Mandibular advancement appliance

Abstract

A mandibular advancement appliance is described which is secured to a subject's dentition. The appliance may adjust a position of the subject's lower dentition relative to the upper dentition while maintaining a distance between the upper and lower dentition. The appliance may also allow for the free rotation of the lower dentition relative to the upper dentition for increased comfort. Additionally, the appliance may also be utilized with a tongue retention assembly for maintaining a position of the subject's tongue relative to the device for treating sleep disordered breathing.

what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for treating sleep disordered breathing, comprising an upper portion sized for securement to a subject's upper dentition;
 a lower portion sized for securement to the subject's lower dentition;   a pivoting mechanism having a first anchoring portion secured to the upper portion and a second anchoring portion secured to the lower portion; and,   a coupling arm fixedly secured at a first end to the first anchoring portion and rotatably secured at a second end to the second anchoring portion such that the upper and lower portions are spaced at a distance from one another, wherein a position of the first end is securable to the first anchoring portion at one or more locations such that the upper and lower portions are movable relative to one another.