Performance Enhancing Bite Regulator and Method of Custom Fitting Same

Abstract

A bite regulator has a front band with left and right ends and left and right molar sections extending rearward respectively from the left and right ends of the front band. The left and right molar sections each have an interocclusal region with a contoured top surface and a contoured bottom surface. The contoured top and bottom surfaces are each configured to match a specific contour of the wearer's top and bottom teeth, respectively, and are aligned relative to one another to correctly position the wearer's jaw.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bite regulator comprising:
 a front band with left and right ends; and   left and right molar sections extending rearward respectively from the left and right ends of the front band,   wherein the left and right molar sections each have an interocclusal region with a contoured top surface and a contoured bottom surface, and wherein the contoured top and bottom surfaces are each configured to match a specific contour of the wearer's top and bottom teeth, respectively, and are aligned relative to one another to correctly position the wearer's jaw.   
     
     
         2 . A bite regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the front band is a labial band configured to contact only an outer facing side of a wearer's front teeth. 
     
     
         3 . A bite regulator according to  claim 2 , wherein the labial band has a tooth facing inner surface that is contoured to match a front surface contour of the wearer's front teeth. 
     
     
         4 . A bite regulator according to  claim 2 , wherein the bite regulator is a lower bite regulator and a top edge of the labial band terminates at or below a height of a user's bottom front teeth. 
     
     
         5 . A bite regulator according to  claim 2 , wherein the bite regulator is a lower bite regulator and a bottom edge of the labial band is contoured to follow a soft tissue line between the gums and the wearer's front teeth but not overlie the soft tissue. 
     
     
         6 . A bite regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the left and right molar sections each have an interocclusal region with a contoured top surface and a contoured bottom surface, and wherein the contoured top and bottom surfaces are each configured to match a specific contour of the wearer's top and bottom teeth, respectively, and are aligned relative to one another to correctly position the wearer's jaw. 
     
     
         7 . A bite regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the left and right molar sections each have a lingual wall on an inner side of the respective molar section, and wherein a tongue shelf is formed on each of the lingual walls. 
     
     
         8 . A bite regulator according to  claim 7 , wherein the bite regulator is a lower bite regulator and each lingual wall depends from the respective molar section and has a bottom edge that is contoured vertically to follow a contour of the soft tissue line of the wearer and does not contact or overlap any soft tissue below the molars of the wearer. 
     
     
         9 . A bite regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the left and right molar sections each have a buccal wall on an outer side of the respective molar section. 
     
     
         10 . A bite regulator according to  claim 9 , wherein the bite regulator is a lower bite regulator and each buccal wall depends from the respective molar section and has a bottom edge positioned below the soft tissue line of the wearer so that the buccal wall contacts or overlaps the soft tissue below the lower molars of the wearer. 
     
     
         11 . A bite regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the bite regulator is a hybrid lower bite regulator with the front band having a front wall portion that at least partially covers a front side of the wearer's lower front teeth and a rear wall portion that at least partially covers a back side of the wearer's lower front teeth. 
     
     
         12 . A bite regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the bite regulator is an upper bite regulator with a V-shaped front band having a labial wall and a lingual wall connected to one another along a bottom edge, the lingual wall having a top edge that is contoured vertically to follow a contour of the soft tissue line of the wearer and does not contact or overlap any soft tissue above the front teeth of the wearer. 
     
     
         13 . A bite regulator comprising:
 a front band with left and right ends; and   left and right molar sections extending rearward respectively from the left and right ends of the front band,   wherein the left and right molar sections terminate short of a fourth rearward molar of a wearer.   
     
     
         14 . A bite regulator according to  claim 1 , further comprising a rear lip protruding from a free end of each of the left and right molar sections, each rear lip configured to lie between a third and fourth molar of a user and against a rear edge of the third molar. 
     
     
         15 . A bite regulator according to  claim 14 , wherein the bite regulator is a lower bite regulator and each rear lip depends downward from the respective free end of the corresponding molar section. 
     
     
         16 . A bite regulator according to  claim 14 , wherein the bite regulator is an upper bite regulator and each rear lip protrudes upward from the respective free end of the corresponding molar section. 
     
     
         17 . A method of fitting a bite regulator comprising:
 providing one or more bite forks capable of positioning and holding a subject's jaw in a correct jaw position specific to the subject;   preparing an upper impression of the subject's upper teeth and a lower impression of the subject's lower teeth while the subject bites down on the bite fork in the correct jaw position; and   molding a bite regulator using the upper and lower impressions and maintaining the correct jaw position of the lower impression relative to the upper impression.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 forming a labial band between left and right molar sections of the bite regulator, each molar section having a lingual wall with a free edge that is contoured vertically to follow a contour of the soft tissue line of the wearer and so that the lingual wall does not contact or overlap any soft tissue adjacent the molars of the wearer.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 forming a labial band between left and right molar sections of the bite regulator, wherein the left and right molar sections terminate short of a fourth rearward molar of a user.   
     
     
         20 . A bite regulator according to  claim 17 , further comprising a rear lip protruding from a free end of each of the left and right molar sections, each rear lip configured to lie between a third and fourth molar of a user and against a rear edge of the third molar.