Soft resilient interocclusal dental appliance, method of forming same

Abstract

A unitary plural-material, interocclusal dental appliance is disclosed for use in connection with orthodontic/orthopedic treatment of the teeth and jaws of a patient's mouth. The appliance includes a first region made from a first material that provides a relatively hard expanse with first and second surfaces, and with the second surface being contactable by one such set of teeth. The second surface may be constructed with a substantially planar shape, or with a shape conforming generally to the cusps of such one set of teeth. A second region is joined to the first region, and is made from a second material that provides a relatively soft, persistently resilient enclosure for the other such set of teeth. The second region includes plural zones, each of which is structured to allow an adjacent enclosed tooth to move toward the first surface of the first region, with such movement resulting in penetration of corresponding teeth into the relatively hard first material for a relatively precise distance. Such penetration defines lateral borders in the first material around such teeth so that the appliance accommodates relatively fixed vertical and lateral positioning of the mandible by enclosing such teeth upon desired biting action by the patient. A method for forming such appliance is also disclosed. Additionally, a curable composition for making a soft, persistently resilient dental appliance is disclosed and it includes a polymer component including butyl methacrylate polymer, and a monomer component including butyl methacrylate monomer.