Dental appliance and method of protecting dentitions during a transoral procedure with the appliance

摘要

A dental appliance for protecting teeth has two front flaps separated by a forward cusp, and two side flaps separated from the forward front flaps by side cusps. An open area is provided in each of the forward front flaps. The appliance may also have a rear palate portion with a rear cusp. The appliance may have a line of symmetry that extends from the forward cusp to the rear cusp. Open spaces may be distributed throughout the sheet of material.;A method of protecting the dentition of a patient during a transoral procedure or intubation includes the steps of providing the appliance in a planar first state and placing the appliance in the mouth of a patient so the patient's dentition crowns are located along a bite line on the appliance. The method also includes molding the appliance into a second, non-planar state to conform to the patient's dentition and palate so that the dentition are protected during the transoral procedure or intubation.

主权项

1. A dentition protecting guard for transoral medical procedures, comprising:
an outer perimeter defined by two front flaps separated by a forward cusp, and two side flaps separated from said front flaps by side cusps; a single, rectangular, force dissipating open area in each of said front flaps, wherein each open area has a leading portion angled toward an appliance line of symmetry and a trailing portion angled away from said line of symmetry; wherein a first line parallel a long side of a first of said rectangular open areas intersects with a second line parallel a long side of a second of said rectangular open areas outside of said outer perimeter, wherein said first line and said second line intersect with said line of symmetry outside of said outer perimeter; a symmetric, arch-shaped bite line area extending through said line of symmetry said bite line area only located behind said open areas; a first side of said bite line area extending through a first set of circular, force dissipating open spaces and a second side of said bite line area extending through a second set of circular, force dissipating open spaces; and an arch-shaped rear palate portion continuously extending from said first set of circular open spaces to said second set of circular open spaces; wherein said line of symmetry extends from said forward cusp to a rear cusp in said rear palate portion, wherein said forward cusp and said rear cusp extend inwardly into said intubation guard the same amount.