Figures 4E-4G depict three top and rear views of other modifications of a fluid outflow conduit in a modified oral implant, respectively. [Figure 4G] Figures 4E-4G depict three top and rear views of other modifications of a fluid outflow conduit in a modified oral implant, respectively. [Figure 4H] Figure 4H illustrates wide arch channel configurations (402a) and narrow arch channel configurations (402b).

[0051] [Figure 4I] Figures 4I-4K depict side views of modified fluid outflow conduits with various top and bottom curvatures. [Figure 4J] Figures 4I-4K depict side views of modified fluid outflow conduits with various top and bottom curvatures. [Figure 4K] Figures 4I-4K depict side views of modified fluid outflow conduits with various top and bottom curvatures.

[0052] [Figure 4L] Figures 4L-4N depict top views of modified fluid outlet conduits with various lateral curvatures. [Figure 4M] Figures 4L-4N depict top views of modified fluid outlet conduits with various lateral curvatures. [Figure 4N]Figures 4L-4N depict top views of modified fluid outlet conduits with various lateral curvatures.

[0053] [Figure 5A] Figures 5A-5C illustrate perspective views of one modified example of a hybrid oral implant. [Figure 5B] Figures 5A-5C illustrate perspective views of one modified example of a hybrid oral implant. [Figure 5C] Figures 5A-5C illustrate perspective views of one modified example of a hybrid oral implant.

[0054] [Figure 5D] Figure 5D depicts a top view of one modified elastomer substrate.

[0055] [Figure 5E] Figure 5E shows a cross-sectional view of one modified example of a hybrid oral implant.

[0056] [Figure 5F] Figure 5F depicts a top view of one modified elastomer substrate.

[0057] [Figure 5G] Figure 5G depicts a perspective view of one modified oral implant with an elastomer substrate.

[0058] [Figure 5H] Figure 5H shows an exploded view of a modified oral implant with an elastomer substrate.

[0059] [Figure 5I] Figures 5I-5J illustrate modified forms of the elastomer substrate that may be used in conjunction with any of the oral implants described herein. [Figure 5J] Figures 5I-5J illustrate modified forms of the elastomer substrate that may be used in conjunction with any of the oral implants described herein.

[0060] [Figure 6A] Figures 6A-6C show schematic cross-sectional views of various vibration mechanisms for hybrid oral implants. [Figure 6B] Figures 6A-6C show schematic cross-sectional views of various vibration mechanisms for hybrid oral implants. [Figure 6C] Figures 6A-6C show schematic cross-sectional views of various vibration mechanisms for hybrid oral implants.

[0061] [Figure 7A] Figure 7A shows a perspective view of one modified example of a dental shim device.

[0062] [Figure 7B] Figure 7B depicts a top view of the dental shim device shown in Figure 7A.

[0063] [Figure 7C] Figure 7C depicts a front view of the dental shim device shown in Figure 7A.

[0064] [Figure 7D] Figure 7D depicts a side view of the dental shim device shown in Figure 7A.

[0065] [Figure 8A] Figure 8A shows a perspective view of one modified example of a dental shim device.

[0066] [Figure 8B] Figure 8B depicts a perspective view of the components of the dental shim device shown in Figure 8A.

[0067] [Figure 8C] Figure 8C depicts a perspective lateral view of the dental shim device shown in Figure 8A.

[0068] [Figure 8D] Figure 8D depicts a top view of the dental shim device shown in Figure 8A.

[0069] [Figure 8E]Figure 8E is a flowchart illustrating one method for acquiring image data of the contour, location, orientation, and / or alignment of a user's oral biostructure using a sim device.

[0070] [Figure 8F] Figures 8F-8I depict perspective views, partial side views, top views, and rear views, respectively, of modified double-sided shim devices. [Figure 8G] Figures 8F-8I depict perspective views, partial side views, top views, and rear views, respectively, of modified double-sided shim devices. [Figure 8H] Figures 8F-8I depict perspective views, partial side views, top views, and rear views, respectively, of modified double-sided shim devices. [Figure 8I] Figures 8F-8I depict perspective views, partial side views, top views, and rear views, respectively, of modified double-sided shim devices.

[0071] [Figure 8J] Figure 8J is a flowchart illustrating one variation of a method for acquiring image data of the contour, location, orientation, and / or alignment of a user's oral biostructure using a sim device.

[0072] [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating one variation of a method for collecting an oral microbiome sample in a collection chamber using an oral care system.

[0073] [Figure 10A] Figures 10A-10D depict other variations of the shim device. Figure 10A depicts a front view of the shim device. Figure 10B depicts a side view of the shim device in Figure 10A. Figure 10C depicts a top view of the shim device in Figure 10A. Figure 10D depicts a rear view of the shim device in Figure 10A. [Figure 10B]Figures 10A-10D depict other variations of the shim device. Figure 10A depicts a front view of the shim device. Figure 10B depicts a side view of the shim device in Figure 10A. Figure 10C depicts a top view of the shim device in Figure 10A. Figure 10D depicts a rear view of the shim device in Figure 10A. [Figure 10C] Figures 10A-10D depict other variations of the shim device. Figure 10A depicts a front view of the shim device. Figure 10B depicts a side view of the shim device in Figure 10A. Figure 10C depicts a top view of the shim device in Figure 10A. Figure 10D depicts a rear view of the shim device in Figure 10A. [Figure 10D] Figures 10A-10D depict other variations of the shim device. Figure 10A depicts a front view of the shim device. Figure 10B depicts a side view of the shim device in Figure 10A. Figure 10C depicts a top view of the shim device in Figure 10A. Figure 10D depicts a rear view of the shim device in Figure 10A.

[0074] [Figure 11A] Figures 11A and 11B depict, respectively, variations of the corresponding male and female parts for an oral implant / handle mounting mechanism using a push-button release. [Figure 11B] Figures 11A and 11B depict, respectively, variations of the corresponding male and female parts for an oral implant / handle mounting mechanism using a push-button release.

[0075] [Figure 11C] Figure 11C depicts side views of other variations of the corresponding male and female parts for an oral implant / handle mounting mechanism using a sliding latch release mounting mechanism. Figures 11D-11E depict perspective views of the female and male parts of the sliding latch release mounting mechanism, respectively. Figure 11F depicts a front view of the female part of the sliding latch release mounting mechanism. [Figure 11D]Figure 11C depicts side views of other variations of the corresponding male and female parts for an oral implant / handle mounting mechanism using a sliding latch release mounting mechanism. Figures 11D-11E depict perspective views of the female and male parts of the sliding latch release mounting mechanism, respectively. Figure 11F depicts a front view of the female part of the sliding latch release mounting mechanism. [Figure 11E] Figure 11C depicts side views of other variations of the corresponding male and female parts for an oral implant / handle mounting mechanism using a sliding latch release mounting mechanism. Figures 11D-11E depict perspective views of the female and male parts of the sliding latch release mounting mechanism, respectively. Figure 11F depicts a front view of the female part of the sliding latch release mounting mechanism. [Figure 11F] Figure 11C depicts side views of other variations of the corresponding male and female parts for an oral implant / handle mounting mechanism using a sliding latch release mounting mechanism. Figures 11D-11E depict perspective views of the female and male parts of the sliding latch release mounting mechanism, respectively. Figure 11F depicts a front view of the female part of the sliding latch release mounting mechanism.

[0076] [Figure 11G] Figure 11G depicts an exploded view of another variation of the corresponding female and male side portions for a mouthpiece handle mounting mechanism using a hose quick connector or sleeve latch attachment.

[0077] [Figure 11H] Figure 11H depicts an exploded view of another variation of the corresponding female and male side portions for a mouthpiece handle mounting mechanism using a bayonet lock.

[0078] [Figure 12A] Figure 12A depicts a block representation of one modified fluid switching device assembly.

[0079] [Figure 12B]Figure 12B depicts a schematic cross-sectional representation of one modified fluid switching device assembly.

[0080] [Figure 13A] Figures 13A-13G illustrate modified examples of a rotor equipped with a manifold connector and a flat plate. [Figure 13B] Figures 13A-13G illustrate modified examples of a rotor equipped with a manifold connector and a flat plate. [Figure 13C] Figures 13A-13G illustrate modified examples of a rotor equipped with a manifold connector and a flat plate. [Figure 13D] Figures 13A-13G illustrate modified examples of a rotor equipped with a manifold connector and a flat plate. [Figure 13E] Figures 13A-13G illustrate modified examples of a rotor equipped with a manifold connector and a flat plate. [Figure 13F] Figures 13A-13G illustrate modified examples of a rotor equipped with a manifold connector and a flat plate. [Figure 13G] Figures 13A-13G illustrate modified examples of a rotor equipped with a manifold connector and a flat plate.

[0081] [Figure 14A] Figures 14A-14B illustrate schematic representations of modified rotary valves that can be used in conjunction with a fluid switching device assembly. Figure 14C illustrates a perspective view of one modified cylindrical rotary valve. Figures 14D-14E illustrate simulated plots of fluid pressure in each manifold within the system for different modified rotary valve slots. Figures 14F-14G illustrate schematic diagrams of modified rotary valves that can be used in conjunction with a fluid switching device assembly. [Figure 14B]Figures 14A-14B illustrate schematic representations of modified rotary valves that can be used in conjunction with a fluid switching device assembly. Figure 14C illustrates a perspective view of one modified cylindrical rotary valve. Figures 14D-14E illustrate simulated plots of fluid pressure in each manifold within the system for different modified rotary valve slots. Figures 14F-14G illustrate schematic diagrams of modified rotary valves that can be used in conjunction with a fluid switching device assembly. [Figure 14C] Figures 14A-14B illustrate schematic representations of modified rotary valves that can be used in conjunction with a fluid switching device assembly. Figure 14C illustrates a perspective view of one modified cylindrical rotary valve. Figures 14D-14E illustrate simulated plots of fluid pressure in each manifold within the system for different modified rotary valve slots. Figures 14F-14G illustrate schematic diagrams of modified rotary valves that can be used in conjunction with a fluid switching device assembly. [Figure 14D] Figures 14A-14B illustrate schematic representations of modified rotary valves that can be used in conjunction with a fluid switching device assembly. Figure 14C illustrates a perspective view of one modified cylindrical rotary valve. Figures 14D-14E illustrate simulated plots of fluid pressure in each manifold within the system for different modified rotary valve slots. Figures 14F-14G illustrate schematic diagrams of modified rotary valves that can be used in conjunction with a fluid switching device assembly. [Figure 14E] Figures 14A-14B illustrate schematic representations of modified rotary valves that can be used in conjunction with a fluid switching device assembly. Figure 14C illustrates a perspective view of one modified cylindrical rotary valve. Figures 14D-14E illustrate simulated plots of fluid pressure in each manifold within the system for different modified rotary valve slots. Figures 14F-14G illustrate schematic diagrams of modified rotary valves that can be used in conjunction with a fluid switching device assembly. [Figure 14F]Figures 14A-14B illustrate schematic representations of modified rotary valves that can be used in conjunction with a fluid switching device assembly. Figure 14C illustrates a perspective view of one modified cylindrical rotary valve. Figures 14D-14E illustrate simulated plots of fluid pressure in each manifold within the system for different modified rotary valve slots. Figures 14F-14G illustrate schematic diagrams of modified rotary valves that can be used in conjunction with a fluid switching device assembly. [Figure 14G] Figures 14A-14B illustrate schematic representations of modified rotary valves that can be used in conjunction with a fluid switching device assembly. Figure 14C illustrates a perspective view of one modified cylindrical rotary valve. Figures 14D-14E illustrate simulated plots of fluid pressure in each manifold within the system for different modified rotary valve slots. Figures 14F-14G illustrate schematic diagrams of modified rotary valves that can be used in conjunction with a fluid switching device assembly.

[0082] [Figure 15A] Figures 15A-15B illustrate modified examples of radial seals. [Figure 15B] Figures 15A-15B illustrate modified examples of radial seals.

[0083] [Figure 16A] Figures 16A-16B illustrate modified examples of the surface seal. [Figure 16B] Figures 16A-16B illustrate modified examples of the surface seal.

[0084] [Figure 17] Figure 17 shows a cross-sectional view of a block representation of one modified example of an oral implant / handle mounting mechanism.

[0085] [Figure 18] Figure 18 depicts a lateral cross-sectional block representation of a modified handle and mouthpiece of an oral cleaning system, including a vibration isolation mechanism.

[0086] [Figure 19A]Figure 19A depicts a side perspective section of a modified example of a vortex plate inside a fluid reservoir.

[0087] [Figure 19B] Figure 19B depicts a top perspective view of a modified vortex plate. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0088] One variation of a system for oral care may comprise an oral insert (or mouthpiece) having an upper and lower portion, which are sized and molded according to the user's oral cavity; a plurality of fluid nozzles directed toward the interdental spaces between the user's teeth; and an outflow conduit located between the upper and lower portions and configured to guide fluid circulating within the user's mouth to the anterior or facial region of the user's oral cavity. The oral insert may also comprise one or more fluid manifolds communicating with the fluid nozzles, the fluid manifolds extending from the fluid nozzles to a manifold connector at one end of the oral insert. The manifold connectors may be configured to be releasably attached to a handle. The upper and lower portions of the oral insert may each comprise a tray, band, and / or carrier, which are sized and molded according to the user's upper and lower teeth, respectively, and in some variations may be made from a rigid material. For example, the upper and lower portions may comprise a tooth-receiving tray, which may be curved to approximate the curvature of the user's mandibular and / or maxillary arch. Oral implants may be fabricated from rigid materials to help withstand the increased pressure levels of the fluid supplied by the system pump.

[0089] In some modifications, the oral implant may be made from a rigid material and may comprise an array of fluid nozzles with openings positioned to provide customized fluid flow across the user's teeth. In some modifications, the fluid nozzles may be located within recesses (e.g., depressions, cavities, concave contours, etc.) along the outer surfaces of the upper and lower portions (i.e., surfaces facing the teeth and / or gingiva). The fluid nozzle openings may be located in the innermost part of the recess, and the recess may have a shape that approximates the spray of fluid ejection from the fluid nozzle openings. For example, the recess may be flared and / or tapered, and the fluid nozzle openings may be located in the narrowest part of the recess. The location of the fluid nozzles on the oral implant may be determined based on a dental scan of the user's teeth, so that each oral implant is customized to adapt to the user's oral geometry. For example, the fluid nozzles of the oral implant may be located on regions of the upper and lower portions corresponding to the interdental spaces between the teeth. Alternatively, or in addition, the fluid nozzles may be positioned at a distance from the interdental space, but may be angled toward the interdental space so that the fluid jet can be applied to the interdental space. Fluid jets from the openings of multiple fluid nozzles can clean multiple teeth simultaneously, and the location and geometry of the fluid nozzles relative to the specific and unique structure of the user's mouth may help facilitate rapid and / or effective cleaning of the tooth surface. In some variations, the oral implant may comprise a custom array of multiple fluid nozzles, in which each nozzle opening is positioned to target specific tooth features or structures, as well as any oral and / or dental device or implant, e.g., permanent and removable dental restorations / prostheses, orthodontic appliances, etc. (e.g., crowns, bridges, implants, braces, retainers, dentures, and equivalents).

[0090] One or more outflow conduits may be configured to guide pressurized fluid circulating within the user's oral cavity (e.g., the posterior and / or lingual regions) toward the anterior and / or facial regions of the oral cavity and exit the user's mouth. In some modifications, the outflow conduits may comprise a central channel or port extending from the posterior portion of the oral implant to the anterior portion of the oral implant. Optionally, one or more lateral fluid cavities may be present, connecting to the central channel and helping to facilitate fluid flow from the left and right sides of the oral cavity to the central channel. The dimensions of the outflow conduits may be selected so that the overall dimensions of the oral implant fit comfortably within the user's mouth while also providing rapid release of pressurized fluid from the user's mouth. The contours of the surface of the oral implant defining the boundaries of the outflow conduits may be smoothed and / or flattened to facilitate efficient dynamic fluid flow from within the user's oral cavity toward the mouth opening.

[0091] Optionally, an elastomer substrate may be included with any of the oral implants or mouthpieces described herein. A combination of an oral implant (which may have a rigid substrate) and an elastomer substrate may be referred to as a hybrid oral implant. Several variations of the system for oral care may constitute a hybrid oral implant. A hybrid oral implant comprises a rigid substrate (for example, similar to any of the oral implants described herein) having a plurality of recessed fluid nozzles, one or more fluid manifolds, manifold connectors, and one or more outflow conduits, and an elastomer substrate attached to the rigid substrate. A hybrid oral implant may also include an elastomer substrate having a plurality of openings that align with the plurality of fluid nozzles when the elastomer substrate is attached to the rigid substrate. The elastomer substrate may have a textured surface (as described above and herein) or may not have a textured surface. In one modification, the elastomer substrate may have textured surfaces and / or protrusions in areas of the elastomer substrate corresponding to the buccal and / or lingual and / or occlusal and / or incisal edge or surface and / or mesial and / or distal surface of the tooth. Optional textured surfaces and / or protrusions on the elastomer substrate may be configured to vibrate and / or oscillate (e.g., resonantly or non-resonantly). In some modifications, the oral implant may be coupled to a handle, which may comprise a vibration mechanism that causes any mechanical motion of the elastomer substrate (e.g., vibration, oscillation, translation, oscillation, etc.) and an optional battery that powers the vibration mechanism. One embodiment of the vibration mechanism may comprise an electromagnet and a magnetic mass mechanically coupled to the elastomer substrate. Changing the polarity of the electromagnet can move or vibrate the magnetic mass, thereby causing oscillation or vibration in the elastomer substrate. Alternatively, or in addition, the vibration mechanism may include an eccentric rotating mass (ERM) motor and / or a linear resonant actuator (LRA).Alternatively, or in addition, the vibration mechanism may include a dual counter-rotating ERM, where the position-phase relationship between the motions of each motor is controlled to produce controllable directional vibrations. Alternatively, or in addition, the vibration actuator may be driven electrically, manually, and / or by the flow of a fluid (e.g., water, air, etc.) through the system (e.g., hydraulically, pneumatically).

[0092] In some modifications, the elastomer substrate may be mechanically coupled to one of the vibration mechanisms described herein, while in other modifications, the elastomer substrate may not be configured to vibrate. For example, one modification of the hybrid oral implant may include an elastomer substrate having a textured surface and configured to vibrate, while in another modification, the hybrid oral implant may include an elastomer substrate that does not have a textured surface and is not configured to vibrate. In these modifications, the hybrid oral implant may include a rigid substrate with a fluid nozzle, or alternatively, a rigid substrate without any fluid nozzle. The oral system may include an oral implant having a rigid substrate as described herein but without an elastomer substrate.

[0093] A personalized oral care system may also include one or more valves, pumps, and / or manifolds that regulate the fluid flow between a fluid reservoir and an oral implant. For example, the oral care system may also include a base station with a controller that controls and / or coordinates the fluid flow through a fluid nozzle (e.g., fluid jets emerging through the opening of the fluid nozzle). The base system control may optionally control vibrations of the elastomer or shape-fitting substrate of the hybrid oral implant. The base station may also include a fluid pump communicating with the fluid reservoir and a handle dock. The handle may include a fluid regulator communicating with the fluid pump, the fluid regulator may be configured to deliver and / or distribute pressurized fluid to a fluid manifold in the oral implant. For example, the fluid regulator may include a fluid switching device assembly having a motor and a rotor that distributes the fluid to one or more fluid manifolds in the oral implant that supply the fluid to the nozzle. The oral implant may include a manifold connector configured to be releasably mounted to the handle so that the manifold connector fluidly connects to a fluid switching device assembly. The handle may include a mounting mechanism having one or more seals configured to provide a watertight engagement of the oral implant with the manifold connector. In some modifications, the handle fluid switching device assembly may include a manifold block having multiple fluid channels configured to align with the manifold opening in the manifold connector. Optionally, the base station may include a fluid reservoir dock. In some modifications, the handle dock may also be a handle charging dock (e.g., by inductive charging) that stores energy in an optional handle battery, which can be used to activate the vibration mechanism. Alternatively, or in addition, power to the vibration mechanism may be provided by an electrical connection (e.g., wires) between a power source on the base station and one or more vibration actuators located within the handle.Alternatively, or in addition, the mechanical movement of the elastomer and / or rigid inserts may be manually actuated.

[0094] Personalized oral care systems are described in relation to cleaning teeth and / or disrupting biofilms that may form on or between teeth or restorations, around dental instruments, or within the gingival sulcus, but it should be understood that the systems described herein may also be used for the application of drugs or prophylactic agents to the oral cavity, teeth whitening, oral disinfection, disinfectants, cleaning solutions, etc. The fluid in the fluid reservoir may contain one or more of the following: disinfectants, antibiotic fluids, cleaning solutions, surfactants, pH balancers, antimicrobial or antifungal agents, fluoride-added fluids, water, saline solution, and / or compounds that reduce bad breath.

[0095] A personalized oral care system may include a collection chamber configured to be attached to a fluid output port (e.g., a fluid outflow conduit or port) of an oral implant. When attached to the fluid outflow port, a portion or sample of the fluid circulating in the user's oral cavity (e.g., a microbiome collection fluid) may be captured by the collection chamber. The microbiome collection fluid sample in the collection chamber may be analyzed to determine the contents of the user's oral microbiome. The microbiome collection fluid may consist of saline solution. The collection chamber may contain a fluid sample stabilizing compound that can help preserve the contents of the oral microbiome (e.g., prevent or reduce their degradation). Optionally, the fluid sample stabilizing compound may react with the contents of the oral microbiome and facilitate the detection of those contents during testing / analysis. For example, the microbiome collection compound may consist of one or more detection markers having binding sites that can specifically react with certain contents of the microbiome, and a positive identification of the detection marker would indicate the presence of a certain component of the microbiome. The detection markers may consist of optical markers such as fluorescent tags. In some variations, the sample stabilizing compound may consist of a liquid suspension and / or preservation solution. The collection container may be attached to the oral insert using any suitable mechanical engagement, e.g., screw fittings, snap fittings, friction fittings, and / or magnetic engagements. Optionally, the collection chamber may include a fluid inlet port for receiving fluid exiting the user's oral cavity through an outlet port, and the fluid inlet port may include a one-way valve configured to allow fluid flow into the chamber while preventing fluid flow out of the chamber. The collection chamber may include an opening and a liquid-tight cover configured to be positioned across the opening (which may be separate from the fluid inlet port) after the collection fluid sample has been obtained.

[0096] The microbiome-collecting fluid may be delivered to the user's oral cavity through a fluid opening or nozzle of an oral implant at an elevated fluid pressure using any of the devices and methods described herein. For example, a pump mechanism of a fluid reservoir may deliver the fluid to the oral implant at a pressure of about 40 psi or higher, such as about 40 psi to about 200 psi. The fluid pressure exiting each fluid nozzle and impacting the tooth surface or structure may be about 10 psi to about 150 psi. In some modifications, the microbiome-collecting fluid may be located in a fluid reservoir of a personalized oral care system and pressurized for delivery to an oral implant. Introducing the microbiome-collecting fluid at an elevated fluid pressure (i.e., any pressure exceeding that of oral rinsing or gargling) and / or directing the collecting fluid to specific areas of the user's oral cavity may facilitate the collection of oral microbiome within those areas. For example, an oral implant with a fluid nozzle that directs the collection fluid into the interdental spaces between teeth and / or the subgingival region at elevated pressure may facilitate the collection of microbiome samples from those spaces more efficiently than oral rinsing (e.g., the user rinsing the collection fluid in their mouth). Fluid jets from the oral implant nozzle may disrupt and / or remove biofilms in hard-to-reach areas (e.g., interdental spaces, subgingival regions, crevices, concave surfaces, etc., areas typically inaccessible by oral rinsing or rinsing), which may allow the collection and analysis of microbiome contents within those areas. For example, a fluid jet at elevated pressure (e.g., about 40 psi or higher) may release bacteria that may be located in hard-to-reach surfaces, and the collection fluid may be used to sweep the bacteria into the collection chamber toward the outflow port. This may provide a more accurate and / or comprehensive measurement of the user's oral microbiome compared to oral rinsing or rinsing. A sample of the user's oral microbiome may be analyzed for bacterial and / or fungal and / or viral and / or protein content (including nucleic acids such as DNA or RNA), and pH levels, and such data may be used to calculate metrics of the user's oral health.One example of an oral health metric may include a gum health score representing the user's gum inflammation status / level. Analysis of the collected microbiome sample by the processor may output information such as the type and / or quantity of bacterial species in the oral cavity, the ratio of symbiotic to pathogenic bacteria, the presence of high-risk and / or low-risk pathogens, and correlations between pathogen types and systemic diseases for informational purposes.

[0097] A personalized oral care system may have an oral cleaning mode and a sample collection mode. In oral cleaning mode, the system may be configured to provide a continuous flow of pressurized fluid (e.g., water, disinfectant, or any of the fluids described herein) from the reservoir to the oral implant and into the user's mouth. In sample collection mode, the system may be configured to provide a burst of pressurized microbiome collection fluid from the reservoir to the oral implant. The burst duration may be approximately 1 second to 20 seconds, for example, approximately 1 second to 10 seconds, approximately 5 seconds to 15 seconds, etc. The mode may be set to the desired mode by pressing a mode button on the base station (or by turning a dial or switch), which may then adjust the operation of one or more valves and / or pumps that regulate the fluid flow between the reservoir and the oral implant. Optionally, the oral care system may have a microbiome collection priming mode, in which the microbiome collection fluid is pressurized through the oral implant before the collection of an oral microbiome sample (e.g., before the oral implant is placed in the user's mouth). The microbiome collection fluid pumped through the oral insert during priming mode may be discarded, which may help to clear any residual fluid and / or biological material that could contaminate or dilute the oral microbiome sample. In priming mode, the pressurized fluid may be pumped into the oral insert for a duration that is the same as, or different from, the duration for which the pressurized fluid is pumped into the oral insert in sample collection mode, and the duration may be pre-programmed or selected by the user. For example, the pressurized fluid may be pumped into the oral insert for approximately 1 second to approximately 60 seconds during priming mode. After priming is complete, the collection chamber may be attached to the outflow port of the oral insert in preparation for microbiome sample collection.

[0098] Also disclosed herein are dental shim devices that can be used to position a user's teeth between obtaining image data relating to the user's oral geometry and data relating to the alignment between the upper and lower teeth (e.g., the positions of the upper and lower arches relative to each other). The oral geometry and alignment data may be used by a processor to generate a customized oral insulator (e.g., a hybrid oral insulator with a rigid substrate and an elastomer substrate, or an oral insulator with only a rigid substrate) having a fluid nozzle positioned in the structure of the specific teeth to facilitate cleaning efficiency while providing some user comfort when the oral insulator is placed in the user's oral cavity (i.e., when the user bites down over the oral insulator). In some modifications, the processor may use the obtained oral geometry and alignment data to generate a model of the user's oral cavity and, based on the model of the user's oral cavity, generate an oral insulator having a fluid nozzle positioned in a desired location. Image data identifying locations between teeth and / or gingival margins and / or interdental spaces, buccal pits, fissures, and equivalents between the gingiva may be used by the processor to generate an oral implant with a fluid nozzle at the structure of those teeth and the corresponding locations. The dental shim device may comprise first and second alignment portions having an upper and lower surface, respectively, for positioning and maintaining upper and lower teeth in selected positions; a bridge portion having a length spanning between the first and second alignment portions; and one or more orientation alignment markers on the facial surfaces of the first and second alignment portions and the bridge portion. The orientation alignment markers may have an asymmetrical arrangement and / or may be molded and positioned such that the position of individual upper and lower teeth relative to one or more orientation alignment markers is unique. Alignment of the relative positions of the upper and lower teeth to one or more orientation alignment markers may be used by the processor to determine alignment between the upper and lower arches.In some variations, the orientation alignment marker may comprise one or more 3D structures extending from the facial surfaces of the first and second alignment portions and the bridge portion, and / or one or more visual marks located on the facial surfaces of the first and second alignment portions and the bridge portion. Embodiments of the visual marks may include raised and / or recessed areas that are formed as oblique parallel patterns and / or semicircles and / or blocks and / or notches and / or vertical grooves or protrusions at locations known to each other.

[0099] The upper and lower surfaces of the first and second fitting portions may contact the incisal edges and / or occlusal surfaces of the upper and lower teeth when inserted into the user's oral cavity. Each of the first and second fitting portions may have side walls that are sized to reserve a fixed vertical offset between the upper and lower teeth. The upper and lower surfaces may consist of a flexible material configured to conform to the contours of the upper and lower teeth. In some modifications, the flexible material may consist of one or more of the following: rubber-like material, dental wax, dental impression material, gingival barrier material, and foam. The length of the bridge portion may have a curve that approximates the curve of the dental arch (e.g., either the upper or lower arch, the mean curvature of the upper and lower arches, the combined curvature of the upper and lower arches, etc.) and may consist of a flexible material. Optionally, the dental shim device may include a stabilizing structure configured to contact the first and second matching portions and to engage with the anatomical structures outside the wearer's oral cavity, such as the wearer's jaw, forehead, and / or cheek. Optionally, the shim may include one or more handles or mounting tabs that can be coupled to one or both of the bridge portion and / or matching portion to facilitate insertion of the shim into the user's oral cavity.

[0100] Another variation of a dental shim device, which may be used to position a user's teeth during the acquisition of oral geometric shape and / or aligned image data, may comprise an upper tray having a surface that contacts the upper teeth of the upper dental arch and an upper handle, and a lower tray having a surface that contacts the lower teeth of the lower dental arch and a lower handle, wherein the upper and lower handles may be configured to allow the user to easily grasp, insert, position, and remove the shim device. In one variation, the upper and lower trays may be fixed relative to each other with a predetermined vertical offset. Alternatively, some variations may comprise an adjustable occlusal joint that engages with the upper and lower trays, which may be configured to adjust the offset between the upper and lower trays. The adjustable occlusal joint may comprise a concave groove on the upper tray and a ball on the lower tray opposite the concave groove. The ball may be movable within a concave groove to adjust the offset and angle between the upper and lower trays. In some modifications, the concave groove may comprise one or more curves (e.g., conical or tapered) configured to engage with the ball in its position within the concave groove and to retain the offset and angle. The tooth contact surface of the upper tray may consist of a flexible material configured to conform to the contour of the upper teeth, and the tooth contact surface of the lower tray may consist of a flexible material configured to conform to the contour of the lower teeth. Embodiments of the flexible material may include one or more of rubber-like materials, dental wax, dental impression materials, gingival barrier materials, and foams. The trays of the shim device may be inserted into the user's oral cavity, and the user may be asked to close their jaws and bite down on the trays together. When bitten down, the distance between markers on the upper and lower handles may be measured, and the upper and lower teeth may leave impressions on the flexible material. After the tray is removed from the user's mouth, an external scanner may be used to obtain image data of the tooth contact surfaces of the upper and lower trays, and the flexible material may contain impressions of the upper and lower teeth.Images of dental impressions of flexible material may be used to generate a model of the user's oral cavity, including the teeth, gingival contours, and alignment between the teeth of the upper and lower arches, along with the offset and angle between the upper and lower trays, and the measured distance between the upper and lower handles. The kit may comprise one or more dental trays and / or dental shims for obtaining impressions of teeth in different areas of the user's oral cavity. For example, the kit may comprise a set of one or more dental trays containing flexible material, which can be used to obtain full impressions of the upper and lower teeth, and a set of one or more dental shims, which can be used to obtain impressions of the maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth (e.g., anterior teeth and / or premolars) at a specified offset. Multiple scans of impressions within the dental trays and / or dental shims may be combined to generate a model of the user's oral cavity. The processor may use this model to generate customized oral implants (e.g., with a customized arrangement of fluid nozzles) for any of the oral care systems described herein.

[0101] In some variations, the obtained image data of the user's oral geometry and alignment between the upper and lower arches may be photographic and / or video data. The image data may be obtained using internal scanning methods (e.g., using an intraoral scanner) and / or external scanning methods.

[0102] Figures 1A-1C are schematic depictions of the oral biostructure and tooth structure illustrating the oral region described herein. Figure 1A depicts a top view of the mandible or a set of mandibular teeth (140) (similar terms may be used to refer to the maxilla or maxillary teeth and structure). Each tooth (142) may have a facial surface (144), which is the area of ​​the tooth that contacts (or is closest to) the tongue, the cheek or lip and the lingual surface (146). The facial surface may be, for example, the buccal surface of a molar and the labial surface of an anterior tooth. The lingual surface may also be called the palatal surface for an anterior tooth. Molars may have an occlusal surface (148), and anterior teeth may have an incisal edge or surface (150). The occlusal (or incisal) surface is the area of ​​the tooth that assists in chewing and / or faces the occlusal (or incisal) surface of the opposing tooth. The tooth surface facing outward from the midline of the arch may be called the distal surface (152), while the tooth surface facing toward the midline of the arch (151) may be called the mesial surface (154). Figure 1B depicts a lateral view of a single tooth (142), which may have a long axis (156) that extends along the longest dimension of the tooth (142) and / or is approximately perpendicular to the occlusal surface (148) or incisal edge (150) of the tooth. The edge or boundary of the gum (e.g., gingiva, gingival tissue) along the tooth surface or closest to the occlusal surface or incisal edge of the tooth may be called the gingival margin (158). The gingival margin (158) may have one or more curves along the base of each tooth, and the radius of curvature and length of the gingival margin for each tooth may vary. The space or area (160) between the gingiva and the tooth surface may be called the gingival sulcus (160). Interdental gingiva (161) may be gingival tissue located between two adjacent teeth. Figure 1C depicts a lateral view of several teeth (142). The space or gap between each tooth (142) may be called the interdental space or gap (162), and may be defined by the mesial surface of one tooth and the distal surface of an adjacent tooth, or, in the case of central incisors, the mesial surfaces of two teeth. The left side of the user's oral cavity may be the area to the left of the interdental space between the two central incisors (for example, to the left of the midline of the arch), and the right side of the user's oral cavity may be the area to the right of the interdental space between the two central incisors (for example, to the right of the midline of the arch).The fluid nozzles of the oral implants disclosed herein are described as being positioned and / or directed to the interdental space between the user's teeth, but it should be understood that any of the fluid nozzles may be positioned and / or directed toward any anatomical region or structure of the user's oral cavity, including, but not limited to, the gingival margin, interdental gingiva, and / or the facial, occlusal, and lingual surfaces of the teeth. System Overview

[0103] One variation of a system for personalized oral care is depicted in Figure 1D. The system (100) may comprise a base station (102) having a fluid reservoir (103), a handle (104), and a customized oral instrument or mouthpiece (180) coupled to the handle (104). The oral instrument may comprise an upper and lower portion, which are sized and molded according to the user's oral cavity, a plurality of fluid nozzles located within the upper and lower portions, directed toward the interdental spaces between the user's teeth, and an outflow conduit located between the upper and lower portions, configured to guide fluid circulating in the user's oral cavity to the anterior or facial region of the user's oral cavity. One or more fluid conduits or tubes (181) may connect the fluid reservoir (103) to the handle (104), which has a fluid regulator for distributing fluid to the oral instrument (180). The system (100) may optionally include a charging station (101) for the handle (104). The handle (104) may have one or more control buttons (e.g., a start / stop button, a fluid flow adjustment dial, a vibration adjustment and / or activation dial) which may be positioned in various ways on the handle for ergonomic or efficient use. Alternatively, or in addition, one or more control buttons may be located on the base station (102). For example, the system may have one or more control buttons on the base and no control buttons on the handle. In other variations, the personalized oral care system may not have a handle at all and, instead, may have one or more fluid conduits or tubes that directly connect fluid from a base station reservoir to an oral insert. The fluid retained in the fluid reservoir of the customized oral care system may be water, saline solution, mouthwash or rinse (e.g., containing fluoride and / or antibacterial or other cleaning and / or tooth-protecting fluids), and / or any other desirable additives such as those described above.An oral implant may comprise a plurality of fluid nozzles, each having a fluid opening, arranged according to the unique geometry of the user's oral cavity, gingival geometry, and tooth structure (as well as any oral and / or dental device or implant). Embodiments of oral and / or dental devices or implants may include, but are not limited to, permanent and removable dental restorations / prostheses, orthodontic appliances, etc. (e.g., crowns, bridges, implants, braces, retainers, dentures, and equivalents). Each fluid opening and / or fluid nozzle may be positioned to target specific tooth features. In some modifications, the fluid openings and / or fluid nozzles may be located in recesses along the outer surface of the oral implant (e.g., the surface of the oral implant facing the teeth and gingiva). Within the internal portion of the oral implant, the fluid nozzles may be connected to one or more internal fluid manifolds. One fluid manifold may supply fluid (e.g., pressurized fluid) to one or more fluid nozzles. For example, the oral implant may comprise eight manifolds capable of supplying fluid to 64 fluid nozzles. The inlets of these manifolds may extend from the rear (e.g., lingual) region of the mouthpiece (or a location desirable for ergonomic and / or efficient use) in the form of a standardized connector to which a handle and / or one or more tubes may be connected. For example, the oral implant may comprise a plurality of fluid manifolds, each terminating at a manifold opening within a manifold connector. The handle (104) may comprise a mounting mechanism configured to engage releasably with the manifold connector of the oral implant. The mounting mechanism may comprise one or more sealing rings to facilitate a watertight engagement so that pressurized fluid from a fluid regulator can be transferred to the fluid manifold with little or no fluid leakage at the interface between the manifold connector and the fluid regulator.

[0104] In some variations, the oral implant may include a fluid outlet conduit, channel, or port that allows for the discharge of fluid introduced into the oral cavity via a fluid nozzle. The fluid outlet conduit may comprise a central port or channel and a plurality of lateral channels extending from various parts of the oral cavity to the central port and discharging fluid. Alternatively, the fluid outlet conduit may comprise a single central port or channel extending from the lingual portion of the oral cavity and discharging fluid. The curvature and placement of the fluid outlet conduit may be configured to direct the fluid accumulated toward the anterior portion of the oral cavity so that it can accumulate and discharge into and out of a sink or drain pipe.

[0105] Figure 1I depicts a modified example of an oral implant (180). The oral implant (180) may be made of a rigid material and may comprise an upper portion (182) having a tray configured to receive the user's upper teeth, a lower portion (184) having a tray configured to receive the user's lower teeth, a plurality of fluid nozzles (186) located within the upper and lower portions, and an outflow conduit (190) located between the upper and lower portions. The trays of the upper and lower portions may have one or more fitting features, which may include projections, slots, or recesses that receive and / or articulate with the user's teeth, gums, hard palate, soft palate, or other oral structures, and / or have contours corresponding to one or more teeth. These fitting features may help ensure that the oral implant is seated in the desired position in the user's mouth. In some modifications, one or more of the fluid nozzles (186) may be located in recesses or depressions (185) along the tooth and / or gingival-facing surfaces of the upper and lower trays. The recesses (185) and fluid nozzles (186) may be located in areas of the upper and lower trays corresponding to the interdental spaces between the user's teeth and / or in locations that allow the fluid nozzles to direct the fluid jet into the interdental spaces (e.g., not necessarily corresponding to the location of the interdental spaces). The recesses (185) may have a flared or tapered shape and / or one or more concave contours, and the fluid nozzle openings are located in the narrower portion of the recess. The width of the recess may increase as it extends outward from the fluid nozzle opening. The increased width of a flared recess may allow the fluid jet spray to expand without obstruction. In some modifications, the central axis of the flared recess may be aligned with the direction of the fluid jet. The outflow conduit (190) may extend between the rear and front regions of the oral insertion and may include a central port or channel (191) that may project forward in the front region as a spout or extension outlet (192) terminating at a fluid discharge opening (193). Alternatively, or in addition, the outflow conduit may include a first lateral fluid cavity or channel and a second lateral fluid cavity or channel.The lateral fluid cavities may be funnel-shaped within the central port, or each may have its own extensional nozzles with separate fluid discharge openings. The shape, dimensions, and surface contour of the outflow conduit may be configured according to the user's oral biostructure (e.g., size of the mouth, location of teeth, etc.) and may be configured to facilitate the dynamic efficiency of the fluid when discharging the fluid from the user's mouth. In some modifications, the fluid delivered to the user's mouth may be pressurized and / or delivered at a high fluid rate to effectively clean its teeth and / or loosen particles trapped in interdental spaces. Due to the increased rate and / or pressure of fluid flow into the oral cavity (i.e., fluid inflow), the outflow conduit of the oral implant may be sized and shaped to allow fluid discharge at the same rate as, or higher than, the fluid inflow rate. The oral implant (180) may also comprise one or more fluid manifolds, which may be a series of branched and / or networked internal fluid channels distributing fluid from the handle to individual fluid nozzles. The fluid manifold may terminate in a series of manifold openings within the manifold connector port (194) of the oral implant. In some modifications, the manifold connector may have one opening per fluid manifold, or one or more openings per fluid manifold. When the oral implant is connected to the handle, the fluid regulator component may be configured to fluidly engage with the manifold connector so that the fluid regulator controls the fluid flow into the manifold. Optionally, the fluid regulator in the handle may further comprise a manifold block having multiple fluid channels configured to align with the manifold openings in the manifold connector.

[0106] Some variations of a personalized oral care system may include a collection chamber configured to be attached to a fluid outflow conduit, channel, or port. One variation of a collection chamber, which may be included with any of the oral care systems described herein, is depicted in Figure 1E-1G. The collection chamber (107) may comprise a collection cavity (105), a liquid-tight cover (115) which may be removable across an opening in the chamber (i.e., in fluid communication with the collection cavity), and a fluid inlet port (111). The fluid inlet port (111) may project from the collection cavity and be sized and molded to extend into the outflow conduit or port (109) of the oral implant (106). Alternatively, the fluid inlet port may generally be in contact with the outer surface of the collection cavity (105). The fluid inlet port (111) may comprise one or more mechanical or structural elements configured to engage with the outflow port of the oral implant. For example, the inlet port may have a surface (e.g., a sticky surface, such as rubber) with an increased coefficient of friction for engaging with the oral insert by friction fitting. Alternatively, or in addition, the fluid inlet port of the collection chamber may have a threaded groove or projection that corresponds to a threaded projection or groove in the oral insert and engages via a threaded fit. Alternatively, or in addition, the fluid inlet port of the collection chamber may have one or more protruding edges or grooves that engage with a corresponding groove or protruding edge of the oral insert and are configured to engage via a snap fit. The collection chamber may also engage with the oral insert using a magnetic mechanism, in which magnetic components of opposite polarity are positioned at corresponding locations on the oral insert and the collection chamber. The volume of the collection cavity (105) may be about 5 mL to about 200 mL.

[0107] Figure 1F depicts the configuration of the collection chamber during sample collection, i.e., while the microbiome collection fluid is accumulating in the chamber. The cover (115) does not necessarily have to be positioned across the opening (i.e., the chamber is open to the atmosphere or ambient pressure), which may help facilitate the accumulation of the collection fluid and microbiome sample in the collection cavity. An optional sample stabilizing compound (117) may be located in the collection cavity (105) either before or after the microbiome sample is collected. Examples of stabilizing compounds may consist of sodium dodecyl sulfate glycine, N,N'-trans-1,2-cyclohexanediyrbis[N-(carboxymethyl)-, hydrate, lithium chloride, and / or other solutions. The collection chamber (107) may include a mounting structure (113), such as a one-way valve, located at the junction between the fluid inlet port (111) and the collection cavity (105), which allows the collection fluid to flow into the collection cavity but not out. After the desired sample volume has been collected, the collection chamber may be removed from the oral insert. Optionally, the fluid inlet port may be removed from the rest of the collection chamber, and / or the fluid inlet port may be removed from the outlet port. As depicted in Figure 1G, the cover (115) may then be secured across the opening of the collection chamber. The collection chamber may then be submitted for analysis of the microbiome contents.

[0108] Another variation of the system for personalized oral care is depicted in Figure 1H. The system (100') may comprise a base station (102') having a fluid reservoir (103'), a handle (104'), and a customized hybrid oral instrument or mouthpiece (106') coupled to the handle (104'). The hybrid oral instrument may comprise a rigid substrate (106a), such as one of the rigid substrates and elastomer substrates described herein, and an elastomer substrate (106b). One or more fluid conduits or tubes (not shown) may connect the fluid reservoir (103') to the handle (104') and to the hybrid oral instrument (106'). The system (100') may optionally comprise a charging station (101') for the handle (104'). The handle (104') may have one or more control buttons (e.g., a start / stop button, a fluid flow adjustment dial, a vibration adjustment and / or activation dial) which may be positioned in various ways on the handle for ergonomic or efficient use. Alternatively, or in addition, one or more control buttons may be located on the base station (102'). For example, the system may have one or more control buttons on the base and no control buttons on the handle. In other variations, the personalized oral care system may not have a handle at all and, instead, may have one or more fluid conduits or tubes that directly connect fluid from the base station reservoir to the oral insert. The fluid retained in the fluid reservoir of the customized oral care system may be water, saline solution, mouthwash or rinse (e.g., containing fluoride and / or antibacterial or other cleaning and / or tooth-protecting fluids), and / or any other desirable additives such as those described above. The rigid substrate (106a) of the customized hybrid oral implant may comprise a plurality of fluid nozzles having fluid openings, arranged according to the unique geometry of the user's oral cavity, gingival geometry, and tooth structure (as well as any oral and / or dental device or implant).Embodiments of oral and / or dental devices or implants may include, but are not limited to, permanent and removable dental restorations / prostheses, orthodontic appliances, etc. (e.g., crowns, bridges, implants, braces, retainers, dentures, and equivalents). Fluid openings and / or fluid nozzles may each be positioned to target specific tooth features. In some modifications, fluid openings and / or fluid nozzles may be located in recesses along the outer surface of the oral implant. Within the internal portion of a hybrid oral implant, the fluid nozzles may be connected to one or more internal fluid manifolds. The inlets of these manifolds may extend from the posterior (e.g., lingual) region (or a location desirable for ergonomic and / or efficient use) of the mouthpiece in the form of standardized connectors to which handles and / or one or more tubes may be connected. For example, an oral implant may comprise multiple fluid manifolds, each terminating at a manifold opening of a manifold connector. In some variations, a voluntary vibration mechanism may be located on the base station and / or handle and may be configured to impart mechanical motion to the hybrid oral implant (e.g., to the rigid substrate only, to the elastomer substrate only, or to both the rigid and elastomer substrates).

[0109] Alternatively, a system for personalized oral care may comprise a base station, a handle, and a hybrid oral implant coupled to the handle. The hybrid oral implant may comprise a rigid substrate, which is sized and molded according to the user's oral cavity and does not have any fluid nozzles, and an elastomer substrate attached to the rigid substrate. In this modification, the base station may not have a fluid reservoir. The elastomer substrate may optionally have textured surfaces and / or protrusions in areas of the elastomer substrate corresponding to the buccal and / or lingual and / or occlusal and / or incisal edge or surface of a tooth (e.g., mesial and / or distal surface of a tooth when the user is missing one or more teeth). Optionally, the base station and / or handle may include a vibration mechanism that can be configured to impart mechanical motion to the hybrid oral implant (e.g., to the rigid substrate only, to the elastomer substrate only, or to both the rigid and elastomer substrates).

[0110] The vibration mechanism may be enclosed within the handle housing and bonded to the textured surface of the elastomer substrate of the hybrid oral implant. Optionally, the elastomer substrate may be configured to vibrate and / or oscillate relative to the user's tooth surface, which may help remove surface debris and / or inhibit biofilm formation. The vibration mechanism may be contained within the handle and / or on the base station. Embodiments of the vibration mechanism include, but are not limited to, an electromagnetic motor, an eccentric rotating mass (ERM) motor, and / or a linear resonant actuator (LRA). In some modifications, the vibration mechanism may comprise two ERMs (e.g., a counter-rotating mass actuator) that rotate in opposite directions to provide the resulting net force in a set of directions (e.g., linear). The vibration motion may be random, linear, or rotational. The mechanical motion generated by the vibration mechanism may be transmitted to a rigid substrate, which then transmits the motion to the elastomer substrate. Alternatively, or in addition, the vibration mechanism may be directly coupled to the elastomer substrate so that the mechanical motion from the vibration mechanism causes corresponding oscillations or vibrations in the elastomer substrate. Alternatively, or in addition, the oscillations or vibrations of the elastomer substrate may be generated based on fluid flow motion from the handle to the rigid substrate, and / or fluid flow through the internal manifold of the rigid substrate, and / or fluid flow exiting from multiple fluid openings interacting with the textured portion of the elastomer substrate. For example, pulsating fluid flow may cause corresponding pulsating mechanical motion in the elastomer substrate. Alternatively, or in addition, the oscillations of the rigid or elastomer substrate may be generated manually (e.g., by the user) and induced by a standoff structure or other feature within the rigid or elastomer portion of the insert.

[0111] Figures 2A-2C are perspective exploded views of modified hybrid oral implants. The hybrid oral implant (200) may comprise a rigid substrate (202) and an elastomer substrate (204) configured to be attached to the rigid substrate (204). The rigid substrate (204) may comprise a plurality of fluid nozzles (206) with fluid openings (208), the plurality of fluid nozzles, along with the location of the fluid openings, an arrangement customized to the user's oral biostructure. The elastomer substrate (204) may comprise a plurality of openings (210) corresponding to each of the fluid openings (208) such that when the elastomer substrate is attached to the rigid substrate, the openings (210) are aligned with the fluid openings (208) in an unoccluded manner. The rigid substrate may comprise upper and lower portions / trays corresponding to the user's upper and lower teeth. The elastomer substrate may comprise upper and lower portions / trays corresponding to the upper and lower portions / trays of the rigid substrate. For example, as depicted in Figure 2B-2C, the convex region (212) of the elastomer substrate (204) fits into the concave region (214) of the rigid substrate (202). The elastomer substrate (204) may be positioned over at least a portion of the rigid substrate, which is sized and molded to accommodate the user's teeth. For example, the elastomer substrate may cover a large, if not the entire, portion of the rigid substrate such that the user's teeth and / or gums and / or the inner surface of the cheek are in substantial contact with the elastomer substrate, with little or no contact with the rigid substrate. The elastomer substrate positioned over the teeth, gums and / or the inner surface of the cheek can improve and enhance user comfort.

[0112] Optionally, any of the oral implants described herein may have an identification tag or chip that is paired with a corresponding handle and / or base station, which may have a tag or chip reader. The base station system controller may have a memory that stores a set of operating modes and / or settings (e.g., intensity flow setting, flow rate setting, fluid pulsation pattern, etc.) for each identification tag or chip. This may allow the user to set and store their preferred settings so that the oral care system can operate automatically with those settings when the mouthpiece is attached to the handle. In some modifications, the oral implant may have an NFC / RFID chip, and the handle may have an NFC / RFID chip reader, as further described below. Alternatively, or in addition, the oral implant may have an identification tag having distinctly different physical or mechanical properties, which can be detected or sensed by an identification tag reader in the handle, so that the base station can distinguish the first oral implant from the second oral implant. The identification tag may be located in close proximity to the mechanical interface between the manifold connector and / or the oral insert and the handle (e.g., installed by the user or placed during manufacturing), and the reader may be located within the handle such that the tag is positioned close enough to the reader so that its distinctly different physical and / or mechanical properties can be detected when the oral insert is attached to the handle. In some modifications, the tag and reader may be in contact with each other when the oral insert is attached to the handle. For example, the tag and / or reader may have electrical contacts or pins that allow the system to sense the electrical properties of the identification tag. Alternatively, the tag and reader may not be in contact with each other, and the reader may be able to sense the physical properties of the tag simply by being in close proximity. In some modifications, the identification tag may comprise a band (e.g., an elastic band) or adhesive patch with distinctly different optical properties, and the identification tag reader may be a color or light sensor within the handle.For example, the oral care system may have bands or patches of at least two colors (e.g., black and white) and / or two optical properties (e.g., reflective, non-reflective) that allow two users to share the base station and handle. Alternatively, or in addition, the identification tag may have a magnetic component having a specific polarity or orientation (e.g., north pole, south pole, or no polarity), and the identification tag reader may be a magnetic sensor. Alternatively, or in addition, the identification tag may have an inductive component having distinctly different inductive properties (e.g., different wire coils), and the identification tag reader may be an inductance sensor. Alternatively, or in addition, the identification tag may have a capacitive component having distinctly different capacitive properties (e.g., different dielectric constants), and the identification tag reader may be a capacitive sensor. Alternatively, or in addition, the identification tag may have a resistive component having distinctly different resistive properties (e.g., different resistance values, "short circuit" vs. "open circuit"), and the identification tag reader may be a current or voltage sensor. The oral care system may optionally include one or more of the above-described identification tags, and in some variations, the first user may select tags to attach to their individual oral implants to distinguish them from those of a second user. The identification tags may have a limited number of distinctly different physical or mechanical properties (e.g., two, three, four, five, six, seven, or eight) corresponding to the number of users sharing the same handle and base station. Oral implants

[0113] Figure 3A depicts one variation of an oral implant or mouthpiece. The oral implant may be made from a rigid material. Some variations of the oral care system may have only an oral implant made from a rigid substrate, while other variations may have a rigid oral implant and an elastomer or shape-conforming substrate (i.e., a hybrid oral implant). The oral implant (300) may have a channel or trough or groove or slot having one or more contours corresponding to one or more of the user's teeth. The contours may be shaped based on optical and / or digital impressions using an intraoral scanner or photograph (e.g., 3D intraoral scanning, 3D scanning of dental impressions), photograph, X-ray, physical impression, intraoral and extraoral X-ray, computed tomography including cone beam computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and equivalents. In some variations, the mouthpiece may not have contours corresponding to one or more teeth, but may have one or more fitting features to help facilitate correct and consistent placement and alignment of the mouthpiece in the mouth. For example, an oral implant or mouthpiece may have a channel or trough or groove or slot (302) defined by two lateral and bottom walls that are sized to fit around a tooth (for example, configured to contact the facial, lingual, and occlusal surfaces of the maxillary and / or mandibular teeth). The lateral and bottom walls may have smoothed surfaces and / or contours that may or may not correspond to the anatomical contours of one or more teeth. In some modifications, one or more matching features may be located within the trough to help seat a tooth within the trough. For example, the matching feature may have projections, slots, or recesses that receive and / or articulate with the user's teeth, gums, hard palate, soft palate, or other oral structures, and / or have contours that correspond to one or more teeth. These matching features may help ensure that the oral implant is seated in the desired position in the user's mouth.

[0114] The upper portion of the oral implant may include a trough (302) having a curve corresponding to the curve of the maxillary or mandibular teeth (i.e., teeth along the curve of the maxilla or mandible). For example, the maxillary (or mandibular) teeth may be located on the maxilla (or mandible) along the curve, and the curved trough of the oral implant may approximate that curve. Some variations of the oral implant may include a trough having a contour that matches the anatomical contour of the user's teeth, in which the inner wall of the trough (302) may have a smooth surface and / or contour or features associated with the size, shape, placement, and fit of the fluid opening or nozzle to the user's teeth. For example, a plurality of fluid nozzles (304) having fluid openings may be located within the trough, for example, along two side walls of the trough, to provide fluid flow to the facial and / or lingual surfaces of the teeth. The fluid opening or nozzle (304) may include a projection extending into the trough space, or it may be in close contact with the inner surface of the side wall of the trough, or recessed thereto. In some modifications, the fluid nozzle or opening may be located in a recess or depression along the surface of the trough. As will be further described below, the fluid opening or nozzle (304) may be located in customized locations to direct the fluid to a specific area of ​​the tooth. For example, some fluid openings or nozzles may be located facing the interdental space and / or along the gingival margin. In some modifications, the spacing or distance between the fluid openings or nozzles may correspond to the distance between the interdental spaces, or to the size and shape of the teeth. One or more fluid nozzles may be located offset from the location of the interdental space and / or gingival margin, but may be angled toward the interdental space so that the fluid injection axis can be directed toward the interdental space. The embodiments described herein have one or more fluid nozzles directed toward the interdental space, but it should be understood that one or more fluid nozzles are directed toward any of the anatomical regions described and depicted in Figures 1A-1C.

[0115] Some oral implants or mouthpieces may have a single trough for mating across either the maxillary or mandibular teeth, but in other modifications, the oral implant may have two opposing troughs, one of which adapts to the maxillary teeth and the other to the mandibular teeth (i.e., both the upper (maxillary) and lower (mandibular) teeth may be irrigated simultaneously or in series with a single mouthpiece). The oral implant (300) comprises a first trough (302a) (e.g., a lower trough) which may be configured to mating across the mandibular teeth, and a second trough (302b) (e.g., an upper trough) opposite the first trough which may be configured to mating across the maxillary teeth. A first set of fluid openings or nozzles may be located within a first trough (302a) to provide customized fluid flow to the mandibular teeth, and a second set of fluid openings or nozzles may be located within a second trough (302b) to provide customized fluid flow to the maxillary teeth. In some modifications, the fluid openings or nozzles may be provided only within the area of ​​the oral cavity where fluid irrigation or injection is desired. For example, some modifications may include separate mouthpieces, each providing fluid flow to a select subset of teeth. This may be useful for applications other than cleaning, such as targeted application of medications, whitening solutions, etc. Any of the fluid openings or nozzles described herein may be used in either or both troughs to provide customized fluid flow to each mandibular and maxillary tooth.

[0116] The oral implant (300) may also comprise a fluid outflow conduit (306). The fluid outflow conduit (306) may protrude from a portion of the oral implant, molded to conform to the user's teeth. The protruding portion (308) of the outflow conduit (306) may have curves and contours that can help facilitate the redirection of fluid within the oral cavity and direct it to exit the user's mouth into a sink or drain. The protruding portion (308) may be a central port, and the outflow conduit may comprise one or more lateral fluid cavities or channels (310) that accumulate fluid from various areas of the oral cavity and direct the fluid into the central port (308). For example, the outflow conduit (306) may comprise a first (left) lateral fluid cavity (310a) and a second (right) lateral fluid cavity (310b) that are in fluid communication with the central port (308). Alternatively, the fluid outflow conduit may comprise a single central channel or port extending between the posterior and anterior regions of the oral implant.

[0117] Oral implants or mouthpieces described herein may comprise multiple fluid openings or nozzles arranged based on the individual geometric shapes of the user's oral cavity and tooth structure. Customizing the position of the nozzles relative to the specific tooth structure may help enhance cleaning effectiveness. Cleaning effectiveness may be achieved by generating shear stresses exceeding a critical shear stress (i.e., shear stress threshold) at which biofilms or residues can be removed from the target surface or feature (e.g., tooth or gum structure). If the nozzles are not properly aligned with the user's tooth and / or gum structure, the fluid jets may be applied improperly to the tooth or gum structure, which may impair cleaning effectiveness and, in some cases, even push the residue into the gum pocket (instead of washing it out). The position of the nozzles within the nozzle array may be determined by identifying a tooth or gum feature targeted by one or more nozzles, oriented the nozzles so that the applied fluid jet travels across or toward the feature so that biofilm or residue on the feature is obstructed or removed, and positioning the nozzles in such a location that a shear stress threshold is overcome so that the fluid from the nozzles strikes the feature in a controlled manner (e.g., with a consistent flow or pulsating flow) and biofilm or residue can be removed from the target surface or feature (e.g., tooth or gum structure). In some modifications, the customized nozzle array may take into account any irregular tooth biostructure and / or orthodontic appliances, including supernumerary teeth, lost or unerupted teeth, fusion (two developing teeth merge into one, forming a groove that is usually prone to decay), twinning (a developing tooth splits into two, forming a groove that is usually prone to decay), partially erupted teeth, and a number of other formation or eruption problems that can result in irregular geometric shapes. Customized fluid openings or nozzle arrangements disclosed herein may be adapted to and clean excess surfaces, interdental regions, gingival margins, ridges, grooves, holes, and fissures that might otherwise be missed by a non-customized mouthpiece or device (i.e., a mouthpiece with fluid openings or nozzles not arranged based on the user's oral cavity and tooth structure).

[0118] The oral implants or mouthpieces described herein may also be adapted to changes in the geometric shape of teeth. For example, a user may have a broken or missing tooth and / or a new tooth or restoration. Some variations of the mouthpiece may include one or more shields that have curves and / or contours corresponding to the surface contour of one or more of the user's teeth. The shields may be mechanically fitted or chemically bonded into a space or cavity in the mouthpiece corresponding to a missing or broken tooth, and may extend from the mouthpiece to the gingival margin (e.g., several millimeters across the gingival margin). The shields may help prevent fluid jets intended for a missing or broken tooth from striking the recess where the tooth was previously located. The shields may also be used to shield particularly sensitive teeth or gums from fluid jets (e.g., due to caries, retained roots, partially erupted teeth, exposed roots, and / or after dental procedures), which may be desirable for user comfort.

[0119] While fluid openings or nozzles are described herein in relation to fluid inflow (i.e., introducing fluid into the oral cavity), it should be understood that one or more of the fluid openings or nozzles may be used for fluid discharge (e.g., guiding fluid out of the oral cavity and / or being coupled to an active discharge method such as suction or a vacuum chamber), as may be desirable.

[0120] The oral implant may comprise one or more internal fluid cavities or manifolds connected to a fluid nozzle. In some variations, the handle may comprise a pump and / or fluid regulator, both of which may be fluidly connected to a base station reservoir and sealed within the handle housing. In variations in which the oral implant comprises multiple manifolds, the handle's fluid regulator or fluid switching device assembly may multiplex and / or regulate the fluid flow in each of the manifolds. The handle may also comprise an electronic control panel and one or more user inputs or control buttons capable of communicating with the electronic control panel. The electronic control panel may receive and / or relay commands and regulate the fluid flow in the handle and to the mouthpiece.

[0121] The oral insert may be made of any material having rigidity and / or hardness that can adapt to and sustain fluid flow rates and pressures (fluid pressures from about 10 psi to about 150 psi) that promote the removal of debris from the interdental spaces and / or impede biofilm formation on the tooth surfaces. For example, the oral insert may be made of a material having a durometer value of from about 60 Shore A to about 100 Shore D. The oral insert or mouthpiece, including the rigid substrate of the hybrid oral insert described herein, may be manufactured using one or more 3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing) processes, including stereolithography apparatus (SLA), polymer jetting, power deposition, binder jetting, selective laser sintering (SLS), fused deposition modeling (FDM), fused filament fabrication (FFF), directed energy deposition (DED), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), selective laser melting (SLM), electron beam melting (EBM), laminated object manufacturing (LOM), rapid liquid printing (RLP), bioprinting, self-assembly printing (also known as 4D printing), digital light projection (DLP) methods, or hybrid systems utilizing various 3D printing processes. Manufacturing may also include hybrid processes that utilize 3D printing and robotics, 3D printing and conventional manual milling or computer numerical control (CNC) machining, or 3D printing and injection molding or overmolding. Manufacturing may also include systems for various hardnesses, flexibilities, colors, or textures, depending on the processes and materials used. Materials include Carbon MPU100, Whip Mix Surgical Guide, KeySplint Soft TM , 3D Systems TM VisiJet SLClear TM , 3D Systems TM Accura ClearVue TM , NextDent TM Model Clear TM , or Stratasys TM Med620 MThis may include UV-curable photopolymers, UV-curable ceramics, powder polymers, powder metals, powder alloys, powder ceramics, powder organic materials, filament-based plastics, filament-based metals, filament-based ceramics, filament-based organic materials, or various plastics, metals, ceramics, organic materials, or biological materials that are end-user specific or can be produced from the specific user's genetic data or cells as a base material, and can be grown in a laboratory environment.

[0122] The following describes embodiments of fluid nozzles and opening arrangements customized for specific tooth structures or features. It should be understood that while the position and / or orientation (e.g., angle) of the fluid openings or nozzles may be aligned to target a single tooth structure or feature, the position of the fluid openings or nozzles may be determined based on optimizing fluid flow and / or biofilm or residue removal from one or more tooth structures or features. Fluid nozzle

[0123] An oral implant and / or mouthpiece, including a rigid substrate of a hybrid oral implant, may comprise one or more fluid nozzles for removing biofilm or debris from the tooth surface (e.g., the contours of the occlusal, facial, lingual, mesial, and distal surfaces of the tooth). The fluid nozzle may comprise a channel and a fluid opening, the channel extending between the internal fluid manifold to provide fluid communication between the manifold and the fluid opening. In one variation, the fluid opening or nozzle for removing biofilm and / or debris from the tooth surface may be oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface and positioned within a predetermined distance from the tooth (e.g., about 0 mm to about 10 mm) (to overcome a shear stress threshold greater than about 0.014 psi across the target area). Alternatively, or in addition, the fluid opening or nozzle may be oriented at any angle with respect to the long axis of the tooth, such as 0° to about 90°, for example, about 0° to about 30° (for example, with respect to the third molar), about 35° to about 55°, about 45° to about 90°, or about 45°. The shape of the fluid opening of the nozzle may be any shape described herein (for example, as further described below and depicted in Figures 3C-3R).

[0124] Figures 3B-3R illustrate various fluid opening or nozzle shapes and geometric shapes that may be used in oral implants or mouthpieces, either alone or in combination with fluid openings of different shapes and sizes, as may be desirable. The fluid nozzle may comprise a channel or lumen extending between an internal manifold within the oral implant and a fluid opening that directs fluid toward the user's teeth. The channel or lumen may be molded as a cylinder, for example, with a length (L) as depicted in Figures 3B and 3G. in It may have a length (L) and a diameter (d). inThe diameter (d) may be approximately 20 mm to 20 mm, and the diameter (d) may be approximately 2 mm to 5 mm. The first end of the channel may be connected to an internal manifold, while the second end of the channel may terminate within a fluid opening having a size and shape that can be customized to the user's teeth. In some modifications, there may be a curved surface (S) positioned over at least a portion of the fluid opening. For example, the curved surface (S) may be defined as a hemisphere with a diameter d, or as an ellipsoid with one of its semi-axes having a length d / 2. In some modifications, the fluid opening may have a multi-fracted shape with N fissures, the fissures having an angular distribution (Φ1…Φ) as depicted in Figures 3C and 3H, for example. N-1 It has diameter (d) and groove angle (θ). groove Customization of the ), and groove offset (a) (and any other parameters of the nozzle) may facilitate the customization of the fluid flow profile according to the geometry of the oral features (e.g., facial, lingual, and / or occlusal surfaces, and / or interdental spaces and / or gingival margins) of any individual tooth or group of teeth to be irrigated or cleaned.

[0125] Figures 3B-3F illustrate modified fluid nozzles having fluid openings with a three- or triple-fracture configuration. Figure 3B-3D illustrates a modified nozzle with a fluid opening (310) having first, second, and third fissures (312a, 312b, 312c) arranged in a radially symmetrical manner (i.e., with an angular distribution of Φ1 = 120°, Φ2 = 120°). The fluid opening (310) has a length L as described above. inand may be located at one end of the channel or lumen (314), which may have a diameter d. The three-fracture or triple-fracture shape may be referred to as a Y-shaped nozzle. In the modification shown in Figures 3B-3D, the Y-shaped nozzle may comprise three V-grooves (311) which generate a three-fracture shape of the fluid opening and also generate a curved surface (S) positioned over at least a portion of the fluid opening (310). The Y-shaped nozzle may generate a fan-shaped sheet spray of the triple-fracture. Optionally, the fluid may also flow along the channel or groove generated by the V-grooves. Figures 3E-3F depict a modification of a fluid opening (316) which has three fissures similar to the opening (310), but with a V-groove (317) that is shorter than the V-grooves (311). The fissures of the fluid openings (310) and (316) may be wider than they are longer.

[0126] Figures 3G-3L illustrate modified fluid openings with a two-slit or double-slit shape. Figure 3G-3I illustrates a modified nozzle with a fluid opening (330) having first and second slits (332a, 332b) arranged in a symmetrical manner (i.e., with an angular distribution of Φ1 = 120°). The fluid opening (330) has a length L as described above. in and may be located at one end of a channel or lumen (334) which may have a diameter d. A 2-slit or double-slit shape may be referred to as a V-shaped nozzle. In the modification shown in Figures 3G-3I, the V-shaped nozzle may comprise two V-grooves (331) which generate a 2-slit shape of the fluid opening and may also generate a curved surface (S) which is positioned over at least a portion of the fluid opening (330). A V-flat nozzle contains two V-grooves which generate a fan-shaped sheet spray of a double slit. Optionally, the fluid may also flow along the channel or groove created by the V-grooves. Figures 3J-3L depict other modifications of a 2-slit or V-shaped fluid opening or nozzle. Figure 3J-3L illustrates a modified fluid opening (336) having two fissures similar to the opening (330), but with a V-groove (337) that is shorter than the V-groove (331). The fissures of the fluid openings (330) and (336) may have widths similar to (or greater than) their lengths.

[0127] Figure 3M-3R has a three-crack or triple-crack shape, but the angle Φ lobe θ grooveFigure 3M depicts additional variations of the fluid opening or nozzle with varying values ​​with respect to the width and diameter (d). These variations may be selected from a design library and adjusted to match the oral characteristics of individual users and / or may help increase the shear stress targeting range across the target area or surface of the teeth. Figure 3M depicts one variation of a fluid opening with three radially symmetrical ribs, where the rib width may be substantially constant as the ribs extend outward and may have curved rib ends. Figure 3N depicts another variation of a fluid opening with three radially symmetrical ribs, where the rib width may taper or narrow as the ribs extend outward and may have pointed rib ends. The rib length may be about 1.5 to about 2.5 times the rib width. Figure 3O depicts one variation of a fluid opening with three radially symmetrical fissures, where the width of the fissures may taper or narrow as the fissures extend outward, and may have pointed fissure ends. The length of the fissures may be about 3 to about 5 times the width of the fissures. Figure 3P depicts one variation of a fluid opening with three fissures, where two of the fissures are about 180° from each other and the third fissure is about 90° from the other two fissures (e.g., forming a T-shape). The third fissure may have a length greater than or equal to the lengths of the first and second fissures. Figure 3Q depicts one variation of a fluid opening with three fissures arranged similarly to the fluid opening in Figure 3P (i.e., forming a T-shape), however, the width of the fissures may taper or narrow as the fissures extend outward, and may have pointed fissure ends. The length of the fissure may be approximately 1.5 to 2.5 times the width of the fissure. Figure 3R depicts one modification of a fluid opening with three fissures arranged similarly to the fluid opening in Figure 3P (i.e., T-shaped), where the width of the fissures may taper or narrow as the fissures extend outward, and may have pointed fissure ends. The length of the fissures may be approximately 3 to 5 times the width of the fissures. The fluid opening or nozzle in Figures 3M-3R is depicted as having a V-groove, but it should be noted that in other modifications, the V-groove may not be present.While a particular design or manufacturing method is described herein as an example of generating a fluid opening with a specific shape, it should be understood that any design or manufacturing method, such as extrusion techniques, any 3D printing techniques, and / or laser cutting techniques, may be used as desired.

[0128] Figure 3S depicts another front view of the fluid opening (hereinafter referred to as “fluid opening” or “fluid nozzle”) shown in Figures 3G-3I, having a bifurcated or double-fracted shape, and Figure 3T depicts a front view of another modification of the bifurcated or double-fracted fluid nozzle having a flat-edge design. The fluid opening in Figure 3S depicts a central V-groove (338) at the apex of the fluid nozzle, while Figure 3T depicts a V-shaped flat edge (338a) at the apex of the fluid nozzle between two ribs (332a and 332b) and a cut flat edge (339a) instead of a V-groove (339). The V-shaped flat edge (338a) may have an inwardly curved contour that overlaps the apex of the fluid nozzle. The V-shaped rim (338a) may also have a curve added to the fluid nozzle (330) such that the shape of the fluid nozzle is more rounded than that of the fluid nozzle (330) in Figure 3S. For example, the lateral split of the nozzle in Figure 3T may have a greater radius of curvature than the lateral split of the nozzle in Figure 3S. The cut rim (339a) may similarly have a curved contour that curves inward along the external division of the fluid nozzle. The rimmed fluid nozzle may further promote smoother, directed fluid flow and / or provide a wider fluid jet. The curve of the rimmed fluid opening may reduce or limit fluid turbulence caused by multidirectional fluid flow, particularly when the user's mouth is nearly completely filled with fluid during a cleaning cycle.

[0129] Figure 3U depicts a partial perspective view of an oral implant, illustrating a plurality of recesses (340) along the outer surface of the oral implant (380), each containing a fluid nozzle (330) located within the recess (340). The shape of each recess (340) within the oral implant may be determined at least in part on a simulated approximation of the diffusion of fluid jets from the nozzles, which may be represented by a gap volume (345). The shape of the recesses (340) can then be configured to provide an unobstructed flow of fluid from each fluid nozzle (330). As shown, the recesses (340) may have a substantially circular, oval, conical, or ellipsoidal shape. Figure 3U also shows that each recess (340) may have a first end (341a) at the opening of a fluid nozzle (330) located within the recess, and the recess may extend between the first end (341a) and the opening along the outer surface of the oral implant, which is referred to herein as a second end (341b). The second end (341b) may be coplanar with the outer surface (380a) of the oral implant (380) so that the second end (341b) is consistent with the curvature of the outer surface (380a), while the first end (341a) may be recessed within the inner surface of the oral implant. In addition, the recess (340) may have one or more concave contours such that the inner surface of the recess is curved inward. The recess may have a flared shape such that the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening along the outer surface (i.e., the second end 341b) exceeds the cross-sectional area of ​​the fluid nozzle opening (i.e., the first end 341a). In addition, the first end (341a) may have a circular shape, while the opening along the outer surface may have an ellipsoidal shape.

[0130] Figure 3V depicts a front view of a fluid nozzle within a recess. As shown in the embodiment, the first end (341a) and the second end (341b) of the recess may face and align with each other (as shown in Figure 3U). However, as shown in Figure 3V, the circular ends may not be concentric when viewed from the front view perspective. It should be understood that the first end (341a) and the second end (341b) may be provided as concentric circles, which may be desirable, for example, to better suit the user's biological structure.

[0131] Figure 3W depicts a rear-top perspective view of one modified oral implant. In this embodiment, the fluid nozzle (330) may be located on a projection (333) extending from the outer surface (380a).

[0132] It should also be understood that the fluid opening may be recessed within the surface or provided along the outer surface of the oral implant without protruding from the surface. That is, the fluid opening (330) may be coplanar with the outer surface (380a) of the oral implant (380).

[0133] The rigid substrate of a hybrid oral implant or rigid mouthpiece may comprise one or more of the fluid nozzles described above, with various shapes for addressing and cleaning different areas of the teeth. Any combination of the fluid nozzles described herein may be combined with any number of oral implants or mouthpieces (for example, in the same or different troughs of a mouthpiece) as may be desirable. Fluid manifold

[0134] As described above, an oral instrument or mouthpiece may have one or more fluid manifolds within the internal part of the oral instrument, fluid-connected to a plurality of fluid nozzles. Each individual manifold may regulate the fluid flow to a set of nozzles, and may regulate the fluid flow to those nozzles separately from the fluid flow to different sets of nozzles (which may be connected to different manifolds). In some modifications, one or more manifolds in a mouthpiece may be connected to a single fluid inlet (e.g., via a conduit from a handle or base station reservoir). The manifold may facilitate fluid inflow or outflow as may be desirable. One or more nozzles may be configured to release fluid into the oral cavity when the pressure in the manifold exceeds a threshold fluid pressure. These release nozzles may have larger openings than non-release nozzles and may be positioned to simply irrigate the oral cavity while mitigating excessive manifold pressure. In some modifications, the fluid nozzles may distribute across a customizable number of manifolds within the oral instrument or mouthpiece to accommodate different sized mouths and to control the amount of fluid flowing into the mouth at the same time. In some variations, the base station may direct fluid into each manifold in stages during the cleaning cycle. One or more fluid manifolds within the internal portion of the oral implant may terminate at a series of manifold openings within the manifold connector port of the oral implant.

[0135] A customized mouthpiece may include, for example, an embedded RFID / NFC chip or any similar identification technology (e.g., a 1-WIRE ID(R) chip) that communicates the number of manifolds present within the mouthpiece to a reader located in the base station and / or the distal part of the handle. This may only allow the base station to direct fluid into the existing manifolds. The base station may direct a constant or pulsating (e.g., approximately 1 Hz to approximately 25 Hz) but user-adjustable fluid into each manifold of the mouthpiece. For example, control buttons on the handle and / or base station may allow the user to adjust the fluid pressure to a comfortable level. The fluid pressure may also be reduced for pediatric mouthpieces or for those with orthodontic appliances. An NFC / RFID chip in the mouthpiece may store patient-specific data (e.g., frequency of product use, and / or past, present, or future operating setting data) which can be transmitted to an NFC / RFID reader in the base station and / or handle. Optionally, the base station (e.g., a system controller within the base station) may recommend a fluid flow mode based on patient-specific data (e.g., age, size, preferred fluid flow parameters, compliance metrics, usage metrics, etc.). For example, the system controller within the base station may adjust or modify the fluid flow from the reservoir to the oral implant. In some variations, the NFC / RFID chip may include rewritable and / or non-rewritable memory (e.g., OTPROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or flash memory) which may be used to store mode and / or setting information for a particular user. In some variations, this information may be modified or rewritten at the end of each use, thus providing an up-to-date record of the most recently used mode and / or setting. This NFC / RFID chip may also be used to track and store product usage information such as unique patient identification information, mouthpiece serial number and production date, and / or the number of treatments performed.Since this information is contained within the oral implant, the implant may then be used with any other compatible base station of a similar oral care system. This may enhance the portability of the oral implant. By storing the user's preferred settings in an NFC / RFID chip, the user may only need to carry the oral implant (i.e., not the entire system) when traveling or on vacation. In some modifications, the base station may automatically adjust the fluid pressure according to the individual's mouth size, the number of manifolds in its unique mouthpiece, the size and shape of the manifolds, and their equivalents. Alternatively, or in addition, the oral implant or mouthpiece may be equipped with one of the identification tags or chips described above, accompanied by a handle and / or a corresponding reader in the base station. Fluid outflow conduit for oral implants

[0136] In some variations, the oral implant may include a fluid outflow conduit. Figures 4A–4D depict one variation of an oral implant (400) comprising a fluid outflow conduit (402) configured to direct fluid from a posterior region (404) of the oral implant (which would be seated in the posterior or lingual region of the oral cavity) to an anterior region (408) of the oral implant (which would be located in the anterior or facial region of the oral cavity). It should be understood that the oral implant (400) may be made from a rigid material and may be used with or without optional shape conformity and / or elastomer substrate. The outflow conduit (402) may comprise a central channel (410) and two lateral channels (412a, 412b) that fluid-communicate with the central channel (410). Alternatively, the fluid outflow conduit may comprise a single central channel or port extending between the posterior region (404) and the anterior region (408) of the oral implant (400). The central channel (410) may include a forward projection (414) extending from a curved trough region (416) of the oral implant, which is configured to receive the user's teeth. In some modifications, the entire central channel (410) may project from the trough region (416). The central channel may be U-shaped such that each side of the U-shape communicates with one of the lateral channels (412a, 412b). The inner wall of the central channel (410) may have one or more center-oriented curves to merge fluid flow toward the midline or center of the mouthpiece. In some modifications, the cross-sectional shape of the outflow conduit may be elongated with a relatively low height-to-width ratio so as not to require the user to open their mouth uncomfortably to insert the mouthpiece, while having a cross-sectional fluid flow area sufficient to allow for the discharge of relatively large fluid inflows during oral cleaning sessions.

[0137] In one modification, the lateral fluid cavity may comprise regions of various sizes and geometric shapes. For example, each lateral fluid cavity or channel (412a, 412b) may comprise a post-sweep section (426a, 426b) having a substantially constant cross-sectional geometry and a pre-lofted section (428a, 428b) having a cross-sectional geometry that gradually increases in size toward the anterior region of the oral implant. For example, the width of the pre-lofted section (428a, 428b) may gradually increase toward the anterior region of the oral implant. The pre-lofted section may also comprise a centrally directed contour (430a, 430b) for directing fluid flow toward the central channel (410). Figure 4B depicts a side view of the oral implant of Figure 4A. The fluid outflow conduit (402) is located between the upper (maxillary) and lower (mandibular) portions of the oral implant. This can facilitate the discharge of fluid from the fluid nozzles in the upper and lower portions of the oral implant into the lateral fluid channels of the outflow conduit. The overall height of the outflow conduit (402) increases from the rear region (404) to the front region (408) as the fluid flow is directed toward or combined with the central channel (410) inside it.

[0138] The central channel (410) may terminate at the anterior opening (420), and the lateral or lateral fluid cavities or channels (412a, 412b) may each connect to the posterior opening (422a, 422b). The surface of the oral implant around the anterior and / or posterior openings may have one or more concave or convex contours. For example, as depicted in Figures 4A and 4C, the periphery of the posterior openings (422a, 422b) may have one or more concave and / or convex contours that can help facilitate or reduce the fluid pressure gradient (e.g., pressure drop) as the fluid flows from the posterior oral region into the posterior opening of the oral implant. In some modifications, the periphery of the posterior opening may be curved, and the curved periphery (424a, 424b) may facilitate the flow of fluid into the lateral fluid cavities or channels. The shape of the rear openings (422a, 422b) may also be selected to facilitate fluid flow into the lateral fluid cavities or channels. Figure 4D illustrates a cross-sectional view of one modified example of the rear opening (422). The rear opening (422) has a tapered shape in which the region with the maximum width (W1) is located toward the center of the oral implant, and the region with the minimum width (W2) is located laterally.

[0139] Figures 4E-4G depict three top and rear views of other modifications of parts of a fluid outlet conduit (402a, 402b, 403c), each having a channel for fluid flow. The fluid outlet conduit, also referred to herein as a fluid outlet port, includes channels. For visual clarity, only the side channels (412a, 412b) and the central channel (410) are shown in Figure 4E-4G. However, it should be understood that the channels shown herein may be integrated with other parts of the fluid outlet conduit, for example, as shown in Figures 4I-4N, which will be described in more detail later.

[0140] As described above, the fluid outflow conduit may include lateral channels (412a, 412b) that merge together at the front (404) to form a central channel (410). The lateral channels may be provided within a broad arch (Figure 4E) or a narrow arch (Figures 4F, 4G), which may be more clearly visible in the rear view shown in Figure 4H. Figure 4H depicts a broad arch channel configuration (402a) and a narrow arch channel configuration (402b).

[0141] It should be understood that the width and shape of the fluid outflow channel can be customized to better fit the biostructure of the user's teeth, or the size, shape, and width of the fluid outflow port can be selected from a pre-determined library of widths to best suit the user, or to promote a desired fluid flow rate, such as facilitating the rapid discharge of fluid from the user's mouth or more efficiently directing the fluid into the collection chamber.

[0142] Figures 4I-4K depict side views of modified fluid outflow conduits (402a, 402b, 402c) having various top and bottom outer surface curvatures. Again, as in the fluid outflow conduit depicted in Figures 4E-FH, the fluid outflow conduit may be configured to direct fluid from the anterior region (404) of the oral implant to the posterior region (408) of the implant. The fluid may then exit through the anterior port (420). The fluid outflow conduit may include several surfaces for sealing the user's lips to the conduit so that a tight seal is formed and the fluid does not overflow from the user's mouth during use of the oral care system. For example, the surface curvature may narrow towards the sides or be tapered, which will be sealed by the sides of the user's lips, which may be closer together with the lips at the front of the user's face, and the surface curvature may be more rounded than the lateral curvature. The surface may also include grooves or a number of grooves to more closely conform to the contour of the user's lips so that the user's lips maintain continuous (or nearly continuous) contact with the surface of the oral implant. The conduit may include, for example, an upper lip sealing surface (441), a side lip sealing surface (442), and a lower lip sealing surface (443). These surfaces may be provided with various curvatures and contours configured to follow the biological structure of the user's lips so that the user can easily and comfortably seal their lips around the conduit without spilling fluid during use. Variations of these surfaces are illustrated, for example, in Figure 4I-4K.

[0143] Figure 4J depicts an upper lip seal surface (441) having curvature from the top of the conduit to the anterior port (420). In some embodiments, the upper lip seal surface may include a more rounded area toward the center of the surface compared to the sides of the upper lip seal surface, to better conform to the biostructure of the user's lips. Similarly, the lower lip seal surface may include a less rounded area toward the center of the surface compared to the sides of the lower lip seal surface, to better conform to the biostructure of the user's lips. The conduit may also include a downward curvature (444) of the anterior port, which may assist in fluid flow discharge from the conduit or, for example, assist in the user grasping the conduit. Also shown is a plane provided at the lower lip seal surface (443) that may provide a more effective or comfortable seal for mating to the biostructure of a user's face.

[0144] Figure 4K depicts a conduit having a continuous contour from the upper lip seal surface (441) to the anterior port (420) and a plane provided at the lower lip seal surface (443). Again, these various curvatures and contours may provide a more effective, comfortable, or tight seal for mating with the biostructure of the user's face.

[0145] Figures 4L-4N depict top views of modified fluid outlet conduits (402d, 402e, 402f) having various lateral curvatures, configured to provide a secure seal between the user's lip and the fluid outlet conduit. The lateral curvature may be provided on the side lip sealing surface of the conduit, or on the left and right sides of the conduit.

[0146] Figure 4L depicts a conduit (402d) having slightly rounded side lip sealing surfaces (442d). These surfaces may therefore have a slightly convex shape. Figure 4M depicts a conduit (402e) having a substantially straight surface (442e) from the front region to the rear region of the conduit. Figure 4N depicts a conduit (402f) having a side lip sealing surface (442f) that is curved inward toward the interior of the conduit. These surfaces may therefore have a concave shape.

[0147] It should be understood that the various top and bottom curvatures and contours of the fluid outflow conduit depicted in Figures 4I-4K can be combined with the side curvatures and contours depicted in Figures 4L-4N in any combination that may be desirable to best suit the user's biostructure or to facilitate desirable or efficient fluid flow. It should also be understood that other suitable shapes, curvatures, or contours may be provided on various surfaces of the conduit used to seal the user's lips to the conduit. The selection of side lip seals, top lip seals, and bottom lip seal surfaces can generally facilitate efficient fluid flow from the conduit while providing the user with comfort and a tight seal. Oral implant / handle mounting mechanism and locking mechanism

[0148] The oral care systems described herein may also include a fastening or mounting mechanism for removably coupling a mouthpiece (i.e., an oral implant) and a handle together. The oral implant and the handle may be coupled or mounted together in a variety of ways. For example, the handle may include a mounting mechanism configured to removably hold the oral implant. The mounting mechanism may facilitate ease of attachment and removal so that various oral implants can be used together, for example, with the same handle. To facilitate the removable coupling of the oral implant and the handle, the oral care system may include a mounting mechanism having an implant portion and a handle portion, wherein the implant portion is configured to engage with and lock into the handle portion. The lock may then be released to separate the implant portion and the handle portion.

[0149] The mounting mechanism may be provided as a removablely coupled portion. These portions may be a female portion and a male portion, the male portion including at least a projection, and the female portion including a cavity, recess, or groove configured to receive and retain the projection of the male portion. In some modifications, the male portion includes any element received by the female portion. In some modifications, the oral insertion portion may be provided as the female portion of the mounting mechanism, and the handle portion may be provided as the male portion of the mounting mechanism. In some modifications, the oral insertion portion may be provided as the male portion of the mounting mechanism, and the handle portion may be provided as the female portion of the mounting mechanism.

[0150] The mounting mechanism may be connected to the handle and the oral insert using a variety of suitable mechanisms, such as welding, adhesive, screws, heat riveting, snap fittings, rivets, ultrasonic welding, interlocking fits, radial or axial pins, push nuts, nut and bolt engagements, and / or equivalents. In another embodiment, the handle and / or oral insert may be constructed to be integral with the mounting mechanism.

[0151] Figures 11A and 11B depict, respectively, variations of corresponding male (1101) and female (1102) parts for an oral insert / handle mounting mechanism using a push-button release. The push-button mounting mechanism can facilitate quick connection and disengagement by the user by requiring the pressing of a button (1103) to attach and detach the male and female parts. The push-button mounting mechanism can allow the inclusion of one or more radial seals (1104) to hold both parts together more securely, preventing, for example, fluid from entering the inside of the handle and / or leaking out of the handle.

[0152] Figure 11C depicts side views of other variations of the corresponding female (1105) and male (1106) portions for an oral implant / handle mounting mechanism using a sliding latch release, respectively. Figures 11D-11E depict perspective views of the female (1105) and male (1106) portions of the sliding latch release mounting mechanism, respectively. Figure 11F depicts a front view of the female (1105) portion of the sliding latch release mounting mechanism. The male (1106) portion may include a projection (1113a) that can be received by the female portion (as best seen in Figure 11D). The female (1105) portion may further include a hole (1113b) together with a sliding latch (1107) which may include a receiving slot (1113c) for more securely fastening the projection (1113a) of the male portion. In the diagram shown in Figure 11D, the sliding latch (1107) may move up and down to engage with the lock (1109). The edge of the sliding latch (1107) may engage with a groove (1108) in the meshing portion to lock the two portions together. In an embodiment, the lock (1109) may include a spring-loaded locking pin for engagement with a male portion (1106), which may include a locking engagement groove (1110). Both the female (1105) and male (1106) portions may include threads (1115) for attaching each portion to either an oral insert or a handle, for example. The spring-loaded locking pin may also be automatically activated via the axial movement of the two portions relative to each other (initiating the movement and subsequent locking of the latch into the groove on the male side), and the face of the male portion (1106) pushes down the pin, releasing the sliding latch so that the portions can slide in the groove as they are joined together.

[0153] Figure 11G depicts an exploded view of another modification of the corresponding female (1105a) and male (1106a) parts for an oral insertion / handle mounting mechanism using a hose quick-connect or sleeve latch mount. The hose quick-connect or sleeve latch mount may also allow the use of one or more radial seals (1104), as described above. The mounting mechanism may operate in a variety of ways. In one modification, the ring (1116) on the female part (1105a) may be manually retracted horizontally or laterally by hand, the male part (1106a) may be inserted into the female part, and the ring (1116) may be released to lock both parts together by returning the ring to its original position so that it fits across and engages with the groove (1110a) on the male part. To disconnect the two parts, the ring may be retracted from the groove (1110a). In another modification, the male portion (1105b) may be coupled to the female portion without the engagement of a ring. The latch may occur automatically from the insertion of the male portion (1106a) into the female portion (1105a), for example, by the engagement of the groove (1110a) of the male portion with the inner wall (1117) of the female portion, which can create a seal with the inserted male portion. In this modification, the release of the male portion from the female portion can be performed in any preferred manner, such as by pressing a release button or pulling back a collar. The release button may, for example, cause the male portion to move laterally from the female portion, disengaging the groove (1110a) from the female portion. Pulling back the collar may also, for example, move the female portion laterally from the groove (1110a).

[0154] Figure 11H depicts an exploded view of another modification of the corresponding female (1105b) and male (1106b) parts for an oral implant / handle mounting mechanism using a "bayonet-type" lock. In one modification, one part, such as the male part (1106b), includes two or more protruding pins (1111), and a second part, such as the female part (1105b), includes a rotating ring (1116a), referred to as a ring or collar, having at least the same number of receiving grooves and protruding pins. The receiving groove (1112) may be substantially L-shaped, having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. Once the pins are inserted into the grooves, the collar can be rotated either automatically or manually using a spring or equivalent. The grooves may also include notches, such as at the ends of the L-shaped horizontal portion of the groove, to assist in retaining the pins. A responsive mechanism, which may include a spring such as a torsion spring or an axial spring, may be included for the operation of the bayonet-type lock. A torsion spring may act to rotate the collar (1116a) over the pin (1111), and an axial spring may act by pulling the collar (1116a) downward relative to the pin so that it is firmly held in place in the receiving groove (1112). The release of the bayonet lock can be achieved by rotating the collar (1116a) so that the pin (1111) aligns with the vertical portion of the groove (1112), and thus the male portion (1106b) can be removed axially.

[0155] It should be understood that the female and male side portions described above may be used for either the oral insert side or the handle side portion of the mounting mechanism. It should also be understood that while the oral insert and handle may be provided as removablely coupled parts, they may also be provided as permanently locked parts. In a permanent locking arrangement, the use of the oral care system may be simplified for some users so that parts of the system do not require assembly, coupling, or removal and reattachment prior to use. A permanent locking arrangement may be provided such that the oral insert can first be mounted within the handle portion, and the two portions can then permanently interlock or lock together.

[0156] In some variations, the mounting mechanism for releasably attaching an oral instrument or mouthpiece to the handle may include one or more springs configured to securely engage the oral instrument with the handle. In addition to facilitating engagement between the oral instrument and the handle, one or more springs may also be configured to help provide a watertight engagement between the fluid switching device assembly and the manifold connector of the oral instrument. One variation of the oral instrument-handle mounting mechanism is schematically depicted in Figure 17. The oral instrument or mouthpiece (1700) may include a manifold connector (1702) and one or more pins (1704) positioned around the outer circumference of the manifold connector (1702). For example, there may be two pins (1704) protruding from the outer circumference of the manifold connector (1702), which may be positioned radially opposite to each other. The pins on the manifold connector of the oral instrument may comprise the male portion of the mounting mechanism. Optionally, a seal or gasket (1701) may be present, located adjacent to the manifold opening (1703) of the manifold connector and around the outer circumference of the manifold connector. The mounting mechanism on the handle (1706) may include a recess (1708) sized and molded to hold the manifold connector (1702), one or more vertical grooves (not shown) within the wall of the recess (1708) at locations corresponding to the locations of one or more pins (1704), and a horizontal groove (1710) intersecting the bottom of the vertical groove. The recess (1708) and the vertical and horizontal grooves may comprise the female portion of the mounting mechanism. The oral insertion may be releasably engaged with the handle by aligning the pin (1704) with the vertical groove of the recess (1708), sliding the pin along the vertical groove until the pin reaches the intersection of the vertical and horizontal grooves, thereby pushing the manifold connector (1702) into the recess (1708), and then twisting the manifold connector (1702) so that the pin slides along the horizontal groove (1710) so that the pin moves away from the vertical groove until the pin reaches a stop (for example, which limits further horizontal or twisting movement).When the oral insert is engaged with the handle, the manifold opening (1703) may align with the opening of the manifold block of the handle fluid switching device assembly, or, as in the modified example depicted in Figure 17, the manifold opening (1703) may contact the rotor (1712) of the handle fluid switching device assembly. As further described below, the rotor (1712) may have one or more fluid openings configured to align continuously with the manifold opening (1703) of the manifold connector as it rotates. In some modifications, the fluid switching device assembly may include a spring (1714) positioned around the shaft of the rotor (1712). In the modified example in Figure 17, the rotor is a plate rotor mounted on a vertical shaft. The spring (1714) may be positioned between the plate of the rotor and a rotatable bearing (not shown) that allows the spring (1714) to rotate with the rotor. When the oral insert is engaged with the handle, the manifold connector is pushed against the spring (1714), i.e., compressed with a downward force. The spring exerts an opposite force, i.e., an upward force, indicated by the arrow (1715), which presses the pin (1704) against the wall of the horizontal groove (1710). This spring force may also fix the oral insert in place within the recess of the handle. One or more seals or gaskets (1713) may be located on the edge or surface of the manifold opening (1703) and / or the fluid opening of the rotor (1712), and the upward spring force may help increase the contact pressure along the seal surface. This may help maintain a watertight seal between the oral insert and the handle. In this modification, the upward force of the spring (1714) may facilitate secure engagement of the oral insert to the handle and reinforce the watertight interface between the rotor and the manifold connector.

[0157] When the oral insert is removed from the handle (for example, by twisting the oral insert until the pin aligns with the vertical groove, and then sliding the pin along the vertical groove away from the horizontal groove to withdraw the oral insert), the spring (1714) may press the plate upward. In some modifications, the recess (1708) may include a projection (1716) along the inner surface of the recess that limits the upward movement of the plate when there is no oral insert. Optionally, a portion of the recess below the projection (1716) may have an increased coefficient of friction so that the rotation of the rotor may be hindered when the handle is not attached to an oral insert. Fluid switching device assembly

[0158] Fluid from a reservoir (which may be pressurized by a system pump) may be directed through a fluid regulator that controls the flow across one or more fluid manifolds within the oral implant. For example, the fluid regulator may direct the fluid to one manifold at a time (e.g., sequentially) and / or to two or more manifolds at a time. In some modifications, the fluid regulator may include a fluid switching device assembly that controls the delivery and distribution of fluid to the oral implant manifolds. The fluid switching device assembly may include a motor and a switching device connected to the motor, such that the motor's motion of the switching device determines the delivery of fluid to the manifolds. In some modifications, the fluid switching device assembly may include a rotor, such as a rotary valve. Alternatively, or in addition, the fluid switching device assembly may include a solenoid valve or a fluid turbine. Using the motor to change the relative position of the switching device and the fluid manifolds can change the fluid flow through the manifolds. The switching device may comprise a valve having a cylindrical piston or barrel in a tubular fluid conduit, the barrel rotating within the tubular fluid conduit and allowing fluid to flow into a particular manifold based on the alignment of the barrel's fluid slot or opening with that manifold. Alternatively, the switching device may comprise a valve having a cylindrical piston or barrel configured to move linearly along a tubular fluid conduit. The piston or barrel may comprise a fluid slot or opening, and as the piston or barrel rotates within the tubular fluid conduit or moves linearly along it, the fluid opening may align with a fluid manifold (or a subset of manifolds arranged linearly along the fluid conduit), thereby allowing fluid to flow into that manifold (or its subset of manifolds) rather than other manifolds.In some embodiments, the piston or barrel may have a fluid channel terminating at an opening, and as the piston or barrel rotates within the tubular fluid conduit, the fluid opening may align with a fluid manifold (or a subset of manifolds arranged radially around the circumference of the fluid conduit), thereby allowing the fluid to flow into that manifold (or its subset of manifolds) rather than into other manifolds.

[0159] Alternatively, or in addition, the switching device may include a rotor rotated by a motor. The rotor may include a rotatable plate with fluid slots or openings. The fluid switching device assembly may be configured to engage directly with the manifold connector of the oral insertion, or to engage indirectly with the manifold connector via an intermediate fluid component such as a manifold block having multiple fluid channels configured to align with the manifold openings within the manifold connector. As the motor rotates the rotor, the fluid openings are sequentially aligned with different manifold openings, thereby allowing fluid to flow into those manifolds. In some modifications, the switching device (e.g., a barrel, piston, and / or plate) may have a second fluid opening so that two manifolds can receive fluid flow simultaneously. The number of fluid openings in the switching device, and / or the relative sizes of the fluid openings and manifold openings and their spacing, as well as the motor speed, may be adjusted to achieve the desired pulsating fluid flow. In addition, one or more watertight seals or gaskets may be located at the joints between components of the fluid switching device assembly to limit or reduce any fluid leakage. The handle mounting mechanism, which securely holds the oral insert via the manifold connector, may also have one or more watertight seals or gaskets to help reduce fluid leakage along the fluid path from the reservoir to the oral insert.

[0160] Figure 12A depicts a block representation of one modified fluid switching device assembly (1200) that may be located within the housing of the handle (1201). The lower portion of the oral insertion manifold connector (1202) may be releasably engaged with the handle using one of the mounting mechanisms described herein. The handle mounting mechanism may include a sealing mechanism (1204) to facilitate a watertight engagement between the manifold connector (1202) and the fluid switching device assembly (1200). Optionally, in some modifications, the fluid switching device assembly may include a manifold block (1206) and / or a vibration damper (1205). The fluid switching device assembly (1200) may also include a motor (1208) and a gearbox (1210) connected to a rotor (1212). The rotor (1212) may include a shaft (1213) attached to the motor and gearbox at a first end and to a plate (1214) at a second end. As described elsewhere, in some modifications, the motor and gearbox may be mounted on or inside an elastomer or rubber enclosure to dampen vibrations. The plate (1214) may have one or more fluid slots or openings (not shown) that align with different fluid manifold openings as the plate is rotated by the motor. In some modifications, the plate (1214) may be circular, and the shaft (1213) may be mounted at the center of the circular plate. Fluid (which may be pressurized) may be supplied to the fluid switching device assembly via a fluid line (1215).

[0161] Figure 12B depicts a schematic cross-sectional representation of one modified example of the fluid switching device assembly (1220). The lower portion of the manifold connector (1222) of the oral insertion may be releasably engaged with a handle using one of the mounting mechanisms described herein. The cross-sectional view in Figure 12B depicts two manifolds (1223a, b) extending through the connector (1222) and terminating at manifold openings (1225a, b), however, the connector may have any number of manifolds and corresponding openings, e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, etc., manifolds and / or manifold openings. The handle mounting mechanism may include a sealing mechanism to facilitate a watertight engagement between the manifold connector (1222) and the fluid switching device assembly (1220). The fluid switching device assembly (1220) may also include a motor and gearbox (1228) connected to a rotor (1232). The rotor (1232) may include a shaft (1233) attached to the motor and gearbox at a first end and to a plate (1234) at a second end (in some modifications, the shaft and plate may be integrally formed). The plate (1234) may have one or more fluid slots or openings (opening (1236) shown in the upper right inset of Figure 12B, depicting the plate and its fluid openings in thick lines) that align with different fluid manifold openings (manifold opening (1225) shown in the upper right inset of Figure 12B, depicted in thin lines). In some modifications, the plate (1234) may be circular and the shaft (1233) may be attached to the center of the circular plate. The plate (1234) may have one or more fluid openings (1236) that align with different fluid manifold openings as the plate (1234) is rotated by the motor. Fluid (which may be pressurized) may be supplied from a fluid reservoir to the fluid switching device assembly via a fluid line (1235).Figure 12B depicts the fluid switching device assembly as being in direct contact with the manifold connector of the oral implant, but it should be understood that in other modifications, the fluid switching device assembly may be in contact with a manifold block that is in contact with the manifold connector of the oral implant. Optionally, one or more springs may be located between the plate and the rotor mount or bearing, which may serve to provide seal compression. For example, there may be two or more springs (1237) located in a radially symmetrical arrangement around the plate (e.g., around the shaft), and / or a spring (e.g., a coil spring) located around the shaft and in contact with the central region of the plate. One or more seals or gaskets (1224) may be located around the shaft (1233) to serve to prevent fluid from flowing into the motor and gearbox compartments.

[0162] Figures 13A–13G depict modified rotors comprising a plate mounted on a motor-rotatable shaft, which can be used in conjunction with a manifold connector and one of the fluid switching device assemblies described herein. While these embodiments depict the interaction between the manifold connector of an oral insertion and the rotor of a fluid switching device assembly, it should be understood that similar structures and interactions can also be applied to the interface between the manifold block of a handle and the rotor of a fluid switching device assembly. Figure 13A depicts an oral insertion manifold connector (1300) that interface with a rotor (1302), which may be a plate rotor having a circular plate (1304) and a shaft (1306) extending from the center of the circular plate (1304). The manifold connector (1300) may comprise a plurality of manifold openings (1301) arranged in a circle. The plate (1304) may comprise one or more fluid openings (1308).

[0163] Figure 13B is an end view of the manifold connector and rotor assembly from line 13B-13B of Figure 13A. A flat plate rotor (1302) having a fluid opening (1308) is aligned with a manifold opening (1301). The manifold opening may be, for example, a manifold connector (1300) for an oral implant or a manifold block for a handle. In some modifications, the manifold connector (1300) may have one or more mounting openings (1305) through which one or more fasteners (e.g., screws, pins, etc.) may be inserted to attach the manifold connector to the body of the oral implant.

[0164] Figure 13C is a bottom perspective view of the plate rotor (1302). The plate rotor (1302) may have one or more fluid slots or openings, e.g., fluid slots or openings (1308). The fluid openings (1308) may be trapezoidal, but may have any desired shape, and in some modifications they may be circular, elliptical, oval, rectangular, rectangular with rounded corners, triangular, triangular with rounded corners, etc. In some modifications the fluid openings may have an asymmetrical or irregular shape, e.g., oval with lateral extensions or slits (Figure 13D) or multiple lateral extensions or slits (Figure 13E). As the plate rotor is rotated by a motor (not shown), the fluid openings (1308) align with a subset of manifold openings of the manifold connector (1300), allowing the fluid to flow into those manifolds rather than into other manifolds. In some modifications, the width of the fluid opening (1308) may be selected so that the fluid opening always maintains a fluid connection with at least one manifold opening. For example, the fluid opening may have a width greater than the spacing between the manifold openings. Fluid openings with one or more laterally extending ribs (e.g., Figures 13D-13E) may also help ensure that fluid flow through the switching device continues to at least one manifold opening. For example, the fluid opening may be sized and molded so that, as transitioning from alignment with a first manifold opening to a second manifold opening, it maintains a fluid connection between either or both of the first and second manifold openings, i.e., "makes" a connection with the second manifold opening before "breaking" its connection with the first manifold opening. The plate rotor may have one or more fluid openings that can allow fluid flow to more than one manifold. For example, a flat plate rotor may have a first fluid opening at 0° and a second fluid opening at 180°, which may allow simultaneous fluid flow to manifolds that are radially opposite each other. This may help to counteract or maintain equilibrium any radially directed forces that may arise from the pressurized fluid as switching occurs from one manifold to another.

[0165] Figures 13F-13G depict front views of modified manifold connectors (1300) or manifold blocks. The manifold connector (1300) may have at least one manifold opening (1301) per manifold. In these embodiments, the oral insertion may have eight fluid manifolds terminating at eight fluid openings within the manifold connector (1300). It should be understood that other modifications may have different numbers of manifolds and manifold openings as described above. The manifold openings (1301) may be circular and distributed radially around the center (1303) of the connector (1300). The manifold openings (1301) may be uniformly located around the center (1303) such that the angular span and / or spacing between each manifold opening is the same, but in other modifications, the manifold openings may be arranged with a variable angular span and / or spacing. The angular span and / or spacing between the manifold openings may be determined at least in part by the number and size of the individual fluid manifolds. The size and shape of the fluid openings on the corresponding flat rotor may be selected according to the size, shape, and arrangement of the manifold openings in the manifold connector, as described above. Figure 13F depicts another modification of the manifold connector (1300) or manifold block. This modification may be similar to the modification in Figure 13E, except that the manifold openings (1301') have a triangular or tapered shape with rounded corners.

[0166] Figures 14A–14F are schematic depictions of rotary valves that may be used in conjunction with any of the fluid switching device assemblies described herein. These are schematic depictions of the relative dimensions and interactions between a rotary valve having a cylindrical barrel with fluid channels and a manifold connector or manifold block with radially arranged fluid manifold openings. However, it should be understood that similar functional principles may be applicable to other modifications of switching devices (e.g., solenoid valves, rotatable plates, other types of rotary valves, etc.) and fluid manifold connectors or manifold blocks (e.g., having different numbers of openings, different arrangements of openings, different opening shapes, etc.). Figures 14A–14B and 14D–14F depict a manifold connector or manifold block (1400) having eight oval manifold openings (1402) and a barrel or cylindrical rotary valve (1404) with fluid slots or openings (1406). The rotary valve (1404) may have a shaft connected to a motor that rotates the valve so that the fluid opening (1406) moves circumferentially to each manifold opening (1402). Because the fluid flowing through the fluid switching device assembly may be pressurized, the fluid may rapidly accumulate within the fluid switching device assembly if the fluid openings are momentarily closed as it transitions between the manifold openings. This can result in irregular fluid flow, where the flow may accelerate and decelerate as the rotary valve is activated through its rotation. These changes in flow may result in handle acceleration and deceleration, which may generate vibrational forces that can be transmitted to the oral implant. Vibrations caused by extreme changes in fluid flow may cause discomfort or pain to the user. In the worst case, if the rotary valve "fails" (i.e., disconnects the connection to the previous manifold before connecting to the next manifold), an unpleasant fluid hammer-like effect may be transmitted to the patient.

[0167] Figures 14A-14B depict one modification of a fluid switching device assembly with a rotary valve, configured to reduce changes in fluid flow by ensuring that the fluid opening of the rotary valve always maintains a fluid connection with at least one manifold as it rotates. The fluid opening of the rotary valve straddles at least one manifold opening and may be sized and / or molded to straddle two manifold openings, so that as the valve rotates to a second manifold while rotating between the manifolds, the fluid flow may become tapered with respect to the first manifold. The width W1 of the fluid opening (1406) may exceed the width W2 of the space between the manifold openings (1402). This may help ensure that the fluid flowing through the fluid opening (1406) of the rotary valve (1404) always remains connected to the fluid manifold and does not become "useless" at the manifold connector or the wall of the manifold block. Reduced fluid flow may be provided to each manifold while the rotary valve (1404) is transitioning between the two manifolds. Specifying the fluid opening size so that it overlaps with multiple manifold openings while rotating can help maintain more consistent fluid flow and reduce fluid switching vibrations that may cause discomfort to the user.

[0168] Figure 14C depicts one modification of a rotary valve (1405) having a fluid opening or slot (1407), with a laterally extending portion (1408) perpendicular to the axis of the vertical portion (1409) of the fluid slot (1407). The extending portion (1408) may extend over a larger angular range than the vertical portion (1409). The vertical portion (1409) is aligned with the first manifold, while the extending portion (1408) may overlap with a second adjacent manifold, thereby providing fluid flow to both the first and second manifolds. Fluid flow to the second manifold may be less than flow to the first manifold because the cross-sectional area of ​​the extending portion (1408) is less than the cross-sectional area of ​​the vertical portion (1409). A rotary valve with a fluid opening having an extending portion may help to smooth fluid flow as the valve rotates and transitions between manifolds. The relative size of the extended or overlapping regions may have different fluid flow characteristics, which can affect the fluid velocity in the mouthpiece fluid nozzle and / or vibration to the user (e.g., through the handle and / or via the oral insert), and may be adjusted to obtain the desired fluid flow characteristics. Figure 14D depicts a simulated plot of fluid pressure in each manifold in the system, where the size of the extended region of the rotary valve slot is relatively small compared to the side of the vertical region of the slot (i.e., slight fluid overlap between manifolds). The upper line represents the fluid pressure in the system pump, and the curves (e.g., solid line, dashed line, dotted line, long-short dashed line) each represent the fluid pressure in a particular manifold over time. In this switching device assembly configuration, the fluid pressure in the system pump fluctuates substantially, which can cause increased vibration in the handle and / or oral insert. However, the fluid pressure in each manifold reaches a high level over long periods, which can provide a high fluid ejection velocity in the fluid nozzle and promote cleaning effectiveness. Figure 14E depicts a simulated plot of fluid pressure in each manifold in the system, where the size of the extended region of the rotary valve slot is relatively large compared to the side of the vertical region of the slot (i.e., large fluid overlap between manifolds).The upper line represents the fluid pressure in the system pump, and the curves (e.g., solid line, dashed line, dotted line, long-short dashed line) each represent the fluid pressure in a specific manifold over time. In this switching device assembly configuration, the fluid pressure in the system pump is more consistent, which can reduce or eliminate vibrations in the handle and / or oral insertions. However, the fluid pressure in each manifold does not reach high levels over long periods. This can result in lower fluid ejection velocities in the fluid nozzles compared to a small overlap configuration.

[0169] Figures 14F–14H depict other modifications of a fluid switching device assembly with a rotary valve, configured to help reduce handle vibration forces as the rotary valve transitions between manifolds. In addition to, or as an alternative to, the modifications in Figures 14A–14C, the rotary valve (1404) may have two or more fluid openings and / or eccentric masses. Figure 14F depicts a fluid switching device assembly having a single fluid opening (e.g., similar to the modification in Figures 14A–14B) that transitions between manifolds by continuously aligning with each of the manifold openings (1402). When the valve opening is perfectly aligned with the manifold opening, the complete fluid flow through the manifold may generate a force having a radial component, represented by arrow (1405). As the valve rotates, this radial force vector may cause vibrations that can be transmitted to the user (e.g., via the handle). Figure 14G illustrates a modified rotary valve (1404) having a first fluid opening (1406a) and a second fluid opening (1406b) located opposite the first fluid opening. The angular spacing of the first and second fluid openings may be such that when the first fluid opening is aligned to the first manifold opening, the second fluid opening aligns to the second manifold opening on the opposite side of the first manifold opening. Alternatively, the angular spacing of the first and second fluid openings may be such that when the first fluid opening is aligned to the manifold opening, the second fluid opening transitions between two manifold openings (i.e., does not align to a single manifold opening). The radial force generated by the first opening (1406a) aligned with the first manifold opening, and the radial force generated by the second opening (1406b) aligned with the second manifold opening, may cancel each other out, which can reduce the net vibration force experienced by the user.

[0170] A fluid switching device assembly may be provided with one or more watertight seals (e.g., gaskets) located at the joints between its components to limit or reduce any fluid leakage. For example, seals may be provided around the rotor shaft, between the rotor and the manifold connector or manifold block, between the manifold block and the manifold connector, between the manifold block and the inner wall of the handle housing, between the manifold connector and the inner wall of the handle housing, and / or along the walls of the fluid-containing compartment of the switching device assembly, to help prevent fluid leakage into the motor. Figures 15A-15B depict variations of radial seals, which may be located, for example, in grooves located around the circumference of a protrusion or recess. Figure 15A depicts a schematic cross-sectional view of one variation of a radial rod seal (1500) located at the interface between a manifold connector (1502) of an oral insertion and a manifold block (1504) of a fluid switching device assembly. The manifold (1506) within the manifold connector (1502) may terminate at a manifold opening (1508) located at the end of a projection (1510). The projection (1510) may be configured to fit into a cylindrical recess within the manifold block (1504). The radial rod seal (1500) may be located in a circumferential groove within the wall of the cylindrical recess of the manifold block (1504). Alternatively, Figure 15B depicts a schematic cross-sectional view of a modified radial piston seal (1520) located at the interface between the manifold connector (1522) of an oral insertion and the manifold block (1524) of a fluid switching device assembly. The manifold (1526) within the manifold connector (1522) may terminate at a manifold opening (1528) located in a recess such as a cylindrical recess (1530). The manifold block (1524) may have a projection (1525) which can be configured to fit into a recess (1530) in the manifold connector (1522). The radial piston seal (1520) may be located in a circumferential groove in the outer diameter wall of the projection (1525) of the manifold block (1524).

[0171] Figures 16A–16B illustrate variations of surface seals, which may be seals located along the surface of an interface between two or more components. Figure 16A illustrates one variation of an overmolded surface seal (1600) that may be mounted along the surface of a handle's manifold block (1602) to interface with a manifold connector (1604) of an oral insertion at or around the manifold opening of the manifold block. Alternatively, Figure 16B illustrates one variation of a retained surface seal (1610) that may be retained in a groove (1611) that circumscribes the manifold opening of a handle's manifold block (1612). The retained surface seal (1610) may create a watertight interface with the surface of a manifold connector (1614) at or near the manifold opening. The fluid switching device assembly and / or handle mounting mechanism may, as may be desired, include, alone or in combination, one or more of the seal configurations described herein. Vibration reduction / damper mechanism

[0172] Figure 18 depicts a side-section block representation of a modified handle (1804) and oral insert (18180) of an oral cleaning system, including a vibration isolation mechanism, which is referred to herein as a vibration isolation mechanism or vibration damping mechanism. The vibration isolation mechanism may be used to dampen, reduce, absorb, or otherwise eliminate vibrations caused by the mechanics and fluid pumping performed within the handle, so as to minimize or eliminate vibrations transmitted to the user's mouth. In addition, minimizing vibrations transmitted to the user may also reduce discomfort or pain to the user's inner ear. These vibrations may be caused, for example, by a gearbox (1802) and motor (1803) which may be housed within the handle (1804). The vibration isolation mechanism may be an elastomer and may be provided as a vibration damper (1802), which may be located between the fluid switching device assembly and the oral insert (18180), and is referred herein as a vibration damper or vibration dampener. The vibration damper (1802) may also be sandwiched between rigid plates (1806) to further reduce vibration and to firmly hold the vibration damper in place. The vibration damper may be made from one or more of the following: nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, natural rubber, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic urethane (TPU), Sorbothane(R). It should be understood that the handle (1804) may be provided in a length sufficient to accommodate the vibration damper with the vibration damper and / or rigid plates. Alternatively, or in addition, some variations of the handle may include an elastomer motor mount from which a motor and / or gearbox may be mounted. The elastomer motor mount may enclose and / or enclose at least a portion of the motor and / or gearbox and absorb or otherwise dampen vibrations from the motor and / or gearbox mechanism. In some variations, the oral care system may include a vibration damper in the handle (for example, as depicted in Figure 18), as well as a voluntary vibration damper that can engage with an oral implant (for example, an elastomer substrate as depicted in Figures 5G-5J and described below).Some oral care systems may have a vibration damper only in the handle and not in the oral implant, while other oral care systems may have a damper only in the oral implant and not in the handle. Fluid reservoir and vortex plate

[0173] Figure 19A depicts a side perspective section of a modified vortex plate inside a fluid reservoir (1903). Figure 19B depicts a top perspective section of a modified vortex plate (1904), referred herein to as a vortex plate or elevated plate. The section in Figure 19A shows that the vortex plate (1904) may be positioned above the tank discharge pipe (1905) of the fluid reservoir (1903). To provide a high-speed injection of fluid into the manifold and fluid nozzle, the fluid may be withdrawn from the fluid reservoir (1903) at a high flow rate during treatment. When a high flow rate is used, the fluid may be drawn from the reservoir at a rate of at least about 40 mL / sec to about 100 mL / sec, for example, about 40 mL / sec, about 50 mL / sec, about 70 mL / sec to about 100 mL / sec, which may result in vortex generation. If a vortex reaches the check valve inlet (1906), referred herein to as the “fluid opening,” “check valve inlet,” or “check valve” of the tank discharge pipe (1905), it can draw air into the pump of the oral cleaning system. This can inject compressible bubbles into the fluid flow. The effect of the vortex can be exacerbated by the initial swirling of the fluid resulting from the filling or tapping operation of the fluid reservoir during use of the system. Therefore, a vortex plate (1904) positioned over the check valve (1906) of the tank discharge pipe (1905) may be configured such that a gap exists between the elevated plate and the fluid opening in order to supply fluid from the fluid reservoir to the handle. The positioning of the vortex plate (1904) may allow for lateral fluid flow from the side, indicated by the arrow (1907), such that the fluid flow is not collinear or coaxial with the direction of fluid flow through the check valve inlet (1906). Directing the fluid to flow towards the check valve from the side, rather than directly in a straight line with the check valve intake (1906), may help prevent vortex formation.

[0174] To facilitate the prevention of vortex formation, the vortex plate (1904) may be larger in size than the opening of the check valve inlet (1906). For example, the width or diameter of the vortex plate may be larger than the width or diameter of the fluid opening, such as about twice the width or diameter of the opening. Exemplary diameters are 30 mm with respect to the diameter of the vortex plate and 15 mm with respect to the diameter of the check valve inlet. Larger vortex plates may generate longer lateral fluid passages, which may help ensure that a greater proportion of the fluid flow is moving laterally compared to smaller vortex plates, which may have shorter lateral fluid passages.

[0175] The vortex plate (1904) may be positioned above the fluid opening (1906) by, for example, support legs (1904a). The support legs may be of any preferred height to reduce or prevent vortex formation while allowing fluid flow beneath the vortex plate. The support legs (1904a) may also function to fix the vortex plate (1904) to the fluid reservoir by allowing a screw (1908) or other fastening means to pass through the support legs. The vortex plate (1904) may therefore be provided with fastening holes (1908). In one embodiment, the vortex plate may include three fastening holes. Elastomer substrate for hybrid oral implants

[0176] Figures 5A–5F depict a variation of an optional elastomer substrate that may be included with a hybrid oral implant. The elastomer substrate may be made from a material that conforms to shape, is flexible, and / or pliable so that the interface between the hybrid oral implant and the user's oral biostructure can be comfortable and ergonomic. The elastomer substrate may have multiple openings located in locations corresponding to the locations of fluid nozzles and openings on a rigid substrate so as not to obstruct fluid flow. The elastomer substrate may have an upper trough and a lower trough for receiving the user's upper and lower teeth, and the contours of the inner surfaces (i.e., tooth / gum contact surfaces) of these trough regions may vary. For example, Figures 5A and 5C depict a variation of an elastomer substrate (500) in which the inner surface of the trough (502) has a contour (504) that approximates the contours of some molars (e.g., molars), but does not have a contour that approximates the contours of anterior teeth. Figures 5B and 5D illustrate a modified elastomer substrate (510) in which the inner surface of the trough (512) has a contour (514) that approximates the contours of some molars (e.g., full molars) and an additional contour (516) that approximates the contours of anterior teeth. Figure 5D is a top view of the elastomer substrate (510) with the opening omitted for clarity, depicting the contour (516) that approximates the anatomical contour of the user's teeth.

[0177] Optionally, any of the elastomer substrates described herein may have grooved textured surfaces, protrusions, surface undulations, bristles, or any patterned or repeating surface contours, such that mechanical vibration or oscillation of the elastomer substrate against the user's teeth, gums, and / or the inner surface of the cheek may facilitate the removal of residue and / or inhibit the formation of biofilms. Such vibrational motion may include motion along a single axis (e.g., motion along a line) and / or motion along multiple axes (e.g., circular motion, motion in a randomized pattern, motion along a series of lines or curves, etc.). These textured surfaces and / or protrusions may be located in areas corresponding to the buccal, lingual, occlusal, and / or incisal edges or surfaces of the user's teeth, for example, within areas between openings corresponding to fluid nozzle openings of a rigid substrate. Areas of the elastomer substrate that may not have texture may include areas directly above the user's gum line and / or any sensitive areas identified by the user and / or dentist. For example, as shown in Figure 5C, the surface or region (508) of the elastomer substrate (500) between the openings (506) may optionally have a textured surface or protrusions (e.g., bristles, finger-like projections, ribs, flanges, flaps, and equivalents). In some modifications, the surface or region (509) of the elastomer substrate, configured to contact (or nearly contact) the occlusion and / or incisal edge or surface of the tooth, may also have texture or protrusions. In another embodiment, the anatomical contour (516) of the elastomer substrate (510) depicted in Figure 5D may also provide a sufficient level of contact with the tooth surface to facilitate the removal of residue and / or inhibit the formation of a biofilm when there is mechanical vibration or oscillation of the elastomer substrate.

[0178] As described above, the elastomer substrate may comprise an upper trough region or surface and a lower trough region or surface. In some modifications, the hybrid oral implant may optionally comprise one or more standoff structures extending between the upper and lower trough regions of the elastomer substrate. The standoff structures may comprise columns, rods, tubes, and / or any such extension elements that connect the upper and lower surfaces of the elastomer substrate to each other. The standoff structures may also serve to maintain a minimum distance or space between the upper and lower surfaces of the elastomer substrate. In some modifications, the standoff structures may consist of the same material as the upper and lower regions of the elastomer substrate. The elastomer substrate, as well as one or more standoff structures, may consist of one or more of the following materials, namely polysiloxane (silicone), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) e.g., Kraton, polyurethane (TPU), UV-curable photopolymer, or extrudeable polymer. Alternatively, the standoff structure may be fabricated from a material more rigid than the elastomer substrate. The standoff may be manufactured using one or more 3D printing processes and / or injection molding and / or overmolding. Materials include Carbon MPU100, Whip Mix Surgical Guide, and KeySplint Soft. TM , 3D Systems TM VisiJet SLClear TM , 3D Systems TM Accura ClearVue TM NextDent TM Model Clear TM , or Stratasys TM Med620 MThese may include UV-curable photopolymers, UV-curable ceramics, powder polymers, powder metals, powder alloys, powder ceramics, powder organic materials, filament-based plastics, filament-based metals, filament-based ceramics, filament-based organic materials, and injection-molded thermoplastics. The standoff structure may be produced in the same manner as the rigid substrate and / or using the same material.

[0179] Figures 5E and 5F are cross-sectional and top views of an elastomer substrate (530) comprising a standoff structure (532) straddling the upper trough / surface (534) and lower trough / surface (536), respectively. A second standoff structure is located on the opposite side (not depicted) of the elastomer substrate at a position symmetric (or nearly symmetric) with respect to the central axis of the oral implant. In some modifications, where the elastomer substrate is configured to vibrate, the standoff structure acts as a flexible suspension system, helping to isolate the movement of the elastomer substrate from the jaw structure. The standoff structure may comprise a wedge structure (531) configured to couple the trough contour (which may correspond to the contour of the user's teeth) to the standoff structure. For example, a portion of the upper trough (534) that interfacially contacts the standoff structure may comprise a groove or recess having a shape corresponding to a projection or raised region of the wedge structure (531). The standoff structure may optionally include a chamber or cavity (533) along its outer circumference, which can be configured to provide space or play and allow the oral implant to move independently of the standoff structure. In some modifications, the elastomer substrate may have a posterior wall portion (538) that wraps around the molars (e.g., molars) so that the posterior portion of the rigid substrate does not directly contact the lingual structure of the oral cavity, thus promoting a more comfortable and ergonomic fit. The modifications depicted in Figures 5E and 5F depict two standoff structures (one on the left and the other on the right), but it should be understood that in other modifications, there may be a single standoff structure, or more than two standoff structures, e.g., three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more standoff structures.

[0180] In some modifications, the elastomer substrate may be overmolded onto the rigid substrate or otherwise permanently attached so that it cannot be removed from the rigid substrate (without damaging or breaking it), while in other modifications, the elastomer substrate may be removably attached to the rigid substrate. The removable elastomer substrate may be replaced when it wears out from contact with and / or vibration against the user's teeth, and may help reduce wear on the rigid substrate by acting as a buffer between the rigid substrate and the teeth. The elastomer substrate may be provided with a mounting mechanism which may comprise one or more of the following mechanisms: adhesive bonding, magnetic mounting, press-fit, snap-fit, any interlocking feature (e.g., corresponding protrusions and grooves, hook-loop engagements), etc. The elastomer substrate may be attached to the rigid substrate by pins, bolts, screws, and / or snaps, instead of, or in addition to, adhesive bonding, magnetic mounting, press-fit, snap-fit, or any interlocking feature (e.g., corresponding protrusions and grooves, hook-loop engagements). vibration mechanism

[0181] Some variations of the personalized oral care system may further include a vibration mechanism. Embodiments of the vibration mechanism include, but are not limited to, an electromagnetic motor, an eccentric rotating mass (ERM) motor, and / or a linear resonant actuator (LRA). The vibration motion may be random, linear, or rotational. The mechanical motion generated by the vibration mechanism may be transmitted to a rigid substrate, which then transmits the motion to an elastomer substrate. For example, the vibration mechanism may be located on the base station and / or handle, and the vibration may be transmitted to the hybrid oral implant using one or more mechanical transducers. Alternatively, or in addition, the vibration mechanism may be directly coupled to the elastomer substrate so that the mechanical motion from the vibration mechanism causes a corresponding oscillation or vibration in the elastomer substrate. For example, the vibration mechanism may be located between the elastomer substrate and the rigid substrate.

[0182] Figures 6A-6B depict variations of the vibration mechanism that may be directly coupled to the elastomer substrate. In these variations, the vibration mechanism may be part of the hybrid oral implant, and one or more wires may exist that extend from the vibration mechanism within the oral implant to the handle and / or base station, providing power and control signals. Figure 6A depicts one variation of a hybrid oral implant comprising an elastomer substrate (600) mounted on a rigid support structure (602), a rigid substrate (604), and a vibration mechanism (620) positioned between the rigid support (602) and the rigid substrate (604) of the elastomer substrate. The elastomer substrate (600) and the rigid substrate (604) may be any of those described above. The vibration mechanism (620) may be any of the mechanisms described above, e.g., ERM and / or LRA. The rigid support (602) may be attached to the vibration mechanism (620) without being attached to the rigid substrate (604). The vibration mechanism (620) may be configured to impart lateral mechanical motion across or along the surface of the user's teeth, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 6A.

[0183] Figure 6B illustrates a modified hybrid oral implant comprising an elastomer substrate (600), a rigid substrate (607), one or more standoff structures (606) extending between the rigid support (602) and the rigid substrate (607), and a vibration mechanism (620) positioned between the rigid support (602) and the rigid substrate (607) of the elastomer substrate. The standoff structures (606) may be rigid (e.g., made from the same material as the rigid substrate and / or rigid support structure), and / or may have some flexibility and / or pliability, allowing them to adapt and / or deflect using any mechanical motion of the elastomer substrate (600) and support structure (602). The elastomer substrate (600) and rigid substrate (607) may be any of those described above. The vibration mechanism (620) may be any of the mechanisms described above, e.g., ERM and / or LRA. The rigid support (602) may be attached to the vibration mechanism (620) or may be coupled to a rigid substrate via a standoff structure. The vibration mechanism (620) may be configured to impart lateral mechanical motion across or along the surface of the user's teeth, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 6B.

[0184] Figure 6C illustrates one variation of a hybrid oral implant comprising an elastomer substrate (600), a rigid substrate (609), one or more standoff structures (610) extending between the rigid support (602) and the rigid substrate (609), and a vibration mechanism (620) positioned between the rigid support (602) and the rigid substrate (609) of the elastomer substrate. The standoff structures (610) may be rigid (e.g., made from the same material as the rigid substrate and / or rigid support structure), and / or may have some flexibility and / or pliability, allowing them to adapt and / or deflect using any mechanical motion of the elastomer substrate (600) and the support structure (602). In this modified example, there may also be one or more elastomer suspension structures (608) located at the interface between the standoff structure (610) and the rigid substrate (609) so that the standoff structure does not directly contact the rigid substrate. The suspension structures (608) may absorb some of the motion of the elastomer substrate and the rigid support so that their motion is further isolated from the rigid substrate (compared to the modified example depicted in Figure 6B). The suspension structures (608) may be made from any desired elastomer material, such as those described above with respect to the elastomer substrate. In some modifications, the suspension structures (608) may be cylindrical or tubular, having outer edges on both sides to maintain their position relative to the rigid substrate (609), and may have an opening (611) for receiving the suspension structures (608). The standoff structure (610) may have elongated portions (612) of various diameters, the reduced diameter portion (614) being sized to fit through the lumen of the suspension structure (608), and one or more increased diameter portions (616) that help to fix its position relative to the suspension structure (608). The elastomer substrate (600) and the rigid substrate (604) may be any of those described above. The vibration mechanism (620) may be any of the mechanisms described above, e.g., ERM and / or LRA. The rigid support (602) may be attached to the vibration mechanism (620) or may be coupled to the rigid substrate via the standoff structure.The vibration mechanism (620) may be configured to impart mechanical motion in multiple dimensions / axes (for example, along at least two axes of motion), as indicated by the arrows in Figure 6C.

[0185] In some variations, the oral implant may optionally include a flexible or elastomer insert to help mitigate unwanted vibrational forces that may arise from abrupt changes in fluid flow characteristics and / or from motors in fluid switching device assemblies and / or system pumps. A hybrid oral implant comprising a rigid substrate and an elastomer vibration damper substrate may help reduce the amount of vibration transmitted to the user's jaw (which may cause user discomfort). Figures 5G-5H depict one variation comprising a rigid oral implant (similar to any of the oral implants described herein) and an elastomer substrate. A rigid oral implant with an elastomer substrate may comprise a hybrid oral implant. Figures 5I-5J depict a variation of the elastomer substrate (550) that may be used in combination with any of the oral implants (552) (which may consist of a rigid material) described herein to help absorb vibrational forces and reduce their transmission to the user's jaw. In some modifications, the elastomer substrate (550) may comprise a flat, arc-shaped elastomer that can be positioned along the bottom surfaces of the upper and lower portions of the oral implant. For example, the elastomer substrate (550) may be positioned across the surfaces of the upper and lower tooth retention portions facing the occlusal surfaces of the user's teeth. In some modifications, the elastomer substrate may be 3D printed according to the biostructure of the user's oral cavity. Turning to Figure 5H-5I, some modifications of the elastomer substrate (550) may comprise one or more wedge features (554) that may include multiple protrusions and recesses that can correspond to the surface geometry of the user's tooth surface (e.g., the contour of the occlusal surface of the third molar). The wedge features (554) can help seat the elastomer substrate within the tooth retention portion of the oral implant. The elastomer substrate may comprise a pattern of openings (555) to correspond to the nozzle opening of the oral implant. In some variations, as depicted in Figure 5H, the elastomer substrate (550) may comprise an upper substrate (550a) and a lower substrate (550b), respectively, for the upper and lower portions of the oral implant.Optionally, as depicted in Figure 5J, the elastomer substrate (550) may have one or more interlocking features (558) located on its back surface (i.e., the side of the elastomer substrate that contacts the oral implant) that are configured to engage with corresponding locking features (not shown) on the oral implant. In some modifications, the interlocking features (558) may have projections that are sized and molded to interlock with corresponding recesses in the oral implant. The thickness of the elastomer substrate may be selected to provide tactile feedback regarding the magnitude of the interlocking force when applied to the oral implant and / or to help the user properly seat the oral implant in their mouth. Dental SIM devices

[0186] Customized oral implants described herein (e.g., hybrid oral implants, oral implants with rigid substrates only, etc.) may be generated based on image data that includes information about the contour of the user's oral geometry, including the size, location, and contour of the user's teeth, as well as the alignment between the upper and lower teeth (e.g., the position of the upper and lower arches relative to each other). The oral geometry and alignment data may be used by a processor to generate customized oral implants having fluid nozzles positioned in the specific tooth structure to facilitate cleaning and / or user comfort. To capture alignment data representing the relative positions between the upper and lower teeth (e.g., the alignment of the upper arch to the lower arch and vice versa), dental shim devices may be placed in the user's oral cavity to position and maintain the upper and lower teeth in selected positions.

[0187] In one modification, the dental shim device may include one or more orientation alignment markers located on the surface of the shim device that can be captured in the same image and / or field of view as the upper and / or lower teeth. The alignment markers may be used as visual reference cues or landmarks so that the relative position and / or alignment between the upper and lower teeth can be determined based on the relative position of the upper teeth to the alignment markers and the relative position of the lower teeth to the alignment markers. The orientation alignment markers may have an asymmetrical arrangement and / or may be molded and positioned so that the position of each upper and lower tooth relative to one or more orientation alignment markers is unique. Image data containing both teeth and alignment markers in the same image and / or field of view can facilitate the determination of alignment between the upper and lower arches by aligning the relative positions of the upper and lower teeth to one or more orientation alignment markers. The orientation alignment marker may comprise one or more 3D structures and / or visual marks located on the surface of the oral shim device, for example, a surface that can be imaged within the same field of view as the user's oral structure. For example, one or more visual marks may include raised and / or recessed areas that are formed as oblique parallel patterns and / or semicircles and / or blocks and / or notches and / or vertical grooves or protrusions at locations known to each other.

[0188] The oral shim device may comprise first and second alignment portions, each having an upper and lower surface, respectively, that contact the upper and lower teeth, and a bridge portion that straddles the first and second alignment portions. Alignment markers may be positioned along the surfaces of the alignment portions and bridge portion, for example, along the facial surfaces of the alignment portions and bridge portion, which can be scanned and captured within the same image and / or field of view of the user's teeth and / or gums. The first and second alignment portions may each have side walls that are sized to reserve a fixed vertical offset between the upper and lower teeth. The vertical dimension of the side walls of the alignment portions may be about 5 mm to about 25 mm. In some variations, the side walls of the alignment portions may be tapered from the posterior region to the anterior region. The vertical dimension for tapered alignment portions may vary from about 12 mm to about 15 mm, about 14 mm to about 17 mm, about 16 mm to about 18 mm, etc., from one region to the other. The side walls may be made of a rigid material. The upper and lower surfaces of the matching portion may be made of a flexible material that can conform to the contour of the user's teeth. This may facilitate positioning and maintaining (e.g., seating) the teeth in a fixed position relative to the shim device and may help reduce or prevent any positional displacement that may alter the matching between the upper teeth, lower teeth, and the shim device during image acquisition. The length of the bridge portion may have an overall curved shape that approximates the curve of the dental arch and / or conforms to the curve or width of the dental arch (either the upper or lower arch, or both). In some modifications, the bridge portion may consist of a continuous flexible material that can be pre-curved to approximate the curvature of the dental arch and / or may comprise one or more sections (e.g., curved or straight sections) connected via hinges that can be arranged to approximate the curvature of the dental arch.

[0189] Another variation of the dental shim device may comprise an upper tray having an upper handle and a surface that contacts the upper teeth of the upper dental arch, a lower tray having a lower handle and a surface that contacts the lower teeth of the lower dental arch, and an adjustable occlusal joint that engages with the upper and lower trays. The adjustable occlusal joint may be configured to provide a desired vertical offset between the upper and lower trays. The adjustable occlusal joint may comprise a concave groove on the upper tray and a projection (e.g., a ball) on the lower tray opposite the concave groove (or vice versa). The projection may be movable within the concave groove to accommodate a range of angles between the upper and lower trays that may vary with respect to different users. The concave groove may have an inner surface with a concave cavity and optionally have one or more curves within the concave cavity that are configured to engage with the corresponding / occlusal projection and to retain the offset and / or angle. The tooth contact surface of the upper tray may be made of a flexible material configured to conform to the contour of the upper teeth, and the tooth contact surface of the lower tray may be made of a flexible material configured to conform to the contour of the lower teeth. During use, the upper and lower trays are inserted into the user's oral cavity and aligned so that the components of the occlusal joint engage, and then may occlude together as the user closes their jaw. The vertical distance between the two handles (e.g., the distance between two markers or notches on the handles) may be measured and recorded (e.g., stored in a machine-readable memory medium) while the user's jaw is closed (e.g., in a fixed or set position). The trays may then be removed from the user's oral cavity, and image data of the impression on the flexible material may be obtained by a scanner. The vertical distance between the two handles, the image data of the dental impression in the tray, and the offset between the upper and lower teeth provided by the dental shim device may be used to calculate the angle between the upper and lower trays when the user is bitten or positioned in the user's mouth, and to determine the relative alignment between the upper and lower teeth.

[0190] Flexible materials positioned along the tooth contact surfaces of dental shim devices (e.g., along the upper and lower surfaces of the matching portion, along the inner surfaces of the upper and lower trays) may be moldable to the contours of the teeth and / or gums. Examples of flexible materials that may be used in conjunction with any of the dental shim devices described herein may include one or more of rubber-like materials, dental waxes, dental impression materials, gingival barrier materials, gels, pastes, and foams. Flexible materials may optionally be curable from an elastic state to a rigid state using one or more of, for example, chemical curing, thermocuring, room temperature curing, and photocuring.

[0191] Figure 7A depicts a modified dental shim device that can be used in conjunction with an intraoral scanner to obtain image data of the contour of the user's oral structure and the relative alignment between the upper teeth / arch and the lower teeth / arch. The dental shim device (700) may comprise a first alignment portion (702) having an upper surface (703a) and a lower surface (703b), a second alignment portion (704) having an upper surface (705a) and a lower surface (705b), a bridge portion (706) straddling the first and second alignment portions, and one or more orientation alignment markers (708). The alignment markers (708) may be positioned along the facial surfaces of the first and second alignment portions and the bridge portion. The alignment portion may comprise a block with an upper and bottom surface and a side wall extending between the upper and bottom surfaces. The bridge section may comprise strips having two ends, each attached to a matching section. As depicted in Figures 7A and 7D, each matching section (702, 704) may have a side wall (710) that straddles the top and bottom surfaces. Vertical dimensions, e.g., height H sidewallThe vertical offset between the upper and lower teeth may be selected to reserve a desired vertical offset, which may be approximately 5 mm to approximately 25 mm. In the shim devices shown in Figures 7A-7D, the vertical dimensions are uniform across the matching portion, but in other modifications, the vertical height may vary across the matching portion (e.g., having an inclined, angled, or tapered surface). For example, the vertical height may vary and be determined based at least partially on the desired vertical offset between the upper and lower dental arches and the teeth used to define that vertical offset. For example, the vertical offset may be defined by the vertical distance between the maxillary molars and mandibular molars, or between the maxillary premolars and mandibular premolars, or between the maxillary anteriors and mandibular anteriors. Thus, the height of the matching portion may be determined based on the location of the teeth along the dental arch and the desired vertical offset. The upper and lower surfaces of the matching portion may have projections and / or grooves to help seat the user's teeth on the matching portion. For example, the lingual side surface of the matching portion may include a wall extension (712) extending above the upper surface (703a, 705a) of the matching portion (and / or optionally below the lower surface (703b, 705b) of the matching portion). Figure 7B illustrates one modification of the bridge portion (706), which may comprise a left section (706a), a central section (706b), and a right section (706c) that are interconnected. The central section (706b) may have a larger radius of curvature than the left and right sections (706a, 706b), i.e., the left and right sections may be more linear than the central section. The sections (706a, 706b, 706c) may be interconnected via hinges, such as integral or flexible hinges. Alternatively, the bridge portion may be a strip of flexible material with a pre-formed curve that approximates the curvature of the dental arch, with some flexibility to adapt to the dental arches of different users. Optionally, certain areas of the bridge portion (e.g., hinge areas, one or more lengths along the bridge portion strip) may be tapered from the upper border to the lower border (e.g., from the maxillary border to the mandibular border). This may help facilitate scanning of the incisal border (e.g., where the maxillary incisal border may protrude over the mandibular incisal border).

[0192] The orientation alignment markers (708) may have any of the features described above. For example, as depicted in Figures 7A, 7B, and 7D, the alignment markers (708) located along the bridge portion may be raised projections arranged in an asymmetric pattern across the vertical dimension, or optionally, as shown in Figure 7C, they may have a mirror-symmetric arrangement with a line of symmetry on the central midline (711) of the bridge portion (706). Alignment markers (708) located along the sidewalls (710) of the alignment portion may be recessed and / or visual marks printed on the surface of the sidewall (i.e., not protruding from the surface). Alignment markers (708) on the sidewalls may be arranged in a zigzag or alternating pattern along the vertical dimension of the sidewall, as depicted in Figures 7A, 7C, and 7D. Orientation alignment markers may include elevated / recessed geometric features such as oblique parallel patterns, semicircles, blocks, or notches, vertical grooves or protrusions, and equivalents, at specified positions along the bridge and / or alignment portion, to enable continuous scanning of the user's oral biostructure and shim device. Orientation alignment markers may be used to determine alignment between the upper and lower dental arches, enabling continuous scanning of the user's teeth and shim device from one end of the dental arch to the other end of the dental arch.

[0193] Figures 8A–8D depict another variation of a dental shim device that may be used to obtain image data of the contour of the user's oral structure and the relative alignment between the upper and lower teeth / arches. Figure 8A depicts a dental shim device (800) inserted into the user's oral cavity. The dental shim device (800) may comprise an upper tray (802) having an upper handle (803) extending from a curved portion of the upper tray, a lower tray (804) having a lower handle (805) extending from a curved portion of the lower tray, and an adjustable interlocking joint (806) engaging with the upper and lower trays. The mounting joint (806) may be configured to adjust the vertical offset and angle between the upper and lower trays. The upper and lower trays (802, 804) may each have troughs with surfaces that contact the upper teeth of the upper dental arch and the lower teeth of the lower dental arch, respectively. The upper and lower handles may each have markers such as notches (813, 815), as depicted in Figures 8B and 8C. When the shim device (800) is inserted into the user's oral cavity and is bitten together by the user's jaws, the distance D between the upper notch (813) and the lower notch (815) may be measured and stored in processor memory, and may be used in conjunction with other scanning data to determine alignment between the upper and lower teeth and / or arches.

[0194] Figures 8B and 8C illustrate a modified example of the adjustable interlocking joint (806). The adjustable interlocking joint (806) may comprise a concave groove (808) and a corresponding projection (810) on the upper and lower trays, respectively. In this modified example, the projection (810) has a spherical or ball shape that fits into the concave groove (808). When the upper and lower trays are not closed in the user's mouth, the ball can move within the groove; however, when the trays are closed in the user's mouth, the ball is held in place at a specific location within the concave groove. The size and shape of the concave groove and projection are determined by the desired vertical offset, e.g., Offset verticalHowever, it may be selected so as to be achieved between the posterior upper teeth and posterior lower teeth. For example, the concave groove may have one or more curved internal cavities, which can be conical, hemispherical, and / or any shape that allows some degree of movement of the projection within the groove to adapt to the different oral geometric shapes of different users. Measured distance value D and selected (i.e., known) vertical offset Offset vertical The angle A between the planes of the upper and lower trays may be calculated using this method. These parameters, along with image data of the user's upper and lower teeth and gum contours, may enable the processor to determine alignment between the upper and lower teeth and / or dental arches.

[0195] Image data of the user's upper and lower teeth and gum contours may be obtained by scanning an impression of the structure of these teeth, which is generated on the flexible material of the tooth contact surfaces of the upper and lower trays. Figure 8D depicts a tooth contact surface (820) of either the upper or lower tray (802, 804). The tooth contact surface (820) may comprise areas having flexible material that conforms to the contour of the user's oral geometry. As an example, Figure 8D depicts the contour (822) of the user's molars imprinted on the flexible material when the tray is occluded between those teeth. The flexible material may be distributed along the entire tooth contact surface (820) or located in selected areas of the contact surface (e.g., posterior, central, and / or anterior regions). The flexible material may consist of any of the flexible materials described above. Any image acquisition device or camera may be used to scan the impression of the teeth and gums within the flexible material of the upper and lower trays.

[0196] One method for obtaining image data of the contour, location, orientation, and / or alignment of the user's oral biostructure using the shim devices shown in Figures 8A-8D is represented by the flowchart in Figure 8E. The method (830) may include the steps of inserting the upper tray into the user's oral cavity (832), inserting the lower tray into the user's oral cavity aligned with the upper tray (834), occluding both the upper and lower trays together between the upper and lower teeth (836), measuring the distance between the markers on the upper and lower handles (838), removing the upper and lower trays from the user's oral cavity (840), and scanning impressions of the upper teeth and gums in the upper tray and impressions of the lower teeth and gums in the lower tray using a camera such as a dental impression scanner (842). In some variations, the camera may be any external scanner or camera capable of obtaining photographs (i.e., still images or snapshots) and / or video, and may not be an intraoral scanner or camera. Method (830) may optionally include the step of storing the measured distance in processor memory, the scanned impression of the upper and lower trays and the specified offset vertical In conjunction with this, the processor may be configured to generate a model of the user's oral cavity, including the contours of the user's oral structure, as well as the alignment of the upper and lower teeth and / or dental arches, and to generate a model of the user's oral geometric shape.

[0197] Another variation of the shim device is depicted in Figures 8F-8I. Figure 8F depicts a perspective view of a double-sided shim device (850), Figure 8H depicts a top view, and Figure 8I depicts a rear view. The double-sided shim device (850) may comprise an upper tray (852), a lower tray (854) fixed to and connected to the upper tray such that a pre-selected vertical offset exists, and an installation tab (856). The upper tray (852) and the lower tray (854) may each have curvatures corresponding to the curvatures of the upper and lower dental arches, respectively. The upper and lower trays (852, 854) may each have troughs with surfaces that contact the upper teeth of the upper dental arch and the lower teeth of the lower dental arch, respectively, and may be configured to retain a flexible material that can conform to the contour of the user's teeth. Examples of flexible materials may include one or more of rubber-like materials, dental waxes, dental impression materials, gingival barrier materials, and foams. The mounting tab (856) may be positioned midway along the curvature of the upper and lower trays, for example, on or along the axis of symmetry of the shim device (850) to help facilitate the positioning of the shim device (850) in the user's mouth. In some modifications, the shim device (850) may further include one or more slots or channels (858) extending from the front to the rear of the shim device, which may allow the user to breathe while occluding on the shim device (850). The double-sided shim device (850) may be made from any non-reflective, opaque material or any opaque material. Figure 8G is a partial cross-sectional side view of the shim device (850) depicting a pre-selected vertical offset. In some variations, the vertical offset may be approximately 5 mm to 25 mm, for example, approximately 10 mm, 12 mm, 16 mm, etc. The dental shim device (850) may be used to capture impressions and relative positions of a subset of teeth along the upper and lower arches at a pre-selected offset. For example, the dental shim device may be configured to take impressions of teeth anterior to the premolars (e.g., up to and including the premolars).Scanning data of impressions within flexible material at a pre-selected offset may be combined with scanning data of the entire set of teeth along the upper and lower arches to construct a model of an oral implant customized for the user.

[0198] A variation of a method for obtaining image data of the contour, location, orientation, and / or alignment of a user's oral biostructure using the shim device shown in Figures 8F-8I is represented by the flowchart in Figure 8J. The method (880) may include the steps of aligning the placement tab of the double-sided shim with the midplane of the user's occlusion and inserting the double-sided shim into the user's oral cavity (882), occluding the double-sided shim between the upper and lower teeth (884), removing the double-sided shim from the user's oral cavity (886), and scanning impressions of the upper teeth and gums in the upper tray and impressions of the lower teeth and gums in the lower tray using a dental impression scanner (888). The double-sided shim device may remain in the user's mouth for a variable amount of time, depending on the length of time required for the flexible material in the upper and lower trays to harden and retain the impression of the user's teeth. Impressions from the upper and lower trays of the double-sided shim device may be acquired using one of the cameras described herein. Optionally, method (880) may further include the step (890) of scanning single arch impressions of the user's upper teeth and gums and the user's lower teeth and gums, and the step (892) of determining relative alignment between the upper and lower arches based on impressions from both bilateral shims and scanning of single arch impressions.

[0199] Another variation of the shim device is depicted in Figures 10A–10D. Figure 10A depicts a variation of a dental shim device that can be used in conjunction with an intraoral scanner to obtain image data of the contour of the user's oral structure and the relative alignment between the upper teeth / arch and the lower teeth / arch. The dental shim device (1000) may comprise a first alignment portion (1002) having an upper surface (1003a) and a lower surface (1003b), a second alignment portion (1004) having an upper surface (1005a) and a lower surface (1005b), a bridge portion (1006) spanning between the first and second alignment portions, and one or more orientation alignment markers (1008). Some variations may include one or more mounting tabs (1007) that can be extruded from the bridge and / or alignment portion of the shim to allow the shim device to be held without interfering with the user's natural occlusion. Alignment markers (1008) may be positioned along the faculties of the first and second alignment portions and / or bridge portion. In some variations, the alignment markers may be positioned on the bridge portion only, on the alignment portion only, or on both the bridge and the alignment portion. The orientation alignment marker (1008) may have any of the features described above. In some variations, the orientation alignment marker (1008) may be positioned along the faculties of the bridge portion (1006) only and may include a midline indicator (1009). When in use, the midline indicator (1009) may be aligned with at least one of the two arches, for example, the midline of the maxillary arch. In some variations, the orientation alignment marker (1008) may have a diamond pattern in which the diamond sizes are not uniform.

[0200] The alignment section may comprise a block with a top and bottom surface, and a side wall extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The bridge section may comprise strips having two ends, each attached to the alignment section. As depicted in Figures 10A and 10B, each alignment section (1002, 1004) may have a side wall spanning between the top and bottom surfaces. Vertical dimensions, e.g., height H sidewallThe vertical offset may be selected to reserve a desired vertical offset between the upper and lower teeth, which may be approximately 5 mm to approximately 25 mm. While the vertical dimensions within the shim device in Figures 10A-10D are uniform across the matching portion, in other modifications, the vertical height may vary across the matching portion (e.g., having an inclined, angled, or tapered surface). For example, the vertical height may vary and be determined at least partially based on the desired vertical offset between the upper and lower dental arches and the teeth used to define that vertical offset. For example, the vertical offset may be defined by the vertical distance between the maxillary molars and mandibular molars, or between the maxillary premolars and mandibular premolars, or between the maxillary anteriors and mandibular anteriors. Thus, the height of the matching portion may be determined based on the location of the teeth along the dental arch and the desired vertical offset. The upper surface of the matching portion is the width W of the lower surface. bottom_platform W exceeds top_platform It may have. Top width W top_platform and bottom width W bottom_platform The difference between them may be approximately 3mm to 6mm, for example, approximately 4mm to 5mm. In one modified example, the width W of the top surface. top_platform The width of the bottom surface may be approximately 14 mm, while the width of the bottom surface W bottom_platform It may be approximately 9.6 mm. The precise dimensions may vary according to the general size of the user's mouth (for example, based on age and / or gender).

[0201] Figure 10B depicts a side view of a shim device in which the bridge portion (1006) may have a convex facial surface (1010), and in some modifications, the convex facial surface may be tapered. That is, the upper portion of the facial surface of the bridge may project forward and taper inward toward the lower portion of the facial surface (e.g., from the maxillary margin to the mandibular margin). This may help facilitate scanning of the mandibular anterior teeth for users who may have a deep bite (e.g., the maxillary incisal margin may project over the mandibular incisal margin). In some modifications, the bridge portion may be a strip of flexible material with a pre-formed curve that approximates the curvature of the dental arch, with some flexibility to adapt to the dental arch of different users.

[0202] The oral shim devices described herein are used for oral scanning for the modeling and fabrication of oral implants (e.g., any of the oral implants described herein), but it should be understood that these oral shim devices may also be used during oral scanning for other purposes, including for the modeling and fabrication of mouthguards, retainers, and equivalents. Methods for collecting microbial flora samples

[0203] Figure 9 illustrates one variation of a method for collecting an oral microbiome sample in a collection chamber using one of the oral care systems described herein. As previously described, the user may select a sample collection mode (and / or an optional priming mode) on the system's base station prior to sample collection. Method (900) may include the steps of inserting an oral implant into the user's oral cavity (903), delivering a microbiome collection fluid into the oral cavity at an elevated fluid pressure (e.g., about 40 psi to about 200 psi or higher) (904), and collecting an oral microbiome sample by accumulating the microbiome collection fluid in a volume within the collection chamber (905). Method (900) may optionally include the steps of priming the oral implant (901), and then coupling or attaching the collection chamber to the oral implant prior to inserting the oral implant into the user's oral cavity (902). The step of priming the oral implant (901) may include pumping and discarding a microbiome collection fluid through the oral implant before inserting the oral implant into the user's oral cavity. During priming the oral implant, the microbiome collection fluid may be pumped into the oral implant for about 1 second to about 60 seconds, and the fluid may be discarded. After the oral microbiome sample has been collected, the method (900) may optionally include sealing the collection chamber with a liquid-tight cover (906) to separate the collection chamber from the oral implant. Optionally, a sample stabilizing compound may be provided into the collection chamber before, during, and / or after the accumulation of volume of collection fluid in the chamber. The microbiome sample may then be analyzed to determine the contents and / or quantity of the user's microbiome. For example, a sample of the user's oral microbiome may be analyzed for bacterial and / or fungal and / or viral and / or protein content (including nucleic acids such as DNA or RNA), and pH levels, and such data may be used to calculate metrics of the user's oral health.For example, a gum health score representing the inflammation status / level of the user's gums may be calculated based on the user's microbiome. Analysis of the collected microbiome sample by the processor may output information such as the type and / or quantity of bacterial species in the oral cavity, the ratio of symbiotic to pathogenic bacteria, the presence of high-risk and / or low-risk pathogens, and the correlation between pathogen types and systemic diseases for informational purposes. Oral microbiome data may be optionally tracked over time (for example, the processor may monitor changes in the microbiome profile over time). The results of the microbiome analysis may be output to a display device for viewing by the user or clinician.

Claims

1. 1. A system for cleaning the oral cavity of a user, the system comprising: a fluid reservoir; and An oral insert, the oral insert comprising: an upper portion sized and shaped to receive the user's upper teeth; a lower portion sized and shaped to receive the user's lower teeth; a plurality of fluid nozzles located within the upper and lower portions and directed toward interdental spaces between the user's teeth; an outflow conduit located between the upper portion and the lower portion and configured to direct fluid from a posterior or lingual region to a frontal or facial region of the user's oral cavity; an oral cavity insert comprising: A system comprising:

2. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid outflow conduit comprises a central port located in a central region of the oral insert, a rear opening of the central port configured to direct fluid from the posterior or lingual region of the user's oral cavity to the anterior or facial region of the user's oral cavity.

3. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid outflow conduit comprises a central port located in a central region of the oral insert, a first fluid cavity on a right side of the oral insert, and a second fluid cavity on a left side of the oral insert, the first and second fluid cavities being in fluid communication with the central port.

4. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the anterior region of the central port extends from the anterior region of the oral insert, the anterior extension of the central port having a tapered shape with one or more concave curved surfaces configured to combine fluid flows from the posterior or lingual region of the user's oral cavity and to direct the combined fluid flows to the anterior or facial region of the user's oral cavity.

5. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first and second fluid cavities each have a posterior section having a cross-section with a constant perimeter and a lofted section having a cross-section that increases in cross-sectional area toward an anterior region of the user's oral cavity.

6. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first fluid cavity has a first opening located within a posterior region of the user's oral cavity, the second fluid cavity has a second opening located within the posterior region of the user's oral cavity, and a surface of the oral insert around peripheral edges of the first and second openings comprises a concave or convex contour.

7. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first opening and the second opening have a tapered elongated shape, the elongated shape having a dimension that narrows as it extends laterally from the central region of the oral cavity insert.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a handle comprising fluid conduits in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and the plurality of fluid nozzles of the oral insert.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the oral insert has a U-shaped curve that corresponds to the curvature of the user's mandible and / or maxilla.

10. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the oral insert has a U-shaped curve that corresponds to the curvature of the user's maxilla and the lower portion of the oral insert has a U-shaped curve that corresponds to the curvature of the user's mandible.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid nozzles are each located within a recess along an outer surface of the oral cavity insert.

12. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the recess has a first end at an opening in the fluid nozzle and a second end at an opening along an exterior surface of the oral cavity insert.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the recess has a flared shape such that a cross-sectional area of ​​the opening along the outer surface exceeds a cross-sectional area of ​​the fluid nozzle opening.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein a diameter of the opening along the outer surface exceeds a diameter of the fluid nozzle opening.

15. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first end of the flared recess has a circular shape and the second end has an ellipsoidal shape.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the recess has one or more concave contours.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the recess has a circular or ellipsoidal shape.

18. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the oral insert comprises a plurality of fluid manifolds and a manifold connector, the plurality of fluid manifolds in fluid communication with the plurality of fluid nozzles, each fluid manifold terminating in a manifold opening in the manifold connector, the handle comprising an attachment mechanism configured to removably retain the oral insert, and a fluid switcher assembly, the fluid switcher assembly comprising a motor and a rotor connected to the motor.

19. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a seal ring configured to provide a watertight interface between the manifold connector and the handle.

20. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the handle further comprises an elastomeric vibration damper positioned between the fluid switch assembly and the oral insert.

21. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the manifold openings of the manifold connector are arranged in a circle, and the rotor is a rotatable plate having first fluid openings configured to sequentially align with each of the manifold openings in the manifold connector when the motor rotates the rotatable plate.

22. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the manifold openings of the manifold connector are spaced apart from one another by spacing between openings, and a first of the fluid openings of the rotatable plate has a width that exceeds the spacing between openings such that the first fluid opening always maintains fluid connection with at least one manifold opening.

23. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the rotatable plate has a second fluid opening.

24. 24. The system of claim 23, wherein the second fluid opening is radially opposite the first fluid opening.

25. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the manifold openings of the manifold connector are arranged in a circle, and the fluidic switching device assembly further comprises a manifold block having a plurality of fluid channels configured to align with the manifold openings in the manifold connector.

26. 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the rotor is a rotatable plate having fluid openings configured to sequentially align with each of the fluid channels in the manifold block when the motor rotates the rotatable plate.

27. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the manifold openings of the manifold connector are arranged in a circle, and the rotor is a rotatable barrel having first fluid openings configured to sequentially align with each of the manifold openings in the manifold connector when the motor rotates the barrel.

28. 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the rotatable barrel has a second fluid opening.

29. 30. The system of claim 28, wherein the second fluid opening is radially opposite the first fluid opening.

30. 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the manifold openings of the manifold connector are spaced apart from one another by a spacing between openings, and the first fluid opening of the rotatable barrel has a width that exceeds the spacing between openings such that the first fluid opening always maintains fluid connection with at least one manifold opening.

31. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the oral insert further comprises an elastomeric substrate disposed along an outer surface of the upper and lower portions, the elastomeric substrate comprising a plurality of openings aligned with the plurality of fluid nozzles.

32. 32. The system of claim 31, wherein the elastomeric substrate further comprises a textured surface that corresponds to locations on the buccal and lingual surfaces of the user's teeth.

33. 33. The system of claim 32, wherein the elastomeric substrate is configured to vibrate.

34. 32. The system of claim 31, wherein the elastomeric substrate is releasably attached to the outer surfaces of the upper and lower portions.

35. 33. The system of claim 32, wherein the textured surface is located in an area of ​​the elastomeric substrate corresponding to the location of the occlusal surfaces and / or incisal edges of the user's teeth.

36. 36. The system of claim 35, wherein the handle further comprises a vibration mechanism for inducing vibrational movement of the elastomeric substrate.

37. 37. The system of claim 36, wherein the handle is attached to the oral insert such that vibrational motion from the vibration mechanism is transmitted to the elastomeric substrate.

38. 37. The oral insert of claim 36, wherein the fluid conduit comprises a fluid valve configured to regulate fluid flow to the plurality of fluid nozzles, and the fluid conduit is mechanically coupled to the vibration mechanism such that vibrations caused by fluid flow through the fluid conduit combine with the vibration motion from the vibration mechanism to cause vibration of the elastomeric substrate.

39. The system of any one of claims 36 to 38, wherein the vibration mechanism comprises an eccentric rotating mass vibration motor.

40. The system of any one of claims 36 to 38, wherein the vibration mechanism comprises a linear resonant actuator.

41. The system of any one of claims 36 to 38, wherein the vibration mechanism comprises an electromagnetic vibration motor.

42. 32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the upper and lower portions comprise a material having a first durometer value on a durometer scale, and the elastomeric substrate comprises a material having a second durometer value on a durometer scale that is lower than the first durometer.

43. 43. The system of claim 42, wherein the first durometer is between about 60 Shore A and about 100 Shore D.

44. 43. The system of claim 42, wherein the elastomeric substrate comprises a biocompatible elastomer and the rigid substrate comprises a biocompatible UV curable photopolymer.

45. 32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a first mounting structure on the upper and / or lower portions and a second mounting structure on the elastomeric substrate, the structures configured to interlock.

46. 46. ​​The system of claim 45, wherein the first mounting structure comprises a groove and the second mounting structure comprises a protrusion configured to be aligned with the groove such that the first and second mounting structures interlock.

47. 32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a releasable attachment mechanism comprising an adhesive that bonds the elastomeric substrate to the upper and lower portions of the oral insert.

48. 32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a first mounting structure on the upper and / or lower portions and a second mounting structure on the elastomeric substrate, the first and second mounting structures comprising one or more magnetic materials.

49. 33. The system of claim 32, wherein the textured surface comprises a pattern of grooves.

50. 33. The system of claim 32, wherein the textured surface comprises a pattern of protrusions.

51. 32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the elastomeric substrate comprises an upper surface configured to contact the user's upper teeth, a lower surface configured to contact the user's lower teeth, and a standoff structure spanning between the upper and lower surfaces.

52. 52. The system of claim 51 , wherein the standoff structure is a first standoff structure and the elastomeric substrate comprises a second standoff structure spanning between the upper surface and the lower surface, the first standoff structure being located on a left side of the elastomeric substrate and the second standoff structure being located on a right side of the elastomeric substrate.

53. 53. The system of claim 52, wherein the first and second standoff structures are vertical posts spanning between the upper and lower surfaces of the elastomeric substrate, the vertical posts positioned to align with one or more of the user's molars, premolars, or canines.

54. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a fluid opening, a check valve on a bottom surface configured to provide fluid to the handle, and an elevated plate positioned over the fluid opening such that a gap exists between the elevated plate and the fluid opening.

55. 55. The system of claim 54, wherein the width of the elevated plate exceeds the width of the fluid opening.

56. 56. The system of claim 55, wherein the width of the elevated plate is at least twice the width of the fluid opening.

57. 1. A dental shim device for intraoral scanning, comprising: first and second alignment portions each having an upper surface and a lower surface for positioning and maintaining the upper and lower teeth in selected positions; a bridge portion having a length spanning between the first and second alignment portions; one or more orientation alignment markers on the facial surfaces of the first and second matching portions and / or the bridge portion; A device comprising:

58. 58. The device of claim 57, wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the first and second mating portions contact the incisal and / or occlusal surfaces of the upper and lower teeth.

59. 58. The device of claim 57, wherein the upper surface has a first surface area and a first width, and the lower surface has a second surface area and a second width, the first width being greater than the second width.

60. 60. The device of claim 59, wherein the first surface area is greater than the second surface area.

61. 61. A device according to any one of claims 57 to 60, wherein the first and second alignment portions each include a sidewall sized to retain a fixed vertical offset between the upper and lower teeth.

62. 62. The device of claim 61, wherein the fixed vertical offset is between about 5 mm and about 20 mm.

63. 62. The device of claim 61, wherein the sidewall comprises a rigid material.

64. 62. The device of claim 61, wherein the upper and lower surfaces comprise a flexible material configured to conform to the contours of the upper and lower teeth.

65. 65. The device of claim 64, wherein the flexible material is moldable.

66. 65. The device of claim 64, wherein the flexible material comprises one or more of a rubber-like material, dental wax, dental impression material, gum barrier material, and foam.

67. 65. The device of claim 64, wherein the flexible material is stiffenable from an elastic state to a rigid state.

68. 68. The device of claim 67, wherein the flexible material is curable using one or more of chemical curing, thermal curing, room temperature curing, and light curing.

69. 58. The device of claim 57, wherein the length of the bridge portion has a curve that approximates the curve of a dental arch.

70. 70. The device of claim 69, wherein the curved length is configured to match the curve or width of the dental arch.

71. 70. The device of claim 69, wherein the curved length of the bridge portion further comprises a convex facial surface.

72. 72. The device of claim 71, wherein the convex facial surface is tapered such that an upper portion of the facial surface protrudes anteriorly and tapers inwardly toward a lower portion of the facial surface.

73. 70. The device of claim 69, wherein the bridge portion comprises a flexible material.

74. 70. The device of claim 69, wherein a first end of the curved length is attached to the first alignment portion and a second end of the bridge length is attached to the second alignment portion.

75. 70. The device of claim 69, wherein the orientation alignment marker comprises a vertical midline indicator located midway along the length of the bridge portion.

76. 58. The device of claim 57, wherein the orientation alignment markers form an asymmetric arrangement.

77. 58. The device of claim 57, wherein the one or more orientation alignment markers are shaped and positioned such that the position of each upper and lower tooth relative to the one or more orientation alignment markers is unique.

78. 58. The device of claim 57, wherein the one or more orientation alignment markers are arranged and shaped such that alignment between the upper and lower arches can be determined by aligning the relative positions of the upper and lower teeth to the one or more orientation alignment markers.

79. 58. The device of claim 57, wherein the orientation alignment marker comprises one or more 3D structures extending from the facial surfaces of the first and second matching portions and / or the bridge portion.

80. 58. The device of claim 57, wherein the orientation alignment markers comprise one or more visual indicia located on facial surfaces of the first and second matching portions and / or the bridge portion.

81. 81. The device of claim 80, wherein the one or more visual indicia comprises a non-uniform cross-hatched pattern.

82. 81. The device of claim 80, wherein the one or more visual indicia include raised and / or depressed areas shaped as semicircles and / or blocks and / or notches at known locations relative to each other.

83. 58. The device of claim 57, wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the first and second mating portions contact the lingual and / or facial surfaces of the upper and lower teeth.

84. 58. The device of claim 57, wherein the selected positions of the upper and lower teeth are closed bite positions.

85. 58. The device of claim 57, further comprising a stabilizing structure configured to contact the first and second mating portions and configured to engage an anatomical structure outside the wearer's oral cavity.

86. 86. The device of claim 85, wherein the stabilizing structure is configured to engage one or more of the wearer's chin, forehead, and cheeks.

87. 58. The device of claim 57, wherein the length of the bridge portion includes a mounting tab.

88. 58. The device of claim 57, wherein the first and second matching portions, the bridge portion, and the orientation alignment marker are made from a non-reflective, non-transparent material.

89. 58. The device of claim 57, wherein the first and second matching portions, the bridge portion, and the orientation alignment marker are made from an opaque material.

90. 1. A dental shim device for acquiring oral data, comprising: an upper tray including a surface that contacts the upper teeth of an upper dental arch and an upper handle extending from a curved portion of the upper tray; a lower tray including a surface that contacts the lower teeth of a lower dental arch and a lower handle extending from a curved portion of the lower tray; an adjustable mating joint engaging the upper tray and the lower tray, the adjustable mating joint being configured to adjust an offset and angle between the upper tray and the lower tray; A device comprising:

91. 91. The device of claim 90, wherein the adjustable interlocking joint comprises a recessed groove on the upper tray and a ball on the lower tray opposite the recessed groove, the ball being movable within the recessed groove to adjust the offset and angle between the upper tray and the lower tray.

92. 92. The device of claim 91, wherein the recessed groove comprises a recessed cavity.

93. 92. The device of claim 91, wherein the recessed groove comprises a curve configured to engage the ball at a position within the recessed groove to retain the offset and angle.

94. 81. The device of claim 80, wherein the tooth-contacting surface of the upper tray comprises a flexible material configured to conform to the contours of the upper teeth and the tooth-contacting surface of the lower tray comprises a flexible material configured to conform to the contours of the lower teeth.

95. 1. A customized system for oral irrigation, comprising: a fluid reservoir; and A customized oral insert, comprising: an upper substrate configured to receive the upper teeth of a user; a lower substrate configured to receive the user's lower teeth; an array of fluid openings located in the upper and lower substrates; a fluid inlet port connectable to the fluid reservoir and in fluid communication with the fluid opening; Fluid outlet port and a customized oral cavity insert comprising: a collection container configured to attach to the fluid outlet port of the oral insert; A system comprising:

96. 96. The system of claim 95, further comprising a microbiota collection fluid in the fluid reservoir.

97. 96. The system of claim 95, further comprising a sample stabilizing fluid in the collection container, the sample stabilizing fluid comprising a liquid suspension.

98. 98. The system of claim 97, wherein the liquid suspension comprises a preservative solution.

99. 96. The system of claim 95, wherein the microbiota collection fluid comprises saline.

100. 96. The system of claim 95, wherein the collection chamber is configured to be attached to the oral insert with a snap lock.

101. 96. The system of claim 95, wherein the collection chamber comprises an opening and a fluid-tight cover removably positioned over the opening.

102. 1. A method for collecting an oral microbiome sample, comprising: inserting an oral insert into the user's oral cavity, the oral insert comprising one or more fluid openings in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir containing a microbiota collection fluid and a fluid outlet port; delivering the microbiota collection fluid from the fluid reservoir to the oral insert into the user's oral cavity at a fluid pressure of about 40 psi or greater; collecting an oral microbiota sample by accumulating a volume of the microbiota collection fluid using a collection chamber coupled to the fluid outlet port; A method comprising:

103. 103. The method of claim 102, wherein one or more fluid openings of the oral insert are arranged at positions corresponding to subgingival and / or interdental regions of the user's oral cavity such that a fluid jet from the fluid opening is directed toward the subgingival region, and delivering the microbiota collection fluid into the user's oral cavity comprises directing the microbiota collection fluid through the one or more fluid openings to the subgingival and / or interdental regions of the user's oral cavity.

104. 103. The method of claim 102, wherein the collection chamber contains a sample stabilizing fluid.

105. 103. The method of claim 102, wherein the microbiota collection fluid comprises saline.

106. 103. The method of claim 102, wherein delivering the microbiota collection fluid comprises pumping the microbiota collection fluid into the oral insert for a defined duration.

107. 107. The method of claim 106, wherein the prescribed duration is from about 1 second to about 10 seconds.

108. 103. The method of claim 102, further comprising priming the oral insert by pumping the microbiota collection fluid through the oral insert prior to inserting the oral insert into the user's oral cavity.

109. 109. The method of claim 108, wherein priming the oral insert comprises pumping the microbiota collection fluid through the oral insert for a predetermined duration of about 1 second to about 20 seconds.

110. 110. The method of claim 109, further comprising coupling the collection chamber to the fluid outlet port after priming the oral insert.

111. 103. The method of claim 102, wherein the fluid pressure is between about 40 psi and about 200 psi.

112. 103. The method of claim 102, further comprising sealing the collection chamber with a liquid-tight cover after collecting the oral microbiome sample.

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