Abstract: The present invention is an improved female joint portion (40) for the Stress Breaker Appliance.RTM. (10). It comprises a wedge shaped female socket (40) which will receive the wedge shaped male member (16) of the Stress Breaker Appliance.RTM. (10). The female member (40) has two side walls (42) and a rear wall (44), and has an occlusal opening (50) and a gingival opening (52). It tapers inwardly in a gingival direction. As a result of the taper, the occlusal opening (50) is larger than the gingival opening (52) so that said male member (16) cannot fall below the gingival opening (52) of the female member (40). The two opposing walls (42) have holes (46) through them for retaining a connecting pin (36). The purpose of the pin (36) is to retain the wedge shaped male member (16) within the wedge shaped female member (40) and constrain their movements relative to each other. A flap ( 48) is pierced in the rear wall (44).

Abstract: The stress breaker appliance includes a main portion for engaging a patient's teeth and a supporting portion for false teeth coupled to the main portion. The coupling is such that the supporting portion can move up and down relative to the main portion so that stress on the patient's abuttment teeth which would be exerted during chewing if the supporting portion were rigidly secured to the main portion is avoided.