Abstract: A dental appliance is made up of an elongated body having a substantially longitudinal axis with opposite end portions making up substantially flat surfaces extending laterally the axis for being engaged by teeth or endentulous areas of the upper and lower jaws of a patient. A circular opening is provided with in this middle region of the elongated body to allow the tube of a saliva and debris ejector to be positioned slidably therein, and within the mouth of a patient when the apparatus is being used. The elongated body is narrower between the flat surfaces of the bite pads for maximizing the visual field of a mouth to the person performing a dental procedure. The elongated body is deformable to ensure stable engagement between the teeth or endentulous region of the upper and lower jaws of a patient and the corresponding flat surface making up the bite pads of the elongated body.

Abstract: A cervical extraction collar is constructed so that it does not require taking off of a helmet in the event of a sports injury on the field. A main portion of the collar serves to lock a helmet and shoulder pads together, such as the helmet and shoulder pads of a football player or hockey player. A substance is contained within the main portion of the collar to rigidify the collar, and can be initially drawn away from the main portion into tails extending from the collar. After the main portion is placed between the back of the helmet and the shoulder pads, the substance in the tails can then be reinserted into the main portion to expand and brace the main portion against the back of the helmet on one side, and against the shoulder pads of the player on the other side, thereby providing a cervical support without requiring removal of the helmet to attend to the injury. The materials making up the collar are preferably all transparent to x-rays.