Stabilizing mouthpiece with grips

Abstract

A stabilizing mouthpiece includes features that reduce or prevent displacement of the mouthpiece either laterally or forward and backward when the mouthpiece is in use. In one implementation, the stabilizing mouthpiece may include one or more lateral shift guards that rest adjacent to inner or outer surfaces of a user's molars, incisors, or cuspids. In another implementation, the stabilizing mouthpiece may include elongated ridges or biased grips that resist forward and backward movement of the mouthpiece.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mouthpiece comprising:
 a u-shaped baseplate having a surface with substantially flat central portion; and   at least one set of grips positioned on the surface, each set of grips proximal to an end of the u-shaped baseplate.   
     
     
         2 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inner wall and an outer wall adjacent to opposite sides of the u-shaped baseplate, forming a u-shaped channel.   
     
     
         3 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially flat central portion in a same plane as inner and outer edges of the u-shaped baseplate. 
     
     
         4 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one set of grips further comprises:
 a first set of grips on the surface proximal to a first end of the u-shaped baseplate; and   a second set of grips on the surface proximal to a second opposite end of the u-shaped baseplate.   
     
     
         5 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one set of grips further comprises:
 a first set of grips on the surface of the u-shaped baseplate; and   a second set of grips on an opposite surface of the u-shaped baseplate.   
     
     
         6 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the grips are biased grips protruding away from the u-shaped baseplate and in a posterior direction. 
     
     
         7 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the grips are biased grips protruding away from the u-shaped baseplate and in an anterior direction. 
     
     
         8 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one set of grips further comprises:
 a first set of grips on the surface of the u-shaped baseplate and proximal to a first end of the u-shaped baseplate;   a second set of grips on the surface of the u-shaped baseplate proximal to a second opposite end of the u-shaped baseplate;   a third set of grips on an opposite surface of the u-shaped baseplate proximal to the first end of the u-shaped baseplate; and   a fourth set of grips on the opposite surface of the u-shaped baseplate proximal to the second opposite end of the u-shaped baseplate.   
     
     
         9 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least one set of grips contacts at least one upper molar when the mouthpiece is in use. 
     
     
         10 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least one set of grips contacts at least one lower molar when the mouthpiece is in use. 
     
     
         11 . The mouthpiece of  1   claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece has at least one surface that is moldable. 
     
     
         12 . A mouthpiece comprising:
 a u-shaped baseplate;   a first set of biased upper grips on a first surface of the u-shaped baseplate;   a first set of biased lower grips on a second opposite surface of the u-shaped baseplate, wherein the first set of biased upper grips is axially aligned with the first set of biased lower grips.   
     
     
         13 . The mouthpiece of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second set of biased upper grips on the first surface of the u-shaped baseplate; and   a second set of biased lower grips on the second surface of the u-shaped baseplate, wherein the second set of biased upper grips is axially aligned with the second set of biased lower grips.   
     
     
         14 . The mouthpiece of  claim 12 , wherein the first set of biased upper grips is proximal to a first end of the u-shaped baseplate and the second set of biased upper grips is proximal to a second opposite end of the u-shaped baseplate. 
     
     
         15 . The mouthpiece of  claim 13 , wherein each of the sets of biased upper grips and biased lower grips contact molars when the mouthpiece is in use. 
     
     
         16 . The mouthpiece of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an inner wall and an outer wall adjacent to opposite sides of the u-shaped baseplate, forming a u-shaped channel.   
     
     
         17 . The mouthpiece of  claim 12 , wherein the first surface has a substantially flat central portion that is in a same plane as inner and outer edges of the u-shaped baseplate. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 heating a mouthpiece with a u-shaped baseplate to soften a surface, the surface having a substantially flat central portion and at least one set of grips proximal to an end of the u-shaped baseplate;   aligning the u-shaped baseplate with upper teeth of a user;   biting down on the mouthpiece mold the at least one set of grips to the upper teeth.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one set of grips further comprises:
 a first set of grips on the surface of the u-shaped baseplate proximal to a first end of the u-shaped baseplate; and   a second set of grips on the surface of the u-shaped baseplate proximal to an opposite end of the u-shaped baseplate.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one set of grips further comprises:
 a first set of grips on the surface of the u-shaped baseplate; and   a second set of grips on an opposite surface of the u-shaped baseplate.