Abstract: An appliance for breathing enhancement that includes a support member and securing mechanism for holding a user's head in a position where the user's mouth is closed and the user's head is tilted to maintain an open airway. The breathing enhancer reduces or eliminates snoring. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the teeth are maintained in a normal closed bite position (1-5 mm open) while the lips are touching or almost touching to eliminate or substantially eliminate open mouth breathing.

Abstract: The anti-snoring device is a combination of a chin pillow placed under the chin of a wearer and is designed to induce the wearer's mouth to stay closed while sleeping. Included in the combination is a dental appliance that has an upper box to receive the wearer's upper teeth therein. Below the box is an indent to receive the wearer's lower teeth therein to enhance the wearer's proper bite or occlusion when the mouth of the wearer is closed. Included in the appliance are two upper segments that extend under the roof or palate of the mouth of the wearer. From below the box are extending two inclines which follow a line adjacent the position of the lower teeth without touching them. The ultimate aim is to induce a person wearing the chin pillow or the dental appliance or both to keep his or her mouth closed when sleeping to thereby alleviate the incident of snoring.

Abstract: The invention provides for a prefabricated appliance for correcting many types of malocclusions particular useful for young children. The appliance for use for adults is called a mandibular advancement appliance. The appliance engages the front upper teeth of a patient in a box. There are lateral occlusions extending to the back of the appliance, Below the retention box there are two independent from each other and depending inclines which engage to the rear of the front teeth. The inclines are hinged in a friction fit. The appliance can be used by an adult for improved breathing as well as by a child with malocclusions. There is a C-shaped bridge, bridging the two lateral occlusions to thereby form a channel into which the adult's tongue or a child's tongue can extend for a comfortable swallowing fit. The adult's appliance does not exert any tension to the interior of the lower teeth.

Abstract: The invention provides for a prefabricated appliance for correcting many types of malocclusions particular useful for young children. The appliance for use for adults is called a mandibular advancement appliance. The appliance engages the front upper teeth of a patient in a box. There are lateral occlusions extending to the back of the appliance, Below the retention box there are two independent from each other and depending inclines which engage to the rear of the front teeth. The inclines are hinged in a friction fit. The appliance can be used by an adult for improved breathing as well as by a child with malocclusions. There is a C-shaped bridge, bridging the two lateral occlusions to thereby form a channel into which the adult's tongue or a child's tongue can extend for a comfortable swallowing fit. The adult's appliance does not exert any tension to the interior of the lower teeth.

Abstract: A device that applies tension to an orthodontic appliance has a tension supplying member connected between first and second elongated straps. The second elongated strap has a series of marked positions along its length differentiated by color. A first connection member connects a position along the length of the first strap to one element of the orthodontic appliance and a second connection member connects one of the indicated positions along the second elongated strap to another element of the orthodontic appliance. Each indicated position corresponds a tension being applied to the orthodontic appliance that is prescribed for a period of orthodontic adjustment. The second connection member engages the second elongated strap at a sequence of indicated positions during successive orthodontic adjustment periods to rapidly increase the prescribed tension on the orthodontic appliance according to a pre-assigned schedule of the orthodontic adjustments.

Abstract: The invention provides to a prefabricated appliance for correcting many types of malocclusions typically with no more than limited use of wires or bands. The appliance is designed to be fitted stably and tightly to the upper front teeth or back teeth when needed. The appliance comprises: a teeth engaging box adapted to engage the upper front teeth; a stabilizing segment attached to the teeth engaging box and adapted to permit a stable and comfortable fitting of the appliance in a patient's mouth; and a pair of spaced inclined remodeling segments extending from in front of the teeth engaging box downward and rearward at a predetermined angle designed so that the inclined remodeling segments contact the lingual contacting surface of selected lower front teeth and urge the lower jaw forward and upward to the desired degree.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tongue thrust habit oral corrective device designed to be retained by the posterior teeth and to train the tongue to avoid thrusting against the front teeth during swallowing, the device comprising: a teeth-fitting segment adapted to fit under at least the upper first posterior teeth; a palatal bridge extending from the teeth-fitting segment and adapted to avoid contacting the palate; and a downward projection adapted to create, with the teeth-fitting segment and the upper projection, a rearwardly opening pouch or channel in which the user's tongue is engulfed at a central location within the mouth so that the tip of the tongue is positioned properly and accurately for initiating a normal swallow.

Abstract: An orthopedic pacifier, which is useful to inhibit or correct a receding lower jaw condition for improved placement of the upper and lower alveolar ridges of an infant's mouth, includes a shield to border the lips, a resiliently deformable bulbous body and a bridge connecting the base end of the body to the shield. The bridge extends between the upper and lower alveolar ridges from the base end to the shield and positions the body with its free end located posteriorly in the mouth. The body has a palatal conforming upper portion, and a lower portion defining an inclined section extending from the base end to the free end to engage the posterior side of the lower alveolar ridge to guide the lower jaw forward to foster its potential to grow into normal position relative to the upper jaw. A depression in the free end guides tongue placement to direct its forces toward the palate to improve control for swallowing.

Abstract: An oral appliance adapted to redirect improper positioning of the tongue and lips at the start of a swallow comprises a molded body of acrylic or similar material having an arcuate marginal segment curved to contact the occlusal surfaces of teeth of the upper dental arch, an upper tongue positioning segment and a lower tongue positioning segment. The marginal segment has thin, substantially flat and relatively wide upper side surfaces that are separated to span a prescribed range of dental arches. The upper side surfaces are tightly engaged to the side teeth by a shaped layer of light activated resin for retention while the wearer is active or at rest.

Abstract: A single piece appliance for correcting oral abnormalities without wires or bands has a segment engaging anterior dentition of the maxillary arch and a pair of spaced segments extending downwardly and posteriorly from the anterior dentition engaging segment at a predetermined angle with respect to the anterior dentition engaging segment. Each downwardly extending segment includes a labial facing surface that forms an inclined plane at the predetermined angle with the anterior dentition engaging segment adapted to contact the lingual aspect of the incisal edges of selected teeth on the mandibular arch so that the lower jaw is urged forward and steeply upward while the upper jaw is urged backward when necessary. At least one longitudinal ridge extends across each labial facing surface at a prescribed location along the labial facing surface to restrict the forward and upward movement of the mandible when the incisal edges of selected teeth of the mandibular arch are in contact with the labial facing surface.