Dentistry – Orthodontics – By mouthpiece-type retainer
Patent
1996-08-23
2000-03-14
Lewis, Ralph A.
Dentistry
Orthodontics
By mouthpiece-type retainer
128861, 128862, A61C 300
Patent
active
060364874
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relates to an improved material for mouthguards and to a mouthguard made from that material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention will be described by way of example with reference to mouthguards intended to be used while taking part in body contact sports. It should be appreciated that this is by way of example only and that the mouthguard of the invention may be used for therapeutic purposes also. For example the mouthguard may be used for treating temporomandibular disorders or the like.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Mouthguards are typically made from plastics material such as an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and fall into three specific categories. The mouthguards are either stock products premoulded and made in a variety of sizes, home or self mouldable to suit the physical characteristics of the user or custom moulded to suit the characteristics of the user. The stock mouthguards are typically the cheapest and least effective in use while the custom moulded and shaped mouthguards are the most expensive and effective in their impact absorbent properties.
Little has been done to improve upon the characteristics and properties of mouthguards to enhance their effectiveness in protecting the teeth, jawbone and intraoral tissues from injury while the wearer takes part in body contact sporting activities such as boxing, football and the like.
German patent specification 4011204 discloses a mouthguard material consisting of an EVA copolymer material, polycaprolactone and colorants and perfumes and PVA to reduce the softening point of the resultant mouthguard for ease of manipulation and shaping.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,984 relates to a mouthguard material which may be custom shaped or moulded employing a teeth impression cast pressed against softened thermoplastic sheet material which increases in thickness from one end to the other.
Australian patent specification 633269 discloses a mouthguard made from an EVA copolymer having a softening point higher than the normal temperature of an oral cavity but lower than the highest temperature that the oral cavity can endure so that the user may adapt the mouthguard to fit the mouth by biting onto it after it has been heated. The shaping procedure may be repeated if the shape or configuration of the teeth should change.
Earlier proposals as well as providing materials enabling custom or self shaping of the mouthguard have also suggested the use of other additives to the material of construction to enhance the characteristics of the material. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,044,762 suggested the inclusion of not greater than 5% sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride or sodium fluorosilicate in the material of construction to simultaneously provide prophylactic treatment of the teeth.
There has been little activity in the construction of mouthguards in an attempt at enhancing the impact absorption properties other than the change in thickness referred to in U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,984.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved mouthguard material and a mouthguard made from that material which provides enhanced impact absorbent properties.
According to one aspect, the invention provides a mouthguard material made of orally acceptable plastics material, the mouthguard material having a plurality of enclosed cavities therein at spaced locations arranged in at least a substantial part of the material.
The enclosed cavities may be of any suitable size and shape. For example, the cavities may have irregular shapes or regular shapes such as spherical or cylindrical shapes. The cavities need not be regularly spaced. For example, the cavities may occur randomly spaced throughout the material. The cavities in the material need not all be the same size or shape. However, it is preferred that the cavities employed in the material all be similar in size and shape.
The enclosed cavities may be present as voids in the material. If desired, the cavities may be filled with gas or liquid to enhance the impact absorption character
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Fastcote Pty Ltd.
Lewis Ralph A.
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