Dual use exercise whitener appliance

Abstract

A jaw-joint protective device is provided for whitening and brightening a wearer's teeth while protecting the teeth, tongue, lips, jaw, and other delicate structures of the vital cranial triad (VCT) from injury and/or for supporting the condyle of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in a relatively fixed (stable) position thereby stabilizing the jaw and the VCT during head contact activity, exercise, physical rehabilitation, C-force acceleration, teeth grinding disorders and sleep apnea and or permit the components of a VCT disorder to be realigned for proper healing. This device is an over-the-counter purchased, boil and bite device for whitening at least one tooth while protecting the jaw-joint, providing maxillary and mandibular teeth seats for protection of the mouth and/or healing of the VCT. This invention provides a device for customized fitting that is purchased over-the-counter that is versatile for protecting not only the mouth but also a larger area, the vital cranial triad which includes the TMJ, while at the same time allows for audible speech, reduces sleep disorders of snoring, grinding and clenching of teeth with additional benefits.

1 . A jaw joint therapeutic teeth whitening and protective and device for protecting a wearer's lips, teeth, and other delicate structures of the head including the vital cranial triad (VCT), which is comprised of the bones and tissue structures found in the temporomandibular joint, temporal tympanic bone of the ear canal, and the inferior lateral surface of the petrous temporal bone at the floor of the middle cranial fossa and related structures within the full maxillary and mandibular arches of the mouth, comprising
 a) a U-shaped base having a bilateral posterior dental region and anterior dental region with integrated maxillary and mandibular components where the components are adapted for securement within the full maxillary and mandibular arches of the mouth, whereby the mandibular component is offset downwardly and forwardly from the maxillary component so that the mandible is set in a protruding-like position,   b) a full arch occlusal impact chamber in the maxillary and mandibular dental regions of the base composed of a hard resilient material for dissipation and absorption of shock imposed upon the mandible, maxilla, head, jaw joint and facial structures,   c) the maxillary flange component comprising labial and buccal walls (flanges) projecting upwardly from the base forming with the base and providing for seating a custom fitting whitening strip or whitening agent, used during the custom fitting procedure, and protecting the maxillary teeth,   d) the mandibular flange component comprising labial and buccal walls projecting downwardly and forwardly from the base forming with the base and providing for seating a custom fitting bleaching strip or bleaching pad, used during the custom fitting procedure, and protecting the mandibular teeth, and a reinforced anterior dental region with a deep labial flange to support and guide the mandible into the engineered functionally prognathic position creating the force attenuating recoil space of the jaw-joint, and a lingual lock of the lingual wall in the anterior dental region of the device projection downwardly from the base forming with the base and providing for stability and support against forces driving the mandible back from the prognathic position while supporting and strengthening anterior teeth,   e) custom fitting whitening strips that are composed of an independent and separate elastomeric material that conforms to the u-shaped articulated mandibular and maxillary buccal and labial walls of the device, which during the custom fitting procedure creates on the inside or tooth surface of the labial and buccal walls of the maxillary and mandibular components an inverse whitening cavity for containing and retaining a whitening agent,   f) an articulating rim in the lingual wall of the maxillary component in the anterior dental region projecting upwardly from the base forming with the base of the device high enough to support the maxillary anterior teeth, and permitting the tongue of the wearer to be placed against the lingual surface of the anterior maxillary teeth for articulating speech, and   g) a functional and efficient air passageway in the anterior region of the integrated components of the device to facilitate breathing, expectorating, and speaking,   wherein a more heat stable elastomeric material of the anterior dental regions of the maxillary and mandibular components and the posterior components bilaterally maintain the framework and shape of the device and dissipate and absorb shock imposed upon the wearer's head and the remainder of the device is made of a more heat sensitive thermoplastic material that softens when heated to a temperature greater than body temperature but less than or equal to 100° C. and rigidly stiffens when cooled so that the device can be perfectly fitted in situ.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the hard resilient material is a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the functional passage is an airway, expectorant orifice or an articulation chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the incisal locks are diminished in height but maintain the stability of the lock, while they maintain the support and strength for the incisal teeth but they have been reduced to insure tongue posture against the lingual surface of the maxillary anterior teeth to promote articulation and speech with the exercise whitener in place. 
     
     
         5 . The device in  claim 1 , wherein different materials of the device will maintain the mandibular and maxillary dental arches locked in a bite surface that stabilizes the jaw against lateral and traumatic jaw displacement made of a common boil and bite dental material and having a secondary material which maintains the mandibular prognathic repositioning of the lower jaw and structural integrity of the device during the boil and bite phase of fitting and eliminating the need for a palatal component of conventional mouthguards. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the airway space is substantially larger than the ones in conventional mouth guards so as to create a greater flow than in conventional mouthguards of passive and active airflow and freeway space for articulation. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the custom fitting bleaching strips are solid hard pieces of elastomer materials that are an integral part of the device not as easily affected by the heating process of the device. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the custom filling bleaching strips are pads that are directly placed onto the facial surface of at least one tooth prior to the boiling and biting fitting process whereby the pad or pads provide separate indentations for a custom fitting chamber for each surface of a tooth. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein an adjustable labial knotch prevents injuries of the attached labial frenum while allowing the labial flange to seat higher into the labial fold of the mouth for greater fitting and labial adaptation and greater definition of the bleaching cavity allowing for greater retention of the whitening agent. 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating a jaw-joint disorder and other facial fractures by a person having such a disorder comprising wearing the device of  claim 1  when participating in athletic activity or when in need to correct such disorder, wherein wearing the device holds the temporomandibular joint and jaw components in a stable and functional position for a sufficient time period in order to afford protection, stability, and healing thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method for supporting and enhancing the teeth clenching mechanism and incorporating bodily strength and balance during physical rehabilitation, or exercise while whitening the teeth comprising wearing the device of  claim 1  while participating in rehabilitation or exercise. 
     
     
         12 . A method of fitting in situ the device of  claim 1  in the mouth of a user comprising heating the device in hot water to a temperature greater than body temperature but less than or equal to 100° C. to soften certain portions of the device, immediate placing the device in the wearer's mouth, the wearer biting down on the base so as to make teeth impressions in the base while the wearer is applying suction and pressure to the device with the tongue, lips, and oral musculature and further molding the device with corresponding fingers and lip pressures, removing the device from the wearer's mouth, cooling the device down whereby the device hardens to a rigid form, and removing the bleaching strips from the device and discarding them, whereby the device is now customized to the wearer's mouth. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating sleep disorders of snoring, grinding and clenching of teeth, and sleep apnea while whitening the teeth comprising wearing the device of  claim 1  while sleeping.