Abstract: A tripartite dental instrument includes a curved-trough-like lip retractor, flat-fin-like cheek retractor and a straight handle. The handle and the cheek retractor are separately connected to the lip retractor at nearby locations and are each obliquely oriented with respect to the lip retractor. The dental practitioner selectively retracts the patient's lip (upper or lower) and/or cheek (left or right) while the lip retractor cradles the patient's lip at one side of the patient's mouth. The angularities and configurations featured by the inventive dental instrument advantageously afford the dental practitioner unobstructive, noninjurious and precise manipulative adjustability of either or both the lip retraction and cheek retraction functions.

Abstract: A protective dental shield made from a flexible and resilient material with a planar biting portion for placement between the occlusal surfaces of the upper and lower teeth of a patient and a pair of side walls projecting up and down from the spaced apart side edges of the biting portion to form a barrier between the side surfaces of the upper and lower teeth and the patient's soft tissue areas of the inner cheeks, tongue or lips. The protective dental shield is also provided with an extra-oral portion that extends beyond the patient's mouth when the shield is in place.

Abstract: A dental wedge for propping open the mount of a patient to facilitate oral examination and treatment has an elongate portion which in use, is inserted between the jaws of a patient. The wedge further has a pair of oppositely directed flanges extended laterally from the elongate portion at or near the distal end of the latter. The flanges serve to limit insertion of the elongate portion into the mouth of the patient. The elongate portion is hollow to enable insertion of a finger of the person carrying out examination and treatment.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new displacement equipment installed in air-turbine or contra dentistry drilling machines, used by the dentist in cutting treatment. By installing the equipment of this invention at the base of common cutting machines, the dentist can move the cutting machine while removing oral cavity organs when necessary with one-hand finger operations, during utilization inside the oral cavity. It is basically formed by the installation member with hole, through which the base of the dentistry drilling machine is inserted and is fixed in a constant position, by the arm installed in the supporting hole of the installation member, and by the displacement plate, installed on the tip of the arm. The arm, installed on the tip of the displacement plate, is formed by many arms number which can rotate in the horizontal and vertical directions according to the user's finger articulations.

Abstract: A muscle exerciser for exercising facial muscles, comprising an elongated handle having a pair of arms diverging from the handle. The handle and arms comprise a rigid assembly that lies in one plane. A body of highly compressible resilient material is mounted one on the end of each arm remote from the handle. There is a pivot on the end of each arm. Each body of highly compressible resilient material is mounted on the pivot for swinging movement on the end of its associated arm relative to the handle about an axis perpendicular to that plane.

Abstract: An orthodontic apparatus includes a mouth prop for separating a patient'lips to provide access to the teeth, and a placement tool for placing orthodontic brackets on a patient's teeth. The mouth prop includes a flat platform which is inserted between the patient's upper and lower teeth to provide a base upon which a head portion of the placement tool may be supported to align a bracket on a tooth. The mouth prop preferably includes a fluid ejector tube affixed to the rearward edge of the platform to remove fluids from the patient's mouth during the procedure. The placement tool includes a head portion having a support plate for releasably securing a bracket during the positioning process. A leg affixed to the head portion support plate depends a predetermined distance and supports the bracket above the mouth prop platform at a desired height. The process of attaching the brackets includes the steps of securing a bracket to the placement tool head portion and applying an adhesive to the seat of the bracket.

Abstract: A mouthguard which has a generally U-shaped intra-oral portion for placement in a patient's mouth and a generally U-shaped extra-oral portion which is placed outside the patient's mouth. The intra-oral portion may be shaped for bilateral placement between the upper and lower anterior teeth or the upper and lower posterior teeth, or for unilateral placement between the upper and lower canine teeth. There are narrow indentations between the arms of the extra-oral and intra-oral portions.

Abstract: The invention is a device for use as a prop to hold the mouth open which consists essentially of a bite block with an elongated portion that is deflected to provide a turn of about 180.degree. so that the elongated portion extends around the outside of the cheek with the end of the extension pointing backward from the mouth to form a handle by which the bite block is held in position.

Abstract: A new and improved adjustable mouth prop for holding a dental patient's mouth open during performance of a dental procedure in a manner which is safe and comfortable for the patient and convenient for the dentist is disclosed. The adjustable mouth prop comprises a threaded shaft formed of rigid material suitable for sterilization, the shaft having an enlarged head formed on one end thereof. Upper and lower arms formed of rigid material suitable for sterilization are mounted on the threaded shaft and project outwardly from the threaded shaft. The distal end of the arms have integral elongated concave jaw support members extending laterally thereacross. The jaw support members are engagable with the patient's teeth such that the teeth are removedly retained irrespective of the angles of the arms. The adjustable mouth prop further includes adjustable locking member whereby the user may lock the arm members at a selected angular position relative to each other to prop open the patient's mouth.

Abstract: An intraoral appliance which when worn by a singer or other vocalist acts to improve the quality of the voice and increase its power. The appliance is constituted by a pair of spacer pieces molded to conform to select teeth in the oral cavity of the vocalist, the pieces being seated on molars or other teeth on opposing sides of either the upper or the lower dental arch. The smooth head surfaces of the pieces are raised slightly above the teeth on which they are seated to prevent the arches from meeting and causing the mandible supporting the lower arch to slide forward relative to the maxilla to an extent limited by the parameters of the temporomadibular joint. The displaced mandible serves to release tension on the muscles of the head, neck and chest associated with the mandible, giving rise to greater and more efficient respiration, a relaxation of the hyoid bone supporting the tongue and its muscles and from which the larynx is suspended, and a relaxation of the vocal cords of the larynx.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mouth opener with the configuration of integrated twin cups that can be divided into two parts, i.e. a linear configuration body and twin cup body. The two parts have the functions of structural framework and flexible mouth opening support. The head handle is the middle point, joining two tail troughs to form an angle that can produce physical resiliency, so the tail troughs will have flexible supporting function for the mouth. The two tail troughs are provided with bevels which are inserted between the user's upper and lower teeth to insure that the mouth opener is properly and securely positioned in the oral cavity. The belly support wall is a sturdy structure for reinforcement of the fixing and support functions. The remaining fine parts are also designed for the enforcement of aforementioned functions.

Abstract: A dental appliance whereby the device isolate particular teeth from the tongue and body fluids within the patient's mouth, captures the residue from the treatment therein and props the patient's mouth open. The device comprises a flexible cup-shaped member comprising a bottom portion and at least one side with at least one aperture formed therethrough. A flexible sealing element comprising a slit therethrough sealingly covers the aperture. The aperture is sized and configured to receive at least one molar through the slit and the adjacent aperture so that the molar is received within the member and the sealing element seals the gap between the tooth and the device.

Abstract: A gum monitoring device and method is provided for monitoring the dimensions of the crevice between the tooth and the gum. Both preventative monitoring and specific data on existing periodontal disease can now be performed by an individual at home. The device and method will also help in early detection of Periodontal Disease (Gingivitis) which will have a significant benefit for a user's future periodontal condition. The device comprises a gum monitoring instrument having a triangular rigid calibrated shaft with a bullet shaped elongated distal end of predetermined width and length. A handle end on the instrument is a pencil-like, thick handle for easy manual dexterity by the user. The method also includes use of a cheek-lip retractor. The retractor is suggested so that the user may have both better visual access to the area to be monitored, and better physical access of the instrument to the tooth structure to be monitored.

Abstract: A mouth guard which has two main portions, a stiff, thin planar portion and a compressible portion. The thin, stiff planar portion is capable of deflecting mouth and cheek tissues. The planar portion extends from two arms, or the outer and upper aspect of a solid triangle, to a handle opposite the arms. The compressible portion extends above and below the plane of the planar portion on each arm.

Abstract: A veterinary mouth prop is molded from a single piece of radiolucent material and has two external surfaces adapted to engage the occlusal surfaces of the molars on one side of the patient's mouth.

Abstract: The dental appliance includes a generally elliptical-shaped wire folded about a minor axis to form upper and lower, generally U-shaped sections having front and rearwardly extending leg portions. The leg portions are connected one to the other to enable resilient displacement of the upper and lower sections toward one another. In one form, a clamping element is pivotally secured to each of the upper and lower sections for securing a cotton roll between the element and sections whereby the cotton roll completely envelops the portions of the appliance which would otherwise bear against the soft tissue of the patient's mouth. In a further form, mesh is applied about the wire in lieu of the clamping element to secure a wrapping of flexible material about the wires forming the appliance, also protecting the soft tissues of the patient's mouth from the appliance.

Abstract: A dental appliance is provided which includes a bite block made of formable material which includes a tongue stabilizer and a suction tube slidably and removably secured in the bite block for removing debris from the mouth cavity. The appliance may include a raised area for securing the appliance with the patient's teeth during performance of the dental procedures and a posterior vein located in the sidewall of the bite block with an aperture placed in the posterior vein for the suctioning of debris and saliva from the soft palate region of the mouth cavity behind the bite block. A slidably and removably secured rod for transmitting a fiber optic light source for illumination of at least a portion of the mouth cavity may also be included.

Abstract: A lip and cheek retracting device formed from a rigid sheet of autoclavable material. A first pair of opposing prongs with a first space formed therebetween extends in the opposite direction of a second pair of opposing prongs with a second spaced formed similarly therebetween. The first pair of prongs are shaped to fit around an adult's gum ridge, and the second pair of prongs are shaped to fit around a child's gum ridge. An indented curvature formed in each portion of the peripheral edge lying between one prong of the first pair of opposing prongs and one prong of the second pair of opposing prongs is used for manually holding the device in place during use.

Abstract: There is provided an improved mouth prop for dental patients in the form of a tapered block made of pliable styrene material. A portion of one side of the block is concaved so as to more readily provide access to the patient's mouth and improve visibility. The block includes a pair of flanges extending from the top and bottom thereof on the cheek side to aid in stabilizing the block and to keep soft tissue away from the working area of the mouth and to channel saliva away from the working area.

Abstract: A dental mouth prop for maintaining the jaws of a dental patient in an opened condition includes a body for isolating a posterior tooth to be worked upon and for facilitating the evacuation of saliva and other fluids from the region of the mouth around the isolated tooth. The body includes a sidewalls positionable on opposite sides of the tooth to be worked upon and which are joined together so as to form a workspace-defining cavity between the sidewalls. The body also includes hollow portions positionable adjacent the gum tissue of the mandibular arch for collecting and extracting fluids which migrate to the region adjacent the isolated tooth. The prop also includes a bite flap member engageable by the teeth of the mandibular or maxillary arch opposite the tooth to be worked upon and which is pivotally attached to the prop body to accommodate pivotal movement of the flap member to a position corresponding to the occlusal bite plane of the engaging teeth.

Abstract: An oval cheek retractor enclosing an oval work area and attached to a handle. The cheek retractor has a pair of lip extenders at either oval end so that the user can either push or pull the cheeks without changing the hand being used.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unitary, adjustable mouth prop having jaw engaging plates connected by a spring. The plates hold a resilient molding material to comfortably and securely contact a patient's teeth. The plates are further connected by an adjusting mechanism which is used to adjust and maintain a controlled occlusal opening. The adjusting mechanism is made of a screw extending from each plate and an internally threaded sleeve connecting the two screws. The sleeve is threaded to either draw together or separate the screws and their attached jaw engaging plates, thereby closing or opening the occlusal opening. This sleeve and screw adjusting mechanism allows for easy and gradual adjustment of the size of the occlusal opening, without disruption of the dental procedure or discomfort to the patient.

Abstract: It is often necessary to manipulate or extend a tongue in order to perform an operation on the tongue or inside the mouth. The apparatus and method claimed provide non-slip surfaces which are attached to a user's finger and thumb, and which are maintained in an optimal predetermined physical relationship to each other so that the apparatus may be easily attached to the user's finger and thumb, and so that a positive and comfortable contact with the tongue is achieved. Thereby, the tongue may be manipulated or restrained in any position, even fully extended.

Abstract: An oral chock exerts uniformly axial forces on dental prostheses to seat the prosthesis. The chock is preferably shaped like the dental arch, and wedge-shaped to align the surfaces of the chock with the occlusal surfaces of the teeth. The chock is large enough to receive the entire dental arch, so that one or a plurality of prostheses of any size or extent can be seated. The chock may be scored for separation into partial chocks, and the central posterior portion may be removed for palatal and lingual relief. The chock is formed of expanded plastic material having a frangible cellular structure for deformation of the chock so that the chock will exert uniformly distributed forces. Though deformable, the material has sufficient strength to seat the prostheses.

Abstract: A combination jaw rest and ejector having a generally hollow wedge-shaped body with upper and lower channels in which a patient's teeth rest and which holds open the patient's mouth. The wedge-shaped body is placed in the patient's mouth on the side opposite that on which work is being performed. A suction hose is attached to the body and the side of the body facing the work site is perforated so that a relatively high volume of air may be drawn into the body through the suction hose, thus drawing, with the air, blood, spray, and debris and substantially preventing the discharge of these materials, which may carry disease transmitting factors, from the patient's mouth. In one embodiment, the body includes perforated salive collecting tube and/or a tongue depressor attached thereto. In a further embodiment, the body includes an illumination source therein to illuminate the interior of the patient's mouth.

Abstract: To permit more effective viewing during dental surgery of diagnosis, a retractor or probe assembly includes: (1) a cylindrical stainless steel handle about 14 centimeters long and 7 millimeters in diameter to which a mirror may be mounted; and (2) a 15 millimeter long retractor or probe extending at right angles to the handle with openings in it for the passage of light and an opening near the retractor or probe for water and air. One end of the handle opposite to the retractor or probe receives an air hose, a water hose and a fiber optic bundle connected to a dental light source to supply air, water and/or light to the retractor or probe end of the handle.

Abstract: Cancer of the oral cavity is treated by sensitizing malignant and premalignant tissue and non-selectively irradiating the entire oral cavity with a destructive laser. The strength or intensity of the light is adjusted so that nonsensitized tissue is not damaged. A special holder adapted to permit irradiation of the entire oral cavity from two fiber optic diffusers is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical retractor having a generally annular base. Two generally upstanding prongs extend generally upwardly at an angle from the base. The exterior surface of the base is generally concave, whereas the exterior surface of both of the prongs is generally convex. The base and prongs together form a substantially funnel-shaped structure which is adapted to be positioned over the lower dental group of a patient and to separate the cheek and tongue from a patient's teeth.

Abstract: This invention provides a tongue press that can be switchably adapted to both external and internal tongue press holder. The tongue press can be embodied in various types such as the type covering the whole surface area of the tongue and the type covering one half or one side of the tongue and is also featured by a reticulate structure so as to alleviate the malaise of the patient applied with the device while eliminating slip of the tongue due to saliva, etc., in use of the device. The invention allows the selective use of any desired type of tongue press according to the patient and the purpose of use. Owing to the flexiblity provided by the reticulate structure, a single tongue press according to this invention can be used for many patients differing in size and shape of the tongue. Also, the production cost of the tongue press can be reduced.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for simultaneously cleaning teeth, cheeks, lips and the tongue and massaging gums. The device is placed between the teeth and operates in response to chewing action. It can optionally be used with a dentifrice.

Abstract: A denture stabilizer for musicians comprising of a spacer contoured to engage the musician's teeth extending from opposite jaws to hold a denture in place against the force of the mouthpiece of a musical instrument.

Abstract: An orthopedic/orthodontic appliance for treating neuromuscular imbalance which interrupts balanced myofacial growth and development which includes mandible fixation means for maintaining the mandible of the user in an essentially neuromuscularly balanced position when the mouth is closed. The appliance also includes a pressure equalization conduit extending from a position exterior the lip seal of the user to a position in the posterior of the oral cavity which is in fluid communication with the pharyngeal cavity so that the pressure in the user's pharyngeal cavity is equalized to the ambient pressure outside the head while the user's mandible is maintained in the essentially neuromuscularly-balanced position.

Abstract: A dental instrument for viewing the lingual surface of dentition and also providing moisture control as a saliva ejector and serving as a tongue holder and support for a cheek retractor. The instrument includes a base wall on which is placed a mirror and a pair of laterally extending side walls which can be used as rest blocks for the teeth during the dental procedure. A channel is formed internally of the instrument with a plurality of aspirator holes in flow communication with the channel. Outlet ports are provided also in flow communication with the channel to which can be connected tubing from a suction source. The dental instrument is positioned in the mouth so as to span the mouth cavity rearwardly of the upper and lower dentition and is self holding so that it can reflect the lingual surface of the dentition without being held manually in place.

Abstract: Orally inserted medical device includes a pair of laterally separated upright barriers downwardly abuttably restable along the two lower rows of dental molars supported by the parallel alveolar ridges of the mandible. The physician inserts two index fingers or thumbs into and thus protected by the orally positioned medical device ancillary to manually reducing dislocated mandible. The device barrier components adequately resist uprightly extending dental forces and include semi-hard material at the teeth exposed surfaces, and the device is so constructed as to permit ready accurate insertion into, procedural use within, and removal from, the patient's oral cavity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to retractors generally, and more specifically to oral retractors for use in conjunction with the administration of anesthesia, as well as for use in conjunction with the performance of other surgical and dental procedures.More specifically, the invention comprises a flat metal strip having one end thereof formed into a tapered hook for insertion into the patient's mouth. The strip is bent or formed intermediate its ends so as to cause the end remote from the hook to project downwardly and in an essentially parallel relation with respect to the tapered hook end. A weight is secured to the end remote from the hook, whereby the lips are retracted upon placement of the instrument properly in the patient's mouth to thereby permit the physician to work in the area proximate the hook without interference from the patient's lip or from the instrument itself.

Abstract: A dental implement is disclosed which consists of a lip and cheek depressor or retractor adapted for mounting on the shank of a dental instrument adjacent the work portion of the instrument, such as a mirrored surface. The retractor is mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shank and may be detachably affixed thereto to facilitate interchangeability of retractors of various sizes and shapes.

Abstract: A suction producing formation is elastically contracted to apply suction upon release, to a tongue receiving receptacle inserted into the mouth of a patient. The tongue tip is thereby wedgingly engaged with the rearwardly converging walls of the receptacle to seal a connecting conduit so as to maintain a suction holding pressure on the tongue.

Abstract: A dental device including a body of plastic material having a plurality of bite block portions and a tongue shield portion for holding a patient's mouth open while restricting movement of the tongue toward the teeth. The bite block portions are adapted to be engaged by the opposing occlusal surfaces of the arches and the tongue shield portion extends between the bite block portions for particularly blocking the tongue from moving toward the lingual surfaces of the teeth.