Methods of producing removable oral devices

Abstract

Certain configurations of methods which can be used to produce removable oral devices are described. In some instances, the removable oral devices can be produced using molding, digital scanning, on demand printing and/or other processes. In certain examples, the produced removable oral device can be used in weight management, athletic performance or in other applications.

1 . A method of producing a removable oral device comprising three-dimensionally printing a removable oral device using a first material, the printed removable oral device comprising a palatal element coupled to an optional clasping element, in which the palatal element is configured to contact a roof of a user's mouth at a palatal surface, the palatal element comprising a body comprising a thickness configured to lower a vaulted area of the roof of the mouth to decrease an overall oral volume of the mouth to a first oral volume, and wherein the optional clasping element is configured to assist in removal of the removable oral device from the mouth. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising printing areas of the body adjacent to the clasping element using a second material softer than the first material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising three-dimensionally printing the palatal element using a photo-curable material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising disposing one or more wires on a printer support as the clasping element and printing the photo-curable material into the printer support comprising the one or more wires to provide the removable oral device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising photo-curing the printed palatal element using UV/Visible light. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising printing each of the palatal element and the clasping element using a photo-curable material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising three-dimensionally printing the removable oral device using an inkjet three-dimensional printer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising three-dimensionally printing the removable oral device using digital light processing. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising three-dimensionally printing the removable oral device from a digital image of the user's mouth. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising three-dimensionally printing the palatal element of the digital image using a photo-curable material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising disposing one or more wires on a printer support as the clasping element and printing the photo-curable material onto the printer support comprising the one or more wires to provide the removable oral device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the removable oral device to not alter a position of the user's teeth. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the removable oral device to not retain a position of the user's teeth. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 imaging an oral cavity of a human; and   providing a removable oral device from the imaged oral cavity, the provided removable oral device comprising a palatal element coupled to an optional clasping element, in which the palatal element is configured to contact a roof of a user's mouth at a palatal surface, the palatal element comprising a body comprising a thickness configured to lower a vaulted area of the roof of the mouth to decrease an overall oral volume of the mouth to a first oral volume, and wherein the optional clasping element is configured to assist in removal of the removable oral device from the mouth.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising producing the removable oral device with areas of the body adjacent to the clasping element being softer than other areas of the body. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising imaging the oral cavity using an image head electrically coupled to a wireless device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising imaging the oral cavity using a probe configured to capture ultrasound images of the oral cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising imaging the oral cavity using a probe configured to capture still images of the oral cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising imaging the oral cavity using a probe configured to capture video images of the oral cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The method of any of  claims 14 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting images from the probe to a mobile device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising using the image of the oral cavity to print a removable oral device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising printing the removable oral device using three-dimensional printing. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising configuring the removable oral device to not alter a position of the user's teeth. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising configuring the removable oral device to not retain a position of the user's teeth. 
     
     
         25 . A method comprising:
 obtaining an impression of an oral, cavity of a human using an impression tray and impression material; and   providing a removable oral device using the impression of the oral cavity, the removable oral device comprising a palatal element coupled to an optional clasping element, in which the palatal element is configured to contact a roof of a user's mouth at a palatal surface, the palatal element comprising a body comprising a thickness configured to lower a vaulted area of the roof of the mouth to decrease an overall oral volume of the mouth to a first oral volume, wherein the body comprises a variable hardness across a tongue surface of the body, and wherein the optional clasping element is configured to assist in removal of the removable oral device from the mouth.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising printing the impression tray using a three-dimensional printer. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising using an image of the oral cavity in combination with the impression of the oral cavity to provide a composite image. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising printing the palatal element from the composite image using a three-dimensional printer. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising configuring edges of the palatal element to be softer than an apex of the palatal element. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising configuring the removable oral device to not alter a position of the user's teeth.