| abstract |
A mandibular advancement, or positioning, device which uses elastic bands to pull the jaw forward is disclosed. The appliance has an upper base conforming to the patient's maxillary dentition soft tissue and palate, the upper base having a set of retention hooks, one on the right and one on the left anterior occlusal portion of the upper base. The appliance also has a lower base conforming to the patients mandibular dentition and soft tissues, the lower base having a set of interchangeable, slide-in posterior occlusal bite planes. These bite planes open the bite vertically in varying amounts depending on which bite plane is utilized, and also provide connection points for the elastic bands on the lower base. O-ring elastic bands or other elastics are attached to both the retention hooks and the bite planes hooks, to pull the mandible forward for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. |