Intraoral discluder device and method for preventing migraine, tension headache, and temporomandibular disorders

Abstract

A semi-custom intraoral discluder device for preventing chronic tension and common migraine headaches and temporomandibular disorders that are caused or perpetuated by chronic activity of the temporalis muscle. The discluder includes a trough, contoured to encompass at least one maxillary or mandibular incisor, from which extends a protrusion, typically of a dome shape. The trough can be retained on the teeth by any adaptable material which can flow around the teeth and then maintain its shape. The adaptation of the retentive material can be performed by the end user, health care provider, or anyone trained in the art. Once in place in the wearer's mouth, one or two opposing incisor teeth will come into contact with the protrusion prior to the upper and lower posterior and/or canine teeth coming into contact, regardless of the position of the mandible, thereby reducing the intensity of the activity of the temporalis muscle.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A semi-custom intraoral discluder device comprising: 
 a prefabricated trough having a front wall and a rear wall sized and configured to accommodate at least one upper or lower incisor, wherein the front wall disposed is adjacent to the front of the incisor when the trough is in the wearer's mouth; and    a protrusion attached to the trough and having a contact surface that projects a substantial distance anteriorly from the front wall of the trough and posteriorly from the rear wall of the trough when the trough is in the wearer's mouth, wherein the contact surface is spaced a predetermined distance from the trough such that the protrusion is configured to prevent contact between opposing upper and lower teeth, whether the mandible is in a protrusive position or a retrusive position.    
     
     
         2 . The intraoral discluder device according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a quantity of adaptable material disposed within the trough and adapted to conform to the shape of the incisor, to assist in retaining the device in the wearer's mouth.  
     
     
         3 . The intraoral discluder device according to  claim 1 , wherein the trough and the protrusion both are fabricated from a biocompatible material.  
     
     
         4 . The intraoral discluder device according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion comprises a plurality of tabs that increase the distance from the contact surface to the trough.  
     
     
         5 . The intraoral discluder device according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is configured not to move when contacted by at least one opposing incisor.  
     
     
         6 . The intraoral discluder device according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has a length in the anterior/posterior direction in the range of about 8 mm to about 12 mm.  
     
     
         7 . The intraoral discluder device according to  claim 7 , wherein the protrusion projects anteriorly from the front wall by at least about 3 mm.  
     
     
         8 . A method for using a semi-custom intraoral discluder device, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a semi-custom intraoral discluder device that includes 
 a trough having a front wall and a rear wall sized and configured to accommodate at least one upper or lower incisor, wherein the front wall is disposed adjacent to the front of the incisor and the rear wall is disposed adjacent to the rear of the incisor when the trough is in the wearer's mouth, and  
 a protrusion attached to the trough and having a contact surface that extends a substantial distance anteriorly from the front wall of the trough and a substantial distance posteriorly from the rear wall of the trough when the trough is in the wearer's mouth, wherein the contact surface is spaced a predetermined distance from the trough such that the protrusion is configured to prevent contact between opposing upper and lower teeth; and  
   placing the intraoral discluder device on at least one of the wearer's upper or lower incisors so that the protrusion will contact at least one opposing incisor tooth prior to contact between upper and lower teeth, whether the mandible is in a protrusive position or a retrusive position.    
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , and further including a step of placing a quantity of adaptable material into the trough, such material conforming to the shape of the at least one upper or lower incisor, thereby assisting in retaining the device in the wearer's mouth.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the trough and protrusion are fabricated from a biocompatible material.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , and further including a step of securing at least one prefabricated tab to the protrusion, to increase the distance from the contact surface to the trough.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the protrusion is configured not to move when contacted by at least one opposing incisor.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the protrusion has a length in the anterior/posterior direction in the range of about 8 mm to about 12 mm.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the protrusion projects anteriorly from the front wall by at least about 3 mm.  
     
     
         15 . A semi-custom intraoral discluder device comprising: 
 a prefabricated trough having a front wall and a rear wall sized and configured to accommodate at least one upper or lower incisor, wherein the front wall disposed is adjacent to the front of the incisor when the trough is in the wearer's mouth;    a quantity of adaptable material disposed within the trough and adapted to conform to the shape of the incisor, to assist in retaining the device in the wearer's mouth; and    a protrusion attached to the trough and having a contact surface that projects a substantial distance anteriorly from the front wall of the trough and posteriorly from the rear wall of the trough when the trough is in the wearer's mouth;    wherein the trough, the adaptable material, and the protrusion all are formed of a biocompatible material;    wherein the protrusion has a length in the anterior/posterior direction in the range of about 8 mm to about 12 mm, and wherein the protrusion projects anteriorly from the front wall of the trough by at least about 3 mm, and wherein the contact surface is spaced a predetermined distance from the trough, such that the protrusion is configured to prevent contact between opposing upper and lower teeth, whether the mandible is in a protrusive position or a retrusive position.