Method and therapeutic apparatus for reducing snoring

Claim 1

A therapeutic appliance for reducing adult oro-pharyngeal occlusion-induced snoring and obstructive sleep apnea during sleep periods, adapted to fit between the maxillary and mandibular dentition in the adult oral cavity, comprising in operative combination: (a) a pair of generally V-shaped spacer members, each having a truncated apex and a base spaced from said apex, said spacers being adapted to be positioned in an adult oral cavity between the maxillary and mandibular dentition with the apex toward the posterior of the dental arches; (b) said V-shaped spacers being disposed in a spaced-apart, side-by-side relationship removably insertable and matingly engaging at least one of the maxillary bicuspids and molars and the alveolar process of the maxilla and at least one of the mandibular dentition of an adult patient and the alveolar process of the mandible; (c) said V-shaped spacers being oriented with said base of each adjacent the bicuspids and the apex of each adjacent the molars of the dental arch; (d) an arcuate member bridging the space between the base of said spacers and extending to cover the lingual surfaces of the mandibular incisors; (e) said arcuate member having a lip portion extending over a portion of the labial surface of the mandibular incisors, the incisors being matingly embedded in said lip portion; (f) a first pair of flanges, each extending from said V-shaped spacers along the lingual surface of the mandible; and (g) a second pair of flanges, each extending from said V-shaped spacers along the palatal surface of at least one of said maxillary bicuspids and molars, and having a forward margin; (h) an arcuate cingulum wire disposed to bridgingly join the forward margins of said second pair of flanges; (i) a molar clasp disposed at the first maxillary molars, left and right; (j) said palatal flanges are connected by at least one means for lateral stiffening; (k) said spacers and said arcuate bridge member being adapted; (i) to provide a substantial vertical distance between the maxillary and mandibular dentition to create an open mouth position; (ii) to maintain the mandible in said open mouth position within the range of from about 10 to about 20 mm inferior and from about 3 to about 6 mm anterior as compared to the normal closed position of the mandible to create an open oral airway to permit functional breathing through the oral cavity; and (iii) to cause both anterior and inferior repositioning of the tongue to reduce incidence of tongue-induced obstructive sleep apnea and snoring associated therewith.