Oral appliances

Abstract

To provide an easily attachable / detachable orthotic device, hard to generate positional deviation when being attached, and capable of obtaining excellent fitting feeling.SOLUTION: An orthotic device has a body part 10 whose rear face abuts on a gum part when being attached, which is an approximately tabular body part 10 curved in a thickness direction. The thickness of the body part 10 is thick on a position provided with a first recess 11 for avoiding upper lip zonule, or on a part adjacent to the first recess 11, and becomes thinner gradually toward the end.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an oral appliance.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cosmetic tooth that includes a decorative tooth for decorating the surface of a tooth to be decorated, and a decorative gingiva adhered to the surface of the gingiva at the root of the tooth to be decorated.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the invention described in Patent Document 1, when attaching the cosmetic tooth, the back surface of the decorative gingiva must be adhered to the surface of the gingiva at the root of the user's tooth to be decorated, which poses a problem that the cosmetic tooth cannot be easily attached and detached.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an oral appliance that is easy to attach and detach, hardly causes positional displacement when worn, and can provide a good fit feeling.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the oral appliance according to the present invention is, for example, an oral appliance to be attached to the front surface of the gums of the upper jaw, and has a roughly plate-shaped main body that is curved in the thickness direction, the back surface of which contacts the gums when attached, and on the upper side in the height direction of the main body there is a first recess approximately in the center to avoid the upper lip frenulum, and on the lower side in the height direction of the main body there is a plurality of second recesses with a roughly arc-shaped periphery, and a plurality of pointed projections provided between adjacent second recesses, which are positioned on the interdental papilla when attached, and the thickness of the main body is characterized in that it is thicker at the position where the first recess is provided or in the part adjacent to the first recess, and becomes thinner towards the edge.

[0007] The oral appliance according to the present invention has a roughly plate-shaped main body that is curved in the thickness direction, and whose back surface contacts the gums when worn. The thickness of the main body is thicker at the location where the first recess for avoiding the upper lip frenulum is provided or in the portion adjacent to the first recess, and the thickness decreases towards the ends. Because the main body is thin, it is easily deformed, which allows the oral appliance to be easily attached and detached. Furthermore, because the main body is curved in the thickness direction and its back surface contacts the gums when worn, the oral appliance can be attached without using adhesive, and because the back surface contacts the gums when worn, displacement during wear is less likely to occur, resulting in a good fit.

[0008] Here, the thickness of the main body may be thicker at the location where the first recess is provided or the portion adjacent to the first recess, and at both ends, and thinner from the first recess or the portion adjacent to the first recess towards the ends, and from both ends towards the center. This increases the strength of the main body and makes it less likely to deform, thus reducing the likelihood of misalignment when the oral appliance is fitted.

[0009] Here, the projection The end At the end teeth A stopper that protrudes towards the oral cavity when worn On the back It is provided, and the main body of back faceWhen viewed from above, the stopper may be roughly square in shape or roughly triangular with its base positioned on the upper side. This allows the stopper to be positioned between the teeth at the tip of the interdental papilla, making it less likely for the oral appliance to shift position when it is fitted.

[0010] Here, the thickness of the thickest part of the stopper may be approximately twice or more the thickness at the base of the stopper. This allows the stopper to be inserted into a triangular gap at the base of the tooth when the interdental papilla is lost, making it less likely for the stopper to shift position during insertion and providing a good fit.

[0011] Here, a projection that protrudes upward may be provided near the end of the main body on the upper side in the height direction. This allows the projection to be inserted between the upper jaw and the upper lip when the oral appliance is worn, preventing the oral appliance from shifting position or falling off. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily attach and detach the device while minimizing misalignment during wear and achieving a good fit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the outline of oral appliance 1, viewed from the diagonal front. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the outline of oral appliance 1, viewed from the rear at an oblique angle. [Figure 3] This is a front view showing a schematic of oral appliance 1. [Figure 4] This is a rear view showing a schematic of oral appliance 1. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view AA in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of BB. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing an outline of oral appliance 2. [Figure 8] This is a front view showing a schematic of oral appliance 3. [Figure 9] It is a side view showing an outline of the oral appliance 3. [Modes for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The oral appliance of the present invention is used by being attached to the front surface of the upper jaw gum portion of a user.

[0015] <First Embodiment> Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of the oral appliance 1, and is a view seen from the diagonally front side. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an outline of the oral appliance 1, and is a view seen from the diagonally rear side. Figure 3 is a front view showing an outline of the oral appliance 1. Figure 4 is a rear view showing an outline of the oral appliance 1.

[0016] Hereinafter, the side positioned on the front surface when the oral appliance 1 is attached (the diagonally front left side of the paper surface in Figure 1) is defined as the front surface of the oral appliance 1, and the side positioned on the user side when the oral appliance 1 is attached (the far right rear side of the paper surface in Figure 1) is defined as the back surface of the oral appliance 1. In addition, the side positioned on the user's upper lip side during attachment (the upper side in Figures 3 and 4) is defined as the upper side of the oral appliance 1, and the side positioned on the user's lower lip side during attachment (the lower side in Figures 3 and 4) is defined as the lower side of the oral appliance 1.

[0017] The oral appliance 1 has a main body portion 10. The main body portion 10 is a substantially plate-shaped member curved in the thickness direction, and is formed by bending a resin. The main body portion 10 is curved along the curve of the user's gum portion, and when the oral appliance 1 is attached, the back surface of the main body portion 10 abuts against the user's gum portion.

[0018] The main body portion 10 is formed using a gum-colored resin. Further, as the resin, a hard resin such as polyamide resin, polycarbonate resin, acrylic resin or the like can be used.

[0019] When the oral appliance 1 is worn, the longitudinal direction of the main body 10 extends laterally from the user; therefore, the longitudinal direction of the main body 10 is defined as the lateral direction of the main body 10. Also, the direction approximately perpendicular to the lateral direction of the main body 10 when viewed from the front is defined as the height direction of the main body 10.

[0020] A first recess 11 is provided approximately in the center of the upper part of the main body 10 in the height direction, to avoid the upper lip frenulum. The first recess 11 is approximately V-shaped when viewed from the front. The provision of the first recess 11 approximately in the center of the main body 10 makes it easier to align the oral appliance 1 with the wearer's gums in the lateral direction. However, the size (depth and width) of the first recess 11 is not limited to the illustrated form.

[0021] The thickness of the main body 10 is greater in the area where the first recess 11 is provided (hereinafter referred to as area 10a) and at both ends (hereinafter referred to as area 10b), while the thickness of the area between area 10a and area 10b is thinner. In other words, the thickness of the main body 10 decreases from the first recess 11 towards the ends, and from both ends towards the center. By making the thickness between area 10a and area 10b thinner, the main body 10 becomes more easily deformable, allowing the oral appliance 1 to be easily attached and detached. In addition, discomfort during wear is reduced, and a good fit can be obtained.

[0022] Furthermore, region 10a may include not only the region where the first recess 11 is provided, but also the region near the first recess 11. Also, region 10b may include not only both ends of the main body 10, but also the regions near both ends.

[0023] Furthermore, in region 10a, the thickness of the area where the first recess 11 is provided may be reduced, while the thickness of the portion adjacent to the first recess 11 may be increased. Reducing the thickness of the area where the first recess 11 is provided makes it less likely to feel uncomfortable when worn.

[0024] The lower side of the main body 10 in the height direction is provided with a plurality of second recesses 12 and a plurality of protrusions 13. The second recesses 12 have a substantially arc-shaped periphery, exposing the user's teeth. The protrusions 13 are provided between adjacent second recesses 12 and are positioned on the user's interdental papilla when worn. The protrusions 13 are substantially V-shaped or U-shaped in a front view, and have pointed tips.

[0025] In Figures 3 and 4, ten second recesses 12 and nine projections 13 are provided, but the number of second recesses 12 and projections 13 is not limited to these. However, in order for the oral appliance 1 to cover at least the central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines, it is desirable to provide eight or more second recesses 12 and seven or more projections 13. Also, the size (depth and width) of the second recesses 12 and the size (height and width) of the projections 13 are not limited to the illustrated form.

[0026] As shown in Figure 4, the back surface of the projection 13 is provided with a stopper 14 at its tip that protrudes towards the oral cavity when worn. Main body 10 on the back When viewed from this angle, the stopper 14 is roughly rectangular in shape. By making the stopper 14 roughly rectangular, it can be positioned between the teeth at the tip of the interdental papilla. Note that the roughly rectangular shape includes those with arcs formed at the corners.

[0027] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 4, part AA. The thickness t1 of the thickest part of the stopper 14 is approximately twice or more than twice the thickness t2 at the base of the stopper 14. When the interdental papilla disappears, a triangular gap is created at the base of the space between the teeth. The thicker part of the stopper 14 can be inserted into this gap, making it less likely for misalignment to occur during insertion and providing a good fit.

[0028] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of BB in Figure 4. The second recess 12 has a thin-walled portion 15 that becomes thinner towards the tip. This allows the thin-walled portion 15 to cover the root portion of the user's tooth, improving the aesthetics when worn.

[0029] According to this embodiment, the main body 10 is made into a roughly plate-like shape that is curved in the thickness direction, and by bringing almost the entire back surface of the main body 10 into contact with the front surface of the gums of the upper jaw, the oral appliance 1 can be attached without using adhesive, and misalignment of the oral appliance 1 during attachment is less likely to occur. In addition, by making the thickness between area 10a and area 10b thin, discomfort during attachment is reduced, and a good fit can be obtained.

[0030] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, by reducing the thickness between region 10a and region 10b, the main body 10 becomes more easily deformable, making it easier to attach and detach. By increasing the thickness of region 10a, the strength of the main body 10 can be increased while making it easier to deform. Also, by increasing the thickness of region 10b, the strength of the main body 10 is increased and the main body 10 becomes less prone to deformation, thus reducing the likelihood of misalignment when the oral appliance 1 is attached.

[0031] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the oral appliance 1 covers only the gum portion, it can be miniaturized and is easy to manufacture. For example, if the oral appliance has decorative teeth and decorative gums, it is necessary to use different colors and materials for the decorative teeth and decorative gums, which makes manufacturing time-consuming. Also, because the oral appliance has decorative teeth, the oral appliance 1 becomes large. In contrast, since the oral appliance 1 of this embodiment does not have decorative teeth, it is only necessary to form the main body 10 from a single resin, making it easy to manufacture. Moreover, if the oral appliance has decorative teeth, there is a risk of problems occurring when eating and drinking. In contrast, since the oral appliance 1 of this embodiment does not have decorative teeth, there are no problems such as food or drink getting stuck between the user's teeth and the decorative teeth when eating and drinking, making it easy to use.

[0032] In this embodiment, a stopper 14 is provided at the tip of the back surface of the projection 13, but the stopper 14 is not essential.

[0033] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the main body 10 of back face When viewed from above, the stopper 14 is roughly square in shape, but the shape of the stopper 14 is not limited to this. For example, the main body 10 of back face When viewed from above, the stopper 14 may be in the shape of a roughly triangular shape with its base positioned on the upper side. In this case as well, the stopper 14 can be positioned between the teeth at the tip of the interdental papilla. Note that the roughly triangular shape includes those with circular arcs formed at the corners and those with a curved base.

[0034] <Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, the thickness of region 10a, both ends, and region 10b is increased, and the thickness between region 10a and region 10b is reduced, but the shape of the main body is not limited to this.

[0035] The second embodiment is a configuration in which only region 10a is thick. The oral appliance 2 according to the second embodiment will be described in detail below. In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for parts that are the same as those in the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0036] Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the oral appliance 2. The oral appliance 2 has a main body 10A. The main body 10A, like the main body 10, is roughly plate-shaped and curved in the thickness direction, and is formed by bending a hard resin. By curving the main body 10A to conform to the curvature of the user's gums, the back surface of the main body 10A comes into contact with the gums when the oral appliance 2 is fitted.

[0037] A first recess 11 is provided approximately in the center of the upper side of the main body 10A. Multiple second recesses 12 and multiple protrusions 13 are provided on the lower side of the main body 10.

[0038] The thickness of the main body 10A is greater in region 10a and thinner in the parts outside region 10a. The thickness of the main body 10A decreases from the first recess 11 towards the edge.

[0039] According to this embodiment, by increasing the thickness only in region 10a and decreasing the thickness in other regions, discomfort is less likely to be felt when wearing the oral appliance 2, and a good fit can be obtained. In particular, reducing the thickness at both ends of the main body portion 10A has a significant effect in reducing discomfort when wearing the oral appliance 2.

[0040] <Third Embodiment> In the first embodiment, the height of the main body 10 was approximately constant, but the shape of the main body is not limited to this.

[0041] The second embodiment has protrusions near both ends of the main body. The oral appliance 3 according to the third embodiment will be described in detail below. In the third embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for parts that are the same as those in the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0042] Figure 8 is a schematic front view of the oral appliance 3. Figure 9 is a schematic side view of the oral appliance 3. The oral appliance 3 has a main body 10B. The main body 10B, like the main body 10, is roughly plate-shaped and curved in the thickness direction, and is formed by bending a hard resin. By curving the main body 10B to conform to the curvature of the user's gums, the back surface of the main body 10B comes into contact with the gums when the oral appliance 2 is fitted.

[0043] A first recess 11 is provided approximately in the center of the upper side of the main body 10B in the height direction. Multiple second recesses 12 and multiple protrusions 13 are provided on the lower side of the main body 10 in the height direction.

[0044] The thickness of the main body 10B is greater in region 10a and thinner in areas other than region 10a. The thickness of the main body 10B decreases from the first recess 11 towards the edge.

[0045] On the upper side of the main body 10B in the height direction, a projection 16 that protrudes upward is provided near the end of the main body 10B. The projection 16 may be provided at both ends of the main body 10B, or it may be provided at only one end of the main body 10B.

[0046] According to this embodiment, when the oral appliance 3 is worn, the protrusion 16 is inserted between the upper jaw and the upper lip, which prevents the oral appliance 3 from shifting position or falling off. In addition, by providing the protrusion 16, the thickness of the main body portion 10B outside of area 10a can be made thinner, making it less likely to feel discomfort when wearing the oral appliance 3.

[0047] While embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design modifications and the like that do not depart from the spirit of this invention are also included. For example, the above embodiments have been described in detail to make the present invention easier to understand, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described.

[0048] Furthermore, it is possible to replace some of the configurations of the embodiment with those of other embodiments, and it is also possible to add, delete, or replace other configurations in the configuration of the embodiment.

[0049] Furthermore, in this invention, "approximately" is a concept that includes not only cases where things are strictly identical, but also errors or deformations that do not cause a loss of identity. For example, "approximately parallel" and "approximately orthogonal" are concepts that include errors of a few degrees, for example, but not limited to cases where things are strictly parallel or orthogonal. Also, in this invention, "neighborhood" is a concept that, for example, when something is in the neighborhood of A, means that it is near A, and may or may not include A. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1, 2, 3: Oral appliances 10, 10A, 10B: Main unit 10a, 10b: area 11: First recess 12: Second recess 13:Protrusion 14: Stopper 15: Thin-walled section 16: Convex part

Claims

1. An oral appliance that is attached to the front surface of the gums of the upper jaw, The main body is a roughly plate-shaped portion that is curved in the thickness direction, and has a main body portion whose back surface contacts the gums when worn. The upper part of the main body is provided with a first recess approximately in the center to avoid the upper lip frenulum. On the lower side of the main body in the height direction, there are a plurality of second recesses with substantially arc-shaped peripheries, and a plurality of pointed projections provided between adjacent second recesses, which are positioned on the interdental papilla when worn. The thickness of the main body is thicker at the location where the first recess is provided or adjacent to the first recess, and becomes thinner towards the edges. On the upper side of the main body in the height direction, there is a roughly triangular projection that protrudes diagonally upward and backward when viewed from the side near the end of the main body. An oral appliance characterized by the following features.

2. An oral appliance to be attached to the front surface of the gums of the upper jaw, The main body is a roughly plate-shaped portion that is curved in the thickness direction, and has a main body portion whose back surface contacts the gums when worn. The upper part of the main body is provided with a first recess approximately in the center to avoid the upper lip frenulum. On the lower side of the main body in the height direction, there are a plurality of second recesses with substantially arc-shaped peripheries, and a plurality of pointed projections provided between adjacent second recesses, which are positioned on the interdental papilla when worn. The thickness of the main body is greater at the location where the first recess is provided or the portion adjacent to the first recess, and at both ends, and becomes thinner from the first recess or the portion adjacent to the first recess towards the ends, and from both ends towards the center. On the upper side of the main body in the height direction, there is a roughly triangular projection that protrudes diagonally upward and backward when viewed from the side near the end of the main body. An oral appliance characterized by the following features.

3. The tip of the aforementioned projection is provided with a stopper on its back surface that protrudes towards the oral cavity when worn. When the main body is viewed from the back, the stopper is roughly square in shape or roughly triangular in shape with its base positioned on the upper side. In a cross-section along a line that extends in the direction of projection from the main body and passes through the end of the projection furthest from the main body, the stopper has a substantially triangular shape with a central portion protruding. The oral appliance according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The thickness of the thickest part of the stopper is approximately twice or more the thickness at the base of the stopper. The oral appliance according to Feature 3.

Images