oral appliances

Abstract

To provide an oral appliance capable of achieving muscle functional training on a jaw and a mouth, in all periods since, a deciduous dentition period to mixture tooth row period, and to a permanent dentition period.SOLUTION: An oral appliance 1 which is integrally formed of an elastic material, comprises: a U-shaped base part 11 formed in a U-shape in plan view and is along tooth rows of upper and lower jaws of a human being; a peripheral wall 20 which is along a peripheral edge of the base part 11, and has an upper peripheral wall 21 protruded to an upper side, and a lower peripheral wall 22 protruded to a lower side; and an inner peripheral wall 30 which is along an inner peripheral edge of the base part 10, and has an upper inner peripheral wall 31 protruded to an upper side, and a lower inner peripheral wall 32 protruded to a lower side. The base part 10 comprises on a top surface side thereof, a plurality of salient parts 11. The upper inner peripheral wall 31 has a tab part 24 which is protruded horizontally, or protruded and inclined obliquely downward relative to a horizontal direction to an internal side, the tab part being provided on a center part thereof. The lower inner peripheral wall 32 comprises: a wall part extending downward along the inner peripheral edge of the base part 10; and a tongue catch part 34 which extends from the wall part toward a further internal side, in a horizontally curved state, and which has on prescribed positions, a left and right pair of salient parts.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mouthpiece-type oral appliance, and more particularly to an oral appliance for training the muscles around the jaw and mouth. [Background technology]

[0002] Mouthpieces have traditionally been known as instruments or devices worn in the oral cavity. They are used for orthodontic treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders and occlusion disorders (called splints).

[0003] The human jaw is made up of the maxilla, which has an upper dental arch, and the mandible, which has a lower dental arch. The mandible is connected to the skull by the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and people move the mandible when chewing food or talking. Malocclusion, in which the upper and lower teeth are not properly aligned, can cause misalignment of the temporomandibular joint, which can lead to tension in the neck and stiff shoulders. For this reason, so-called mouthpiece-type devices have been proposed that maintain the alignment of the upper and lower teeth in a normal occlusion state and correct misalignment of the temporomandibular joint (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] Furthermore, when a person chews food, the movement of the lower jaw is mainly performed by muscles called the masticatory muscles, and when the food is captured with the lips and chewed, some of the facial muscles work to push the food mass toward the throat. Furthermore, the orbicularis oris muscle, which surrounds the lips, and several facial muscles that radiate from the orbicularis oris muscle work to produce speech. In this way, the jaw and facial muscles play an important role in performing functions such as chewing, swallowing, and speaking.

[0005] Many oral morphology problems, such as malocclusion, are thought to be caused by oral myofunctional disorders (OMD), which are dysfunctions of the muscles around the mouth. In other words, when the mouth is open due to mouth breathing, etc., and / or the tongue is relaxed, the balance of muscle pressure on the dentition is disrupted, affecting the dentition. Children in the skeletal growth stage who have habits such as tongue thrust or mouth breathing are suspected of having oral myofunctional disorders, making them more susceptible to problems such as malocclusion and crowded teeth.

[0006] For this reason, in the fields of orthodontics and OMD treatment, a mouthpiece-type oral cavity training device for training the tongue and lips has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-317335 [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 2020-533130 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Corrective appliances, such as those for correcting misalignment of the temporomandibular joint, are left in the mouth for long periods of time, which can cause some people to feel a strong foreign body sensation and become ill. The device in Patent Document 1 has a base that is U-shaped in plan view, with an outer flange along the outer edge and an inner flange along the inner edge, and the contact between the inner flange and the tongue is uncomfortable for the user.

[0009] Furthermore, the oral cavity training device in Patent Document 2 comprises a U-shaped main body with inner and outer walls, a tongue training member extending from the inner wall, and a lip training member extending from the outer wall, and is intended to improve habits such as finger sucking, tongue thrusting, and mouth breathing by training the tongue and lips. However, because the lip training member protrudes from the mouth, this device forces the user to hold something in their lips, making it unsuitable for training the ability to completely close the mouth and unsightly.

[0010] Oral appliances used to reduce malocclusion are recommended to be worn for a set number of hours per day over several years during periods of active jaw growth and development, including the period when baby teeth are replaced by permanent teeth. Thus, oral appliances that are more comfortable to use than ever before are needed so that users can continue using them for long periods of time without giving up midway.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide an oral appliance that allows for muscle function training around the jaw and mouth, from the primary dentition stage through the mixed dentition stage and the permanent dentition stage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, is an oral appliance that is formed integrally from an elastic material, and comprises: a base portion that is U-shaped in a plan view and that follows the dentition of a person's upper and lower jaws; an outer peripheral wall that has an upper outer peripheral wall that protrudes upward and a lower outer peripheral wall that protrudes downward along the outer peripheral edge of the base portion; and an inner peripheral wall that has an upper inner peripheral wall that protrudes upward and a lower inner peripheral wall that protrudes downward along the inner peripheral edge of the base portion, wherein the base portion has a plurality of convex ridges on its upper surface, and the upper inner peripheral wall has a tab portion that protrudes inward from its central portion, either horizontally or obliquely downward from the horizontal, and the lower inner peripheral wall has a wall portion that extends downward along the inner peripheral edge of the base portion, and a tongue catch portion that extends further inward from the wall portion and curves horizontally, and has a pair of left and right convex portions at predetermined positions.

[0013] In an oral appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention, the outer peripheral wall has a plurality of protrusions on the outer peripheral side of a portion that covers the lip side of the maxillary and / or mandibular dentition.

[0014] The oral appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention further includes a hole penetrating the outer peripheral wall, the base portion, and the inner peripheral wall. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the oral appliance of the present invention, the base portion is provided with a convex ridge portion, which prevents teeth biting the base portion from slipping, allowing the oral appliance to be worn stably. Furthermore, the upper inner peripheral wall has a tab portion, and the lower inner peripheral wall has a tongue catch portion. The tab portion holds the tip of the user's tongue from above, and the tongue catch portion supports the user's tongue from below, thereby lifting the tongue from the lower jaw and positioning the tip of the tongue in an appropriate position. Furthermore, the surface of the tongue catch portion is provided with a pair of convex portions, which reduces the discomfort felt when wearing the appliance due to the underside of the tongue coming into close contact with the tongue catch portion. As a result, the oral appliance of the present invention is less difficult to wear for long periods of time, and allows for training of the muscles around the jaw and mouth.

[0016] According to the oral appliance of the present invention, by providing a plurality of protrusions on the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall, it is possible to particularly stimulate the inside of the lips and effectively train the muscles around the mouth.

[0017] The oral appliance according to the present invention further comprises holes that penetrate from the outer peripheral wall through the base portion and the inner peripheral wall, ensuring ventilation when the oral appliance is worn by the user and reducing breathlessness when worn. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of an oral appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a right side view of an oral appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the oral appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a plan view of an oral appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of an oral appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view of an oral appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view of an oral appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a ridge portion in the oral appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a state in which an oral appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention is worn. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view of an oral appliance according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an oral appliance according to a modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The following embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are examples of the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0020] An oral appliance 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The oral appliance 1 according to this embodiment is also referred to as a mouthpiece, and is worn by the user in the oral cavity. Hereinafter, in this specification, "front teeth" refers to the left and right central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines in the case of permanent teeth, and to the left and right primary central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines in the case of primary teeth. "Back teeth" refers to the left and right first premolars, second premolars, first molars, and second molars in the case of permanent teeth, and to the left and right primary molars in the case of primary teeth.

[0021] [1. Preparation of oral appliances] As shown in FIG. 1, oral device 1 includes a base portion 10, an upper outer peripheral wall 21, a lower outer peripheral wall 22, an upper inner peripheral wall 31, a lower inner peripheral wall 32, and a tongue catch portion 34. An oral device having such a configuration is integrally formed by injecting liquid silicone rubber, which is a thermosetting resin, into a mold and curing the liquid silicone rubber at a predetermined mold temperature. The mold temperature is preferably 150 to 280°C, and more preferably 250 to 270°C. The mold temperature is changed depending on the type and amount of crosslinking agent and additives contained in the liquid silicone rubber.

[0022] If the oral appliance 1 is too hard, wearing it for a long period of time will cause pain and make it difficult to close the mouth. On the other hand, if the oral appliance 1 is too soft, it will be bitten off when the user clenches their teeth. For this reason, the silicone rubber that forms the oral appliance 1 is preferably slightly softer than medium in hardness, which allows the user to close their mouth easily and is flexible.

[0023] Although silicone rubber is used as the elastic resin in this embodiment, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA) or polyurethane (PU) resins may also be used. That is, any resin with the same elasticity and flexibility as the silicone rubber used in this embodiment is sufficient. For example, a hardness of approximately 35 to 45 measured using a durometer, which is commonly used to measure the hardness of rubber, is preferred. Forming the oral device 1 of this embodiment from an elastic resin of this hardness results in a gentler feel in the oral cavity than conventional oral devices of this type, reducing discomfort and enabling prolonged wear. Since this is an oral device, an elastic resin that complies with food contact material safety tests (e.g., German Food and Daily Use Regulations) is used. Furthermore, from the perspective of maintaining cleanliness, a transparent or light-colored resin is preferred, as it allows for easy visual confirmation of the removal of dirt by washing.

[0024] [2. Oral appliance configuration] The configuration of the oral appliance 1 will now be further described. Fig. 1 is a front view of the oral appliance 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a right side view of the oral appliance 1. Note that the left side view is omitted because it is symmetrical to the right side view. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the oral appliance 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the oral appliance 1. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the oral appliance 1. Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the oral appliance 1.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 to 7, the oral appliance 1 comprises a base portion 10 that is U-shaped in plan view and conforms to the dentition of the upper and lower jaws of a person (user), an outer peripheral wall 20 that protrudes upward and downward along the outer peripheral edge of the base portion 10, and an inner peripheral wall 30 that protrudes upward and downward along the inner peripheral edge of the base portion.

[0026] When the user wears the oral appliance 1 in the oral cavity, the base portion 10 is positioned between the upper and lower teeth of the upper and lower jaws and receives occlusal pressure. The width of the base portion 10 is formed so that it is widest at both ends of the approximately U-shaped configuration in a plan view and narrows toward the center, which is the bottom of the U. In other words, the width of the portion where the back teeth contact is wider than the portion where the front teeth contact. The thickness of the base portion 10 is, for example, 1.5 to 3.5 mm, and more preferably 2 to 3 mm. Both ends of the U-shape of the base portion 10 protrude slightly beyond the outer peripheral wall 20 and the inner peripheral wall 30.

[0027] A plurality of ridges 11 are provided on the upper surface of the base portion 10. As shown enlarged in FIG. 8, each ridge 11 has a convex cross section, and in plan view, a plurality of ridges 11 are provided linearly from the inner end to the outer end of the base portion 10. The ridge height of the ridges 11 is approximately 0.1 to 1 mm. The ridges 11 function as anti-slip devices by contacting the occlusal surfaces of the upper dentition with their tips or by fitting between the teeth. For example, when the tips of the ridges 11 act on the molars of the upper dentition, slippage in the anterior-posterior direction is primarily prevented, and when the tips of the ridges 11 act on the anterior teeth of the upper dentition, slippage in the lateral direction is primarily prevented. This improves the orthodontic effect of the oral appliance 1. The spacing between the multiple ridges 11 may be constant, or may be different, for example, narrower in the area where the front teeth contact than in the area where the back teeth contact. The ridges 11 may also be formed in a generally radial pattern so that the spacing between the ridges 11 is wider at the outer end of the base 10 than at the inner end. The ridges 11 only need to be formed in the area where the teeth contact, and do not necessarily need to be long enough to traverse the entire length from the inner end to the outer end of the base 10.

[0028] The outer peripheral wall 20 is formed along the outer edge of the base portion 10 and is composed of an upper outer peripheral wall 21 protruding above the base portion and a lower outer peripheral wall 22 protruding below the base portion 10.

[0029] The edge of upper outer peripheral wall 21 is formed in a gentle curve, with the height near the center being higher and the edge of the base being lower. A notch 23 is provided at the top end of the center of upper outer peripheral wall 21, allowing upper outer peripheral wall 21 to cover the front teeth and their gums while avoiding the frenulum of the upper lip. The area of upper outer peripheral wall 21 that corresponds to the front teeth functions as an alignment wall for aligning the front teeth, and its inner surface abuts against the surfaces of the front teeth.

[0030] The lower outer peripheral wall 22 is formed substantially symmetrically with the upper outer peripheral wall 21, with the depth near the center being deeper and the depth becoming shallower toward the end of the base portion 10, and the overall length in the vertical direction is shorter than that of the upper outer peripheral wall 21. The lip side of the lower outer peripheral wall 22 slopes inward to cover the anterior teeth of the lower dental row and their gums, and a notch 28 is provided in the center of the lower end. The provision of the notch 28 allows the lower outer peripheral wall 22 to cover the anterior teeth and their gums while avoiding the frenulum of the lower lip. The region of the lower outer peripheral wall 22 corresponding to the anterior teeth functions as an alignment wall that aligns the anterior teeth, and its inner surface abuts against the surfaces of the anterior teeth.

[0031] A plurality of columnar protrusions 25 are formed on the outer surface near the center of the lower outer peripheral wall 22. These protrusions 25 primarily stimulate the mentalis muscle under the lips from the oral cavity side, thereby contributing to training the muscles used to close the mouth and preventing mouth breathing. The protrusions 25 may be, for example, cylindrical with a height of approximately 0.5 to 1 mm and a diameter of 0.5 to 1.5 mm, or may be columnar with a heart-shaped or star-shaped cross section. Furthermore, the protrusions 25 do not all have the same shape, and different shapes may be combined. Instead of the columnar protrusions 25, a plurality of hemispherical protrusions may be provided, or a plurality of linear protrusions may be provided vertically or horizontally on the outer surface near the center of the lower outer peripheral wall 22. Furthermore, protrusions may be formed not only on the outer surface of the lower outer peripheral wall 22 but also along the upper outer peripheral surface 21.

[0032] Upper outer peripheral wall 21 and lower outer peripheral wall 22 are formed with an appropriate thickness and made of silicone rubber of an appropriate hardness, so they do not hinder jaw growth and can apply appropriate pressure to the teeth. Furthermore, cutout portion 23 in upper outer peripheral wall 21 and cutout portion 28 in lower outer peripheral wall 22 allow the user to accurately determine the center position of oral appliance 1 visually before wearing it and by touch after wearing it.

[0033] The inner peripheral wall 30 is formed along the inner edge of the base portion 10 and is composed of an upper inner peripheral wall 31 that protrudes above the base portion 10 and a lower inner peripheral wall 32 that protrudes below the base portion 10.

[0034] The upper inner peripheral wall 31 is curved upward near the center to fit the rear surfaces of the front teeth and the curved surface of the upper jaw, and has a shape in which the wall surface becomes more vertical toward the end of the U-shape of the base portion 10. A tab portion 24 is provided at the upper end of the center portion of the upper inner peripheral wall 31, extending approximately horizontally toward the inside (tongue side) so as to partially divide the left and right upper inner peripheral walls 31.

[0035] Tab portion 24 indicates the position of the tongue tip to the user when oral appliance 1 is fitted in the oral cavity, and also serves to press the tip of the tongue downward. The inclination of tab portion 24 is adjusted so that the tip position of tab portion 24 is lower than the upper ends of left and right upper inner circumferential walls 31. Furthermore, tab portion 24 may be inclined at an angle below horizontal.

[0036] The lower inner peripheral wall 32 extends downward from the inner peripheral edge of the base portion 10 and has a wall portion 33 that abuts against the lower jaw teeth from the inside, thereby aligning the teeth, and further on has a tongue catch portion 34 that extends and curves approximately horizontally toward the inside (tongue side).

[0037] The tongue catch portion 34 is curved horizontally from the wall portion 33, and has a notch 38 in its center to prevent contact with the lingual frenulum. The tongue catch portion 34 functions as a tongue rest, supporting the tongue from below to prevent it from touching the lower jaw. A pair of left and right protrusions 35 are provided at predetermined positions on the tongue catch portion 34. The predetermined positions are at the center of the lower inner wall 32, spaced a certain distance to the left and right from the center of the tongue catch portion 34. The protrusions 35 are provided in pairs at symmetrical positions on the side edges of the tongue catch portion 34, protruding inward. These protrusions 35 allow the user to recognize the position of the tongue on each cheek when wearing the oral appliance and assist in tongue positioning. By placing the tongue in the correct position, the tongue pushes the U-shaped shape of the oral appliance 1 outward, allowing it to fit more closely to the dentition.

[0038] Furthermore, the tongue catch portion 34 forms a storage space for the tongue with a curved shape that wraps around the tongue from below, and therefore positions the tip of the tongue together with the tab portion 24 and restricts tongue movement in the oral cavity. This eliminates, for example, a condition in which the tongue tip presses against the front teeth, causing misalignment of the teeth (malocclusion due to tongue thrusting).

[0039] The oral device 1 further includes holes 37 that penetrate from the outer peripheral wall 20 through the base portion 10 and inner peripheral wall 30. Two holes 37 are provided at symmetrical positions near the center of the front side of the oral device 1. These holes 37 function as vents that draw in and expel air when the user wears the oral device 1 in their mouth. The vertical dimension of the holes 37 is set to be 50 to 70% of the thickness of the base portion 10. These holes 37 ensure that breathing is not obstructed even when the oral device 1 is worn.

[0040] [3.Use] The oral appliance 1 according to this embodiment is worn in the oral cavity of a user, as shown in Figure 9. At this time, the user bites the base portion 10 with the upper and lower teeth (upper teeth 45 and lower teeth 46). By maintaining the mouth closed with the upper lip 41 and lower lip 42 touching each other for a predetermined period of time, the orbicularis oris muscle around the mouth and the mentalis muscle extending downward below the orbicularis oris muscle and other muscles are strengthened.

[0041] Furthermore, when the user wears the oral appliance 1, the position of the appliance can be stabilized by contacting the tip of the tongue with the tab portion 24. The tab portion 24 and the tongue catch portion 34 position the tip of the tongue 43, strengthening the tongue muscles that lift the tongue and training the tongue to position it appropriately. Furthermore, the tongue muscles support the shape of the dentition from the inside (lingual side). During the craniofacial development period, this tongue positioning action improves the balance of force between the tongue muscles and the muscles on the outside (cheek or lip side), thereby inducing a correct occlusion. When the oral appliance 1 according to this embodiment is used as a muscle training device during the craniofacial development period, oral appliances 1 of different sizes are used to match the size of the jaw according to the development of the skull.

[0042] In addition, since the upper and lower jaw teeth bite the base portion 10, it can also be used to prevent teeth grinding while sleeping, thereby preventing tooth wear due to teeth grinding.

[0043] Furthermore, since the tip of the tongue can be positioned by the tab portion 24 and the tongue catch portion 34, it can also be used to prevent snoring.

[0044] Furthermore, the oral appliance 1 according to this embodiment is made of silicone rubber with a hardness slightly softer than medium. On the other hand, conventional mouthpieces have the problem that the hardness of the mouthpiece causes pain on the cheeks and gums inside the mouth, making it difficult to close the mouth. The oral appliance 1 according to this embodiment solves the conventional problem that, when a person is unable to close their mouth and simply inserts the mouthpiece with their mouth half-open, it does not train them to close their mouth, and the muscle training effect is not fully achieved.

[0045] [4. Modifications] Figures 10 and 11 are diagrams illustrating a modified example of the oral appliance. Figure 10 is a plan view illustrating a modified example of the base portion. Figure 11 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example of the tongue catch portion.

[0046] In the above-described embodiment, both ends of the U-shape of the base portion 10 slightly protrude beyond both ends of the outer peripheral wall 20 and the inner peripheral wall 30. However, in the oral appliance 100 according to the modified example shown in FIG. 10 , both ends of the U-shape of the base portion 110 are sized so that they do not protrude beyond the positions of both ends of the outer peripheral wall 20 and the inner peripheral wall 30. It is recommended that users wear an oral appliance of a size that fits the size of their jaw during the primary dentition period, mixed dentition period, and primary permanent dentition period, but the space within the oral cavity varies from person to person. If a user experiences breathlessness due to the ends of the base portion 10 protruding beyond the ends of the outer peripheral wall 20 and the inner peripheral wall 30, the end of the U-shape of the base portion 110 may be aligned with the ends of the outer peripheral wall 20 and the inner peripheral wall 30, as in this modified example, thereby shortening the depth dimension of the oral appliance within the oral cavity.

[0047] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the pair of protrusions 35 in the tongue catch portion 34 are provided so that a portion thereof further protrudes inward from the inner edge of the tongue catch portion 34, but as in oral appliance 200 according to a modified example shown in Fig. 11, protrusions 135 may be provided so that they protrude upward from the upper surface of the tongue catch portion 34. In other words, the protrusions 35, 135 in the tongue catch portion 34 may be positioned and shaped in such a way that the user can confirm contact with both the left and right sides of the tongue.

[0048] The above-described embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and the oral appliance according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Therefore, even if the embodiment is not the above-described embodiment, various modifications can be made depending on the design, etc., as long as they do not deviate from the technical concept of the present invention. Furthermore, the effects described in this disclosure are merely examples and are not limiting, and other effects may also be present. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1 Oral appliances 10 Base 11 Convex portion 20 Outer wall 21 Upper outer peripheral wall 22 Lower outer peripheral wall 23 Notch 24 Tab section 28 Notch 25 Protrusion 30 Inner wall 31 Upper inner peripheral wall 32 Lower inner peripheral wall 33 Wall section 34 Tongue catch 35 Convex part 37 Hole 38 Notch

Claims

1. 1. An oral appliance integrally formed of a resilient material, comprising: A base portion having a U-shape in a plan view that conforms to the tooth rows of a person's upper and lower jaws; an outer peripheral wall having an upper outer peripheral wall protruding upward and a lower outer peripheral wall protruding downward along an outer peripheral edge of the base portion; an inner peripheral wall having an upper inner peripheral wall protruding upward and a lower inner peripheral wall protruding downward along an inner peripheral edge of the base portion; Equipped with the base portion has a plurality of linearly formed protruding portions on its upper surface from an inner end thereof on the upper inner peripheral wall side to an outer end thereof on the upper outer peripheral wall side, The upper inner peripheral wall has a tab portion at its center that projects inward horizontally or inclined obliquely downward from the horizontal, The lower inner peripheral wall has a wall portion extending downward along the inner peripheral edge of the base portion, and a tongue catch portion extending further inward from the wall portion while being curved horizontally, and having a pair of left and right protrusions provided at predetermined positions. An oral appliance characterized by:

2. 10. The oral appliance of claim 1, The outer peripheral wall has a plurality of protrusions on the outer peripheral side of the portion covering the lip side of the maxillary and / or mandibular dentition. An oral appliance having:

3. The oral appliance according to claim 1 or 2, The oral appliance further comprises an aperture extending through the outer peripheral wall, the base portion, and the inner peripheral wall.

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