Orthodontic appliance shield

Abstract

A protective shield is removably mounted over an orthodontic appliance in a user's mouth and includes an outer resilient compressible material layer joined to an inner adhesive layer. The shield is flexible for easy installation over all exposed surfaces of the orthodontic appliance; but is removable after a period of use. The outer resilient material layer of the shield can be formed of closed cell foam or a gelatinous material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of shielding the surrounding inner soft lip and cheek tissue of a user from the surfaces of an orthodontic appliance, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an orthodontic appliance shield comprising:
 a flexible outer layer having opposed longitudinal ends and opposed lateral side edges formed from a resilient compressible material and wherein the flexible outer layer has a user facing side and a orthodontic appliance facing side; and 
 an inner adhesive layer facing away from the user facing side; and 
   applying the orthodontic shield over one or more orthodontic appliance engaged with the user's tooth or teeth using the inner adhesive layer thereby shielding the surrounding inner soft lip and cheek tissue of the user that would otherwise contact the orthodontic appliance from the orthodontic appliance and preventing the orthodontic appliance from contacting the surrounding inner soft lip and cheek tissue of the user wherein the inner adhesive layer adheres the orthodontic appliance shield over an exterior facing surface of the orthodontic appliance and adheres to the facial surface of the user's tooth or teeth and the orthodontic appliance; and
 removing the orthodontic appliance shield. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer is applied over one entire surface of the orthodontic appliance facing side of the flexible outer layer and wherein the shield has an overall thickness of from about 0.020 mm to about 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible outer layer has shape memory and is a dentally hygienic material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of the user preforming the orthodontic appliance shield prior to application over the orthodontic appliance. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer is formed of a high density closed cell foam. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the foam is a polyolefin. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inner adhesive layer comprises a mixture of polyvinylpryrrolidone, a humectant plasticizer and water. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the inner adhesive layer is applied in a thin layer and wherein the method further comprises the step of drying the inner adhesive layer such that the layer may be handled and installed but when installed on the surface of the user's tooth or teeth and orthodontic appliance. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the outer layer of the shield is formed of one of silicone, synthetic or natural rubber, and silicone gel.