Nasal respiration inducer and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

To provide a nasal respiration guiding tool with a simple structure that hardly gives a wearer a feeling of discomfort when worn, and to provide a manufacturing method thereof.SOLUTION: A nasal respiration guiding tool 1 is roughly of an elliptical shape surrounded by two sides 11, an upper end 12, and a lower end 13. The nasal respiration guiding tool 1 includes: an outer face 2 opposed to the inside of the lip of a wearer; and an inner face 3 opposed to the front teeth of the wearer. The two sides 11 are bent toward the inner face 3, and the upper end 12 and the lower end 13 are also bent toward the inner face 3. By this bending, the nasal respiration guiding tool 1 is held inside the lip of the wearer in a stable manner. The inner face 3 of the nasal respiration guiding tool 1 includes: an upper side tooth row concave part 6 corresponding to the shape of an upper side tooth row of the wearer; and a lower side tooth row concave part 7 corresponding to the shape of a lower side tooth row. The nasal respiration guiding tool 1 includes an upper end notch part 8 toward the inner side from the upper end 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a nasal respiration inducer suitable for being inserted between the inner side of the wearer's lip and the front teeth to induce the wearer's nasal respiration, and a method for manufacturing the same.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a mouth breathing preventer for preventing mouth breathing, which causes snoring or dryness in the oral cavity during sleep or the like, is known. For example, according to Patent Document 1, a mouth breathing preventer having a curved plate-shaped base, an engaging portion formed inside the base, a protrusion formed at the tip of the engaging portion, and a biting portion formed at the tip of the protrusion is described. By positioning the base between the inner side of the wearer's lip and the outer side of the teeth and positioning the protrusion inside the front teeth, and biting the engaging portion with the upper and lower front teeth, the outer side of the teeth can be covered by the base, air intrusion into the oral cavity can be suppressed, and the wearer's nasal respiration can be induced.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the conventional mouth breathing preventer, an engaging portion is required to stably hold the base inside the lip, and there is a problem that it is troublesome for the wearer because there is always an engaging portion on the upper and lower front teeth. In addition, there is also a problem that the shape of the entire mouth breathing preventer becomes complicated due to the provision of the engaging portion.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a nasal respiration inducer that causes less discomfort to the wearer and has a simple structure, and a method for manufacturing the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This invention has a first invention related to a nasal respiration inducer and a second invention related to a method for manufacturing a nasal respiration inducer. The first invention is a nasal respiration inducer inserted between the inner side of the wearer's lip and the front teeth, which is flexible and airtight, and has both sides, an upper end and a lower end extending between the both sides, an outer surface facing the inner side of the lip, an inner surface facing the front teeth, an upper dental arch recess formed on the inner surface and corresponding to the shape of the wearer's upper dental arch, and a lower dental arch recess corresponding to the shape of the lower dental arch. It consists of a single sheet that fits between the inside of the wearer's lips and the front teeth It is characterized by the above. According to this invention, there are no protrusions or the like on the outer and inner surfaces of the nasal respiration inducer, and it can be worn without discomfort.

[0007] The first invention is further characterized by comprising an upper notch portion extending inward from the upper end. By providing the upper notch portion, damage to the upper labial frenum of the wearer can be prevented.

[0008] The second invention is a method for manufacturing a nasal respiration inducer inserted between the inner side of the wearer's lip and the front teeth, comprising the steps of taking impressions of the wearer's upper and lower dental arches using a curing resin, creating upper and lower dental arch models based on the cured resin with impressions, The upper dental arch model and the lower dental arch model such that the front teeth come into contact Fixed together to integrate the upper dental arch model and the lower dental arch model creating a final model, Setting the final model in a compression molding machine and pressing a heated thermoplastic resin sheet against the final model, wherein the nasal respiration inducer has an outer surface facing the inside of the wearer's lips and an inner surface facing the front teeth by arranging the front teeth of the upper dental arch model and the lower dental arch model in the final model to face the thermoplastic resin sheet an upper dental arch recess formed on the inner surface and corresponding to the shape of the wearer's upper dental arch, and a lower dental arch recess corresponding to the shape of the lower dental arch is formed, and it consists of a single sheet that fits between the inside of the wearer's lips and the front teeth It is characterized by the above. According to the second invention, a nasal respiration inducer can be easily formed by simply pressing a heated thermoplastic resin sheet against the final model.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] The nasal respiration inducer according to this invention has a simple structure, can be worn without discomfort, and can be easily manufactured.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an example of the nasal breathing inducer 1. The nasal breathing inducer 1 is inserted between the inner side of the wearer's lip and the front teeth, and by being held on the inner side of the lip, it prevents air from flowing in and out from the mouth to the throat and suppresses mouth breathing, thereby promoting the wearer's nasal breathing. The nasal breathing inducer 1 has flexibility and airtightness, and has a size that covers the wearer's front teeth, that is, the central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines. A thermoplastic sheet can be used as the material of the nasal breathing inducer 1, and in this embodiment, for example, a silicone sheet with a thickness of about 1 mm to 3 mm is used.

[0012] The nasal breathing inducer 1 is substantially elliptical, surrounded by both sides 11, upper end 12, and lower end 13. The nasal breathing inducer 1 has an outer surface 2 facing the inner side of the wearer's lip and an inner surface 3 facing the wearer's front teeth. Both sides 11 are curved toward the inner surface 3, and the upper end 12 and the lower end 13 are also curved toward the inner surface 3. By curving in this way, the nasal breathing inducer 1 is stably held on the inner side of the wearer's lip.

[0013] The inner surface 3 of the nasal breathing inducer 1 is provided with an upper dental arch recess 6 corresponding to the shape of the wearer's upper dental arch and a lower dental arch recess 7 corresponding to the shape of the lower dental arch. Since the upper dental arch recess 6 and the lower dental arch recess 7 are formed to correspond to the shape of the wearer's dental arch, when the nasal breathing inducer 1 is worn, its inner surface 3 is in close contact with the wearer's front teeth and can be held between the inner side of the lip and the front teeth without a sense of discomfort. In this embodiment, the silicone sheet used as the material is very thin, and the upper dental arch recess 6 and the lower dental arch recess 7 also appear on the outer surface 2.

[0014] The nasal respiration inducer 1 is provided with an upper end notch 8 that extends inward from its upper end 12. The upper lip frenulum of the wearer is positioned at the upper end notch 8, and damage to this area can be prevented by the upper end 12 of the nasal respiration inducer 1. In some cases, a lower end notch extending inward from the lower end 13 may be further provided to prevent damage to the lower lip frenulum by the lower end 13 of the nasal respiration inducer 1.

[0015] The nasal respiration inducer 1 is sized to cover the front teeth of the wearer and the gingiva around them. That is, the upper end 12 is positioned on the gingiva beyond the crowns of the upper dental arch, and the lower end 13 is positioned on the gingiva beyond the crowns of the lower dental arch. Therefore, even when the mouth is opened with the nasal respiration inducer 1 worn, generally the opening can be blocked by the nasal respiration inducer 1. It is sized such that at least in a state where the upper and lower lips are unconsciously separated, the gap can be blocked by the nasal respiration inducer 1. Therefore, for example, even when the mouth is unconsciously opened during sleep, mouth breathing can be prevented and nasal respiration can be promoted.

[0016] A method for manufacturing the nasal respiration inducer 1 as described above will be explained. The nasal respiration inducer 1 can be made to order according to the dental mold of each wearer. In order to form the dental mold, impressions are taken of the upper and lower dental arches of the wearer respectively. Impression taking can use methods commonly performed in dentistry, and curable mold resin can be used.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 3, an upper dental arch model 21 and a lower dental arch model 22 of the wearer are respectively created based on the shaped cured resin mold. These models can be created using plaster. Next, a final model 23 is created by aligning the front tooth tips 21A of the upper dental arch model 21 and the front tooth tips 22A of the lower dental arch model 22 so that they contact each other. That is, since the upper dental arch model 21 and the lower dental arch model 22 are created separately for the upper and lower jaws, they are combined into one as the final model 23. Usually, when the molars are in occlusion, the front teeth of the upper dental arch cover the front teeth of the lower dental arch, and the front tooth tips do not contact each other. However, when sleeping or relaxing, the molars are not firmly in occlusion, there is a gap between the upper molars and the lower molars, and the front tooth tips often contact each other or are in a state close to contact. Therefore, the upper dental arch model 21 and the lower dental arch model 22 are combined so that the front tooth tips contact each other and fixed to form the final model 23.

[0018] Such a final model 23 and a thermoplastic resin sheet that is the material of the nasal breathing inducer 1 are set in a compression molding machine (for example, Erkopress 300Tp-ci manufactured by ERKODENT Erich Kopp). In this embodiment, a silicon sheet with a thickness of about 1 to 3 mm is used as the thermoplastic resin sheet. The thermoforming machine can heat and soften the thermoplastic resin sheet by a heat source such as an infrared heater, and the softened sheet can be formed into a desired shape by pressing it against the final model 23.

[0019] In this embodiment, the final model 23 is arranged downward, and the thermoplastic sheet is arranged above it. The final model 23 is arranged such that the front tooth tips face upward, that is, face the thermoplastic sheet. By pressing the sheet against such a final model 23, the upper dental arch recess 6 and the lower dental arch recess 7 in the vicinity of the wearer's front teeth can be formed on the inner surface 3 of the sheet. Further, both sides 11 of the thermoplastic sheet are curved toward the inner surface 3 in accordance with the dental arch curve of the wearer, and the upper end 12 and the lower end 13 are curved toward the inner surface 3. These curved states can also be made to conform to the shape of the wearer's oral cavity.

[0020] After pressing, the sheet hardened by cooling can be cut and adjusted according to the wearer to form the nasal respiration inducer 1.

[0021] The nasal respiration inducer 1 as described above has no protrusions on the outer surface 2 and the inner surface 3, and all of it fits between the inner side of the wearer's lip and the front teeth. That is, since only a single sheet is inserted between the inner side of the lip and the front teeth, it can be worn without discomfort. By providing the upper dental arch recess 6 and the lower dental arch recess 7 on the inner side 3, the nasal respiration inducer 1 can easily adhere to the wearer's front teeth, and the discomfort during wearing can be further reduced. Since the nasal respiration inducer 1 has flexibility, even if its position is displaced, it can adhere to the wearer's dental arch while flexing. Also, since the nasal respiration inducer 1 has airtightness, it can prevent the intrusion of air from the mouth, thereby promoting nasal respiration.

[0022] By promoting nasal respiration, it is possible to prevent dryness of the oral cavity or throat caused by mouth breathing and promote the secretion of saliva. Also, it is possible to suppress the droplet infection of viruses. Furthermore, by wearing it during light exercise, an improvement in cardiopulmonary function can be expected.

[0023] The nasal respiration inducer 1 as described above can be formed simply by pressing a thermoplastic sheet against a dental arch model, so the working process is few and the processing is easy. Although a silicon sheet is used as the thermoplastic sheet, it is not limited thereto, and other materials used in this field can be used without limitation. Also, the airtightness means not only something that completely blocks ventilation, but also something that limits the ventilation volume in normal breathing, including poor air permeability.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0024] 1 Nasal respiration inducer 2 Outer surface 3 Inner surface 6 Upper dental arch recess 7 Lower dental arch recess 8 Upper end notch Both sides Upper end Lower end Upper dental arch model Tip of the front tooth Lower dental arch model Tip of the front tooth Final model

Claims

1. In a nasal respiration inducer to be inserted between the inner side of the wearer's lips and the front teeth, it is flexible and airtight, and has both sides, an upper end and a lower end extending between the both sides, an outer surface facing the inner side of the lips, an inner surface facing the front teeth, an upper dental arch recess formed on the inner surface and corresponding to the shape of the wearer's upper dental arch, and a lower dental arch recess corresponding to the shape of the lower dental arch, and is characterized in that it consists of a single sheet that fits entirely between the inner side of the wearer's lips and the front teeth.

2. The nasal respiration inducer according to Claim 1, further comprising an upper notch portion extending inward from the upper end.

3. A method for manufacturing a nasal respiration inducer to be inserted between the inner side of the wearer's lips and the front teeth, comprising: taking impressions of the wearer's upper and lower dental arches using a hardening resin; creating an upper dental arch model and a lower dental arch model respectively based on the hardened resin with impressions taken; aligning and fixing the front teeth of the upper dental arch model and the lower dental arch model so that they contact each other to create a final model in which the upper dental arch model and the lower dental arch model are integrated; setting the final model in a compression molding machine and pressing a heated thermoplastic resin sheet against the final model, and is characterized in that the nasal respiration inducer is formed by arranging the front teeth of the upper dental arch model and the lower dental arch model in the final model to face the thermoplastic resin sheet, so that an outer surface facing the inner side of the wearer's lips, an inner surface facing the front teeth, an upper dental arch recess formed on the inner surface and corresponding to the shape of the wearer's upper dental arch, and a lower dental arch recess corresponding to the shape of the lower dental arch are formed, and it consists of a single sheet that fits entirely between the inner side of the wearer's lips and the front teeth.

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