Abstract: A method of providing a patient with a dental appliance adapted to treat sleep apnea by touching the front lower dentition, thereby stimulating the mechanoreceptor reflex. In the method, the patient is provided with a temporary appliance, having an upper portion adapted to engage with upper teeth of the patient; a lower portion, adapted to touch lower teeth of the patient; a user accessible adjustment actuator, which when moved in a first direction advances the lower portion relative to the upper portion, and when moved in a second direction retracts the lower portion relative to the upper portion. The patient is directed to adjust the actuator, and thereby the appliance, as needed to treat sleep apnea, thereby creating an adjusted appliance. Finally, an adjusted appliance is received from the patient and a permanent appliance is produced based on the adjusted appliance.

Abstract: Embodiments of bone anchored expander devices described herein along with the protocol provide improved orthodontic/orthopedic appliances and protocol for expanding or contracting, protracting or retracting, extruding or intruding the upper jaw and dental arch unilaterally or bilaterally in parallel or non-parallel way, as well as enlarging the nasal cavity and nasopharyngeal airway. This expander design and protocol gives the clinician the ability to direct expansion or constriction, protraction or retraction, extrusion or intrusion forces to various segments of the maxillary jaw and arch in parallel or nonparallel configuration minimizing the need for major osteotomies.

Abstract: An oral appliance that attaches to molars or bicuspids and that has the capability for side-to-side expansion and contraction in one unit as a self-stopping mechanism. Further, one embodiment can be activated to compress or expand and be deactivated in two planes of side-to-side or front-to-back, along three different arms/bridges respectively. This is to say that one arm can compress front-to-back while the other arm expands, the jaw/teeth front-to-back, simultaneously. With proper arrangements and anchorage preparation the device shown and described can move front teeth forward or backward or back teeth forward or backward independently on either side of the mouth.

Abstract: Embodiments of bone anchored expander devices described herein along with the protocol provide improved orthodontic/orthopedic appliances and protocol for expanding or contracting, protracting or retracting, extruding or intruding the upper jaw and dental arch unilaterally or bilaterally in parallel or non-parallel way, as well as enlarging the nasal cavity and nasopharyngeal airway. This expander design and protocol gives the clinician the ability to direct expansion or constriction, protraction or retraction, extrusion or intrusion forces to various segments of the maxillary jaw and arch in parallel or nonparallel configuration minimizing the need for major osteotomies.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating sleep-disordered breathing and related masticatory and temporomandibular joint disorders are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an oral appliance for treating the sleep-disordered breathing and/or the related masticatory and temporomandibular joint disorders includes an upper section configured for attachment to upper teeth and a lower section configured for positioning behind lower teeth. The oral appliance also includes an extender connecting the lower section to the upper section. The extender is configured to advance the lower section into a contact with the lower teeth.

Abstract: An orthodontic distractor includes two rods connected so as to be spread apart are brought together at either end. Also, a first coupling assembly is configured to couple the first rod to a bicuspid and a molar tooth of a patient and a second coupling assembly is configured to couple the second rod to a bicuspid and a molar tooth of a patient. Also, the first coupling assembly includes first extension arms attached to the first rod so as to permit adjustment of a vertical angle between said first rod and said first extension arms, and the second coupling assembly comprises second extension arms coupled to the second rod, so as to permit adjustment of a vertical angle between said first rod and said first extension arms.

Abstract: An oral appliance that attaches to molars or bicuspids and that has the capability for side-to-side expansion and contraction in one unit as a self-stopping mechanism. Further, one embodiment can be activated to compress or expand and be deactivated in two planes of side-to-side or front-to-back, along three different arms/bridges respectively. This is to say that one arm can compress front-to-back while the other arm expands, the jaw/teeth front-to-back, simultaneously. With proper arrangements and anchorage preparation the device shown and described can move front teeth forward or backward or back teeth forward or backward independently on either side of the mouth.

Abstract: An oral appliance that attaches to molars or bicuspids and that combines the capability for side-to-side and front-to-back expansion and contraction in one unit as a self-stopping mechanism. Further, this embodiment can be activated to compress or expand and be deactivated in two planes of side-to-side or front-to-back, along three different arms/bridges respectively. This is to say that one arm can compress front-to-back while the other arm expands, the jaw/teeth front-to-back, simultaneously). With proper arrangements and anchorage preparation the device shown and described can move front teeth forward or backward or back teeth forward or backward independently on either side of the mouth.

Abstract: An orthodontic distractor includes two rods connected so as to be spread apart are brought together at either end. Also, a first coupling assembly is configured to couple the first rod to a bicuspid and a molar tooth of a patient and a second coupling assembly is configured to couple the second rod to a bicuspid and a molar tooth of a patient. Also, the first coupling assembly includes first extension arms attached to the first rod so as to permit adjustment of a vertical angle between said first rod and said first extension arms, and the second coupling assembly comprises second extension arms coupled to the second rod, so as to permit adjustment of a vertical angle between said first rod and said first extension arms.

Abstract: An orthodontic screw system includes two rods connected to rotatable head members. The two rods are couplable to one or more of lower teeth or mandibular bones of a patient. The rotatable head members have threaded holes and pairs of the rotatable head members have opposite hand threads. The screw system also includes two twin screws that have threaded ends of opposite hand threads. Each of the two twin screws is engaged to threads of a pair of the rotatable head members. Rotation of one of the twin screws causes the pair of rotatable head members and the ends of the rods to either move together or move apart. The two twin screws are independently rotatable to cause independent expansion or contraction of different portions of the screw system.

Abstract: An orthodontic distractor includes two rods connected to rotatable head members. The two rods are couplable to one or more of upper teeth or palatal bones of a patient. The rotatable head members have threaded holes and pairs of the rotatable head members have opposite hand threads. The screw system also includes two twin screws that have threaded ends of opposite hand threads. Each of the two twin screws is engaged to threads of a pair of the rotatable head members. Rotation of one of the twin screws causes the pair of rotatable head members and the ends of the rods to either move together or move apart. The two twin screws are independently rotatable to cause independent expansion or contraction of different portions of the screw system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus with auto-inactivation for the lateral expansion or constriction of posterior teeth, anterior advancement or retraction of the anterior teeth, and distal expansion of the molars, bicuspids and canines is described. This system is for correction of the upper dental arch and jaw bone, nasal cavity constriction, or lower dental arch constriction, which helps to resolve the dental malposition, dental crowding, proper room for tongue position, and expansion of nasal cavity for improvement of airway. The appliance includes loaded springs around the wires connected to molar band with connector tubes and female attachments that are extended to the front tube. The spring creates a distalization force on the first and/or second molars, anterior extending force on front teeth including canines and incisors, and lateral expansion for the posterior teeth including, canines, bicuspids and molars.

Abstract: An oral appliance that attaches to molars or bicuspids and that combines the capability for side-to-side and front-to-back expansion capability in one unite as a self-stopping mechanism. Further, this embodiment can be activated to compress or expand and be deactivated in two planes of side-to-side or front-to-back, along three different arms/bridges respectively. This is to say that one arm can compress front-to-back while the other arm expands, the jaw/teeth front-to-back, simultaneously). With proper arrangements and anchorage preparation the device shown and described can move front teeth forward or backward or back teeth forward or backward independently on either side of the mouth.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating sleep-disordered breathing and related masticatory and temporomandibular joint disorders are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an oral appliance for treating the sleep-disordered breathing and/or the related masticatory and temporomandibular joint disorders includes an upper section configured for attachment to upper teeth and a lower section configured for positioning behind lower teeth. The oral appliance also includes an extender connecting the lower section to the upper section. The extender is configured to advance the lower section into a contact with the lower teeth.

Abstract: An orthodontic screw system includes two rods connected to rotatable head members. The two rods are couplable to one or more of lower teeth or mandibular bones of a patient. The rotatable head members have threaded holes and pairs of the rotatable head members have opposite hand threads. The screw system also includes two twin screws that have threaded ends of opposite hand threads. Each of the two twin screws is engaged to threads of a pair of the rotatable head members. Rotation of one of the twin screws causes the pair of rotatable head members and the ends of the rods to either move together or move apart. The two twin screws are independently rotatable to cause independent expansion or contraction of different portions of the screw system.

Abstract: An orthodontic distractor includes two rods connected to rotatable head members. The two rods are couplable to one or more of upper teeth or palatal bones of a patient. The rotatable head members have threaded holes and pairs of the rotatable head members have opposite hand threads. The screw system also includes two twin screws that have threaded ends of opposite hand threads. Each of the two twin screws is engaged to threads of a pair of the rotatable head members. Rotation of one of the twin screws causes the pair of rotatable head members and the ends of the rods to either move together or move apart. The two twin screws are independently rotatable to cause independent expansion or contraction of different portions of the screw system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus with auto-inactivation for the lateral expansion or constriction of posterior teeth, anterior advancement or retraction of the anterior teeth, and distal expansion of the molars, bicuspids and canines is described. This system is for correction of the upper dental arch and jaw bone, nasal cavity constriction, or lower dental arch constriction, which helps to resolve the dental malposition, dental crowding, proper room for tongue position, and expansion of nasal cavity for improvement of airway. The appliance includes loaded springs around the wires connected to molar band with connector tubes and female attachments that are extended to the front tube. The spring creates a distalization force on the first and/or second molars, anterior extending force on front teeth including canines and incisors, and lateral expansion for the posterior teeth including, canines, bicuspids and molars.