Abstract: A dental appliance, a system and a method for treating malocclusions minimize cooperation by a patient for treating the malocclusions. A reline material is insertable between the appliance and one or more teeth of the patient. An internal surface of the appliance is roughened for receiving the reline material to increase retention of the appliance to one or more teeth of the patient. A hinge connects an upper half to a lower half to increase retention of the appliance to one or more teeth of the patient. The appliance maintains a lower jaw of the patient in a position with respect to an upper jaw of the patient. A lingual tab of the lower half maintains the lower jaw of the patient in the position with respect to the upper jaw of the patient. The appliance is made of one or more materials having varying stiffness and/or softness to increase retention of the appliance and/or to increase movement of one or more teeth of the patient.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance is provided which includes an upper tooth receiving trough and a lower tooth receiving trough which are hinged together at a posterior portion of the appliance. The hinge is constructed so that the appliance is self opening to cause the troughs to maintain contact with the teeth when the patient's mouth is open. The appliance is formed of a soft and sticky plastic material so that it will adhere closely to the patient's teeth. Surface features are provided on opposing surfaces of the troughs to prevent the troughs from sticking to one another when the appliance is closed. An interference area is provided at the hinges to prevent the hinges from completely closing to assist in self opening of the appliance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing orthodontic conditions of an individual. The apparatus includes an outer case and a user interface disposed on the outer case for communicating with the individual. The apparatus further has diagnostic hardware including at least one digital camera carried within the case adapted to take a plurality of video images of the teeth and mouth of the individual. The apparatus further has electronic circuitry which is preprogrammed with statistical data for comparison to actual data collected by the diagnostic hardware and transmitted to the electronic circuitry. The circuitry is further adapted to diagnose whether the individual has correctable orthodontic conditions. The apparatus is further adapted to dispense instructions to the individual for receiving proper corrective orthodontic care. The method of the invention includes providing an apparatus adapted to take various digital images of the individual's teeth and mouth.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance for assisting in properly positioning teeth within the mouth of an individual which is capable of fitting various mouth and tooth sizes. The appliance includes a labial-buccal flange, a lingual flange spaced from the labial-buccal flange, both of which define a generally U-shaped configuration in the occlusal view, and an isthmus interconnecting the two flanges. At least one tooth trough is defined between the labial-buccal flange and the lingual flange for receiving either an upper or a lower row of the individual's teeth. The appliance includes no individual tooth sockets but instead utilizes pressure applied by the labial-buccal flange, the lingual flange, and the relative angles and material thicknesses to properly position the teeth. The appliance is capable of fitting mouths and teeth of various sizes because it includes no individual tooth sockets. The appliance is also useful as a device for preventing sleep apnea, snoring and bruxism as well as an athletic mouth guard.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance of the type which is generally U-shaped in plan view and includes a tooth receiving trough formed between lingual and labial/buccal side flanges in at least one of the upper or lower sides thereof is provided for use by Caucasoid, Mongoloid and Negroid patients. The trough includes tooth receiving depressions for receiving and positioning teeth from central and lateral incisors to and including a molar. The appliance preferably is preformed in a range of different sizes to accommodate different sized mouths and stages of dentition. The troughs, when two are provided, may be vertically fixed relative to one another in that the appliance is a single body device or may be movable relative to one another and joined at a pair of posterior hinges.