Dental appliance

Abstract

The present invention is a dental oral appliance to open the airway for a sleeping individual who suffers with snoring or obstructive sleep apnea. The appliance includes a base to secure the appliance within the mouth for the individual. Typically, the base will fit over and secure to the lower teeth of the individual. The appliance also includes a tongue restraining device connected to the base. The tongue restraining device has a substantial breach formed therein to permit movement of the tongue so that the user can more easily swallow saliva. A ramp might also be attached to the anterior portion of the base to advance the mandible.

1 . A dental oral appliance to open the airway for a sleeping individual who suffers with snoring or obstructive sleep apnea comprising: a base comprising means to secure the appliance within the mouth for the individual; and a tongue restraining device connected to the base, wherein said tongue restraining device comprises an anterior surface that forms a substantial opening within said tongue restraining device to permit movement of the tongue. 
   
   
       2 . The appliance of  claim 1  in which the tongue restraining device is substantially U-shaped. 
   
   
       3 . The appliance of  claim 1  in which the base is configured to secure to the lower teeth. 
   
   
       4 . The appliance of  claim 1  in which the base and tongue restraining device are formed from a single piece of material. 
   
   
       5 . The appliance of  claim 4  in which said material comprises plastic. 
   
   
       6 . The appliance of  claim 4  in which said material comprises acrylic. 
   
   
       7 . The appliance of  claim 4  wherein the tongue restraining device can be heated and repositioned. 
   
   
       8 . The appliance of  claim 1  wherein the tongue restraining device, when secured in the mouth, comprises a downward slope relative to the user's teeth. 
   
   
       9 . The appliance of  claim 1  wherein the base and the tongue restraining device comprise separate pieces. 
   
   
       10 . The appliance of  claim 9  wherein the tongue restraining device is connected to the base by adjustable connection means. 
   
   
       11 . The appliance of  claim 1  wherein, wherein the tongue restraining device has a top side and, when the tongue restraining device is viewed from the top, the opening formed by the anterior surface is greater in area than the surface of the tongue restraining device. 
   
   
       12 . The appliance of  claim 1  further comprising a ramp projecting from the base that is configured, when the appliance is secured in the mouth, to force the mandible forward. 
   
   
       13 . The appliance of  claim 1  wherein the base is custom fit for the individual. 
   
   
       14 . The appliance of  claim 1  wherein the tongue restraining device is custom fit for the individual. 
   
   
       15 . A dental oral appliance to open the airway for a sleeping individual who suffers with snoring or obstructive sleep apnea comprising: A base comprising means to secure the appliance within the individual's mouth; and a ramp extending from the base that is configured such that, when the appliance is secured within the mouth, the ramp forces the mandible forward. 
   
   
       16 . The appliance of  claim 15  wherein the ramp, relative to the teeth, is angulated upward. 
   
   
       17 . The appliance of  claim 15  wherein the base is custom fit for the individual. 
   
   
       18 . A dental oral appliance to open the airway for a sleeping individual who suffers with snoring or obstructive sleep apnea comprising: A base comprising means to secure the appliance within the individual's mouth; a tongue restraining device; and connecting means to connect said tongue restraining device to said base wherein said connecting means permits adjustment of the position of the tongue restraining device relative to the base. 
   
   
       19 . The appliance of  claim 18  wherein the base is custom fit for the individual. 
   
   
       20 . The appliance of  claim 18  wherein the base is configured to secure to the lower teeth.