Abstract: A telescopic oral orthopedic appliance aligns the upper and lower jaws for treatment of the temporomandibular joint. It includes an extensible-contractable positioning device which extends between and alters the position of the mandible relative to the maxillae. The device is attached to upper and lower sets of teeth by an anchor which is embedded in a pair of opposing channel members which fit over the apex and inwardly and outwardly facing walls of the clinical crowns of a series of adjacent teeth. The extensible-contractable device fits closely against the channel member to avoid rubbing the buccal mucosa of the wearer's mouth. The length of the device is selectively variable to alter the position of the mandible forward or backward without sudden jumps or the need for removing the appliance from the mouth.

Abstract: In an orthopedic pillow in accordance with the present invention comprises a unitary body of foam or other resilient material with a deep generally hemispherical depression or aperture. The aperture receives the back of a user's head in such a manner that a portion of the weight of the head is supported directly by a mattress or the like beneath the pillow while the rest of the weight of the user's head is supported by the surrounding portion of the pillow. This design allows the user's head to rest generally on the same horizontal surface on which the remainder of the user's body rests. As a result, the head can shift backwardly into an ideal postural position in relation to the long axis of the user's body. In addition to holding the head, the pillow cushions the head by distributing its weight over a wide area. Also, the aperture is eccentrically positioned in the body to provide different distances between the edge of the body and the aperture.