Oral appliance for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea

Abstract

An oral appliance ( 1 ) is provided for the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. The oral appliance ( 1 ) includes an upper tray ( 10 ) adaptable to conform to a user's maxillary dentition and a plurality of lower trays ( 40 ), each of the lower trays ( 40 ) adaptable to conform to the user's mandibular dentition. At least some of the lower trays ( 40 ) are structured to engage the upper tray ( 10 ), each of the lower trays ( 40 ) are structured to impart a different fixed amount of mandibular advancement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of fitting an oral appliance, comprising: taking an impression of a user's dentition; creating a casting of the user's dentition using the impression; heating the casting to a predetermined temperature; and placing the heated casting in an oral appliance having a moldable material. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the taking an impression includes at least one of taking an impression of a user's maxillary dentition and taking an impression of a user's mandibular dentition. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein heating the casting comprises heating the casting to at least 180 degrees Fahrenheit (82 degrees Celsius). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the placing the heated casting in an oral appliance further comprises heating at least a portion of the oral appliance material until the moldable material yields. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the placing the heated casting in an oral appliance comprises: inserting the heated casing within an oral appliance tray, the oral appliance tray comprising: a moldable material with a channel structured to align the heated casting within the center thereof, the channel having a substantially V-shaped portion structured to engage an anterior portion of the heated casting and a substantially U-shaped portion structured to engage a posterior portion of the heated casting; and a support member structured to carry the moldable material thereon.