Abstract: The present invention is a posterior molar shim system that allows an oral sleep appliance clinician to incorporate the parameters of vertical, lateral, protrusive and slant into the process of designing an effective oral sleep appliance. The molar shim system is comprised of square-shaped, rigid shims having between 2.0 mm-8.0 mm thicknesses and having two protrusions (herein referred to as ‘alignment pegs’) on one side and two matching apertures on another side. Said pegs and apertures allow the shims to be stacked in a stable, accurate, vertical, friction-fit manner. One side of the shims also has a slot to receive a rectangular arch-wire that connects a set of shims for positioning inside a mouth. An object of the system is to provide a means of posterior inter-arch stabilization during bite registration to reduce slant angle as part of an oral sleep appliance design that minimizes sleep apnea more effectively.

Abstract: A bio-facilitation mouthpiece correlates a custom made mouthpiece with nervous system channeling to facilitate optimal physiologic activity. The mouthpiece may include right and lateral engagement portions having a top portion and a bottom portion. The top and bottom portions are adapted to include a plurality of surface impressions that correspond to the user's posterior teeth. A forward portion extends between the right and lateral engagement portions. A right outer flange member is coupled to the right lateral engagement portion, and a left outer flange member coupled to the left lateral engagement portion. At least a portion of the top portion and bottom portion of comprises a first material, and at least a portion of each of the forward portion, the right flange member, and the left flange member comprise a second material.

Abstract: Oral appliances, methods of making oral appliances, and bite registration devices for use in making oral appliances are provided. An oral appliance includes a lower segment, and upper segments. The upper segments are operably connected to the lower segment using threaded elements. Rotational manipulation of the threaded elements causes the upper segments to be displaced horizontally relative to the lower segment about the lengths of the threaded elements, and the lengths of the threaded elements are substantially parallel to each other. A bite registration device for use in making an oral appliance includes a top surface including a protrusion and a bottom surface including a receptacle configured to receive the protrusion. The device is configured to be maintained in stacked relation to a like configured second bite registration device by mating the protrusion of the bite registration device with a receptacle of the second bite registration device.

Abstract: A bio-facilitation mouthpiece correlates a custom made mouthpiece with nervous system channeling to facilitate optimal physiologic activity. The mouthpiece may be a single, unitary part made from a flexible, resilient material, and the mouthpiece includes a base member, and a right and left flange member coupled to the base member. The base member is adapted to receive portions of a user's upper and lower teeth, and the base member includes an elongated right lateral engagement portion, an elongated left lateral engagement portion, and an arch-shaped forward portion disposed between the right and left lateral engagement portions. The base member additionally includes a skirt portion downwardly extending from the forward portion and the right and left lateral engagement portions.

Abstract: Oral appliances, methods of making oral appliances, and bite registration devices for use in making oral appliances are provided. An oral appliance includes a lower segment, and upper segments. The upper segments are operably connected to the lower segment using threaded elements. Rotational manipulation of the threaded elements causes the upper segments to be displaced horizontally relative to the lower segment about the lengths of the threaded elements, and the lengths of the threaded elements are substantially parallel to each other. A bite registration device for use in making an oral appliance includes a top surface including a protrusion and a bottom surface including a receptacle configured to receive the protrusion. The device is configured to be maintained in stacked relation to a like configured second bite registration device by mating the protrusion of the bite registration device with a receptacle of the second bite registration device.

Abstract: A bio-facilitation mouthpiece correlates a custom made mouthpiece with nervous system channeling to facilitate optimal physiologic activity. The mouthpiece may be a single, unitary part made from a flexible, resilient material, and the mouthpiece includes a base member, and a right and left flange member coupled to the base member. The base member is adapted to receive portions of a user's upper and lower teeth, and the base member includes an elongated right lateral engagement portion, an elongated left lateral engagement portion, and an arch-shaped forward portion disposed between the right and left lateral engagement portions. The base member additionally includes a skirt portion downwardly extending from the forward portion and the right and left lateral engagement portions.

Abstract: A bio-facilitation mouthpiece correlates a custom made mouthpiece with nervous system channeling to facilitate optimal physiologic activity. The mouthpiece may be a single, unitary part made from a flexible, resilient material, and the mouthpiece includes a base member, and a right and left flange member coupled to the base member. The base member is adapted to receive portions of a user's upper and lower teeth, and the base member includes an elongated right lateral engagement portion, an elongated left lateral engagement portion, and an arch-shaped forward portion disposed between the right and left lateral engagement portions. The base member additionally includes a skirt portion downwardly extending from the forward portion and the right and left lateral engagement portions.

Abstract: Improved pacifiers are provided. Certain embodiments better accommodate the anatomy of the human oral cavity and throat, and can provide for improved airway patency, healthy jaw development, correct swallowing, and/or satisfy a user's inclination to suck and nibble. Certain embodiments include an upper ridge groove configured to receive a user's upper anterior ridge, and a lower ridge groove configured to receive the user's lower anterior ridge. The ridge grooves can be substantially vertically aligned, can span a user's anterior ridges, and can maintain vertical spacing between the user's anterior ridges. Certain embodiments include an anterior flange and a posterior flange, the upper ridge groove configured to receive the upper anterior ridge between the posterior flange and anterior flange, and the lower ridge groove configured to receive the lower anterior ridge between the posterior flange and anterior flange.

Abstract: Sleep mouthpieces are provided. One such mouthpiece includes an intraoral component including first and second troughs configured to receive a user's upper and lower teeth or ridges. The troughs are separated by a distance, thereby providing an opening that can allow mouth breathing. The mouthpiece includes an extraoral component connected to the intraoral component by first and second columns. The columns can be positioned at first and second ends of the intraoral component. The columns can also be positioned at first and second ends of the opening. The columns can also be positioned between the ends of the opening and the ends of the intraoral component. The extraoral component includes first and second retention portions extending from the first and second columns away from a center of the intraoral component and away from the opening. The first and second retention portions are configured to contact the user's face.

Abstract: Improved pacifiers are provided. Certain embodiments better accommodate the anatomy of the human oral cavity and throat, and can provide for improved airway patency, healthy jaw development, correct swallowing, and/or satisfy a user's inclination to suck and nibble. Certain embodiments include an upper ridge groove configured to receive a user's upper anterior ridge, and a lower ridge groove configured to receive the user's lower anterior ridge. The ridge grooves can be substantially vertically aligned, can span a user's anterior ridges, and can maintain vertical spacing between the user's anterior ridges. Certain embodiments include an anterior flange and a posterior flange, the upper ridge groove configured to receive the upper anterior ridge between the posterior flange and anterior flange, and the lower ridge groove configured to receive the lower anterior ridge between the posterior flange and anterior flange.