Single arch mandibular advancer

Abstract

Various embodiments of orthodontic appliances are disclosed to dispose a patient's lower dentition (2) and upper dentition (2) in Class I occlusion. A representative appliance (180) includes an occlusal ridge (182) that extends over the mesio-lingual cusp and the mesio-buccal cusp of a lower first molar (14a) on one side of the patient's dentition (2), and includes another occlusal ridge (182) that extends over the mesio-lingual cusp and the mesio-buccal cusp of a lower first molar (14b) on the other side of the patient's dentition (2). Such an appliance (180) addresses a Class II malocclusion by encouraging or facilitating movement of the mandible in a mesial or anterior direction such that each such occlusal ridge (182) ends up being disposed between a corresponding upper first molar (32a, 32b) and a corresponding second bicuspid (30a, 30b).

1 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . An orthodontic appliance, comprising:
 an overlay comprising an occlusal surface;   a first occlusal protrusion on said occlusal surface that extends from a lingual of said overlay to a buccal of said overlay on a first side of a midline of said overlay, wherein anterior and posterior portions of said occlusal surface that adjoin said first occlusal protrusion are recessed relative to said first occlusal protrusion; and   a second occlusal protrusion on said occlusal surface that extends from said lingual of said overlay to said buccal of said overlay on a second side of said midline of said overlay that is opposite said first side, wherein anterior and posterior portions of said occlusal surface that adjoin said second occlusal protrusion are recessed relative to said second occlusal protrusion.   
     
     
         69 . The orthodontic appliance of  claim 68 , wherein said overlay is at least generally U-shaped. 
     
     
         70 . The orthodontic appliance of  claim 68 , wherein said overlay is selected from the group consisting of an Essix appliance, a retainer, and a positioner. 
     
     
         71 . The orthodontic appliance of  claim 68 , wherein said overlay is configured for positioning on multiple teeth between said first occlusal protrusion and said second occlusal protrusion when said orthodontic appliance is in an installed configuration. 
     
     
         72 . The orthodontic appliance of  claim 68 , wherein said overlay is configured for addressing a Class II malocclusion such that when in an installed configuration on a lower dentition: 1) said first occlusal protrusion is disposed over both a mesio-lingual cusp and a mesio-buccal cusp of a corresponding lower first molar; and 2) said second occlusal protrusion is disposed over both a mesio-lingual cusp and a mesio-buccal cusp of a corresponding lower first molar. 
     
     
         73 . The orthodontic appliance of  claim 68 , wherein said overlay is configured for addressing a Class III malocclusion such that when in an installed configuration on a lower dentition: 1) said first occlusal protrusion is disposed over both a distal-lingual cusp and a distal-buccal cusp of a corresponding lower first molar; and 2) said second occlusal protrusion is disposed over both a distal-lingual cusp and a distal-buccal cusp of a corresponding lower first molar. 
     
     
         74 . The orthodontic appliance of  claim 68 , wherein said overlay is configured for addressing a Class II malocclusion such that when in an installed configuration on an upper dentition: 1) said first occlusal protrusion is disposed over both a distal-lingual cusp and a distal-buccal cusp of a corresponding upper first molar; and 2) said second occlusal protrusion is disposed over both a distal-lingual cusp and a distal-buccal cusp of a corresponding upper first molar. 
     
     
         75 . The orthodontic appliance of  claim 68 , wherein said overlay is configured for addressing a Class III malocclusion such that when in an installed configuration on an upper dentition: 1) said first occlusal protrusion is disposed over both a mesio-lingual cusp and a mesio-buccal cusp of a corresponding upper first molar; and 2) said second occlusal protrusion is disposed over both a mesio-lingual cusp and a mesio-buccal cusp of a corresponding upper first molar. 
     
     
         76 . An orthodontic appliance, comprising:
 an overlay comprising an occlusal surface, a buccal surface, and a lingual surface;   a first lingual cuspal extension that protrudes lingually from adjoining portions of said lingual surface on a first side of a midline of said overlay and that protrudes occlusally beyond said occlusal surface; and   a second lingual cuspal extension that protrudes lingually from adjoining portions of said lingual surface on a second side of a midline of said overlay and that protrudes occlusally beyond said occlusal surface, wherein said second side of said midline of said overlay is opposite said first side of said midline of said overlay.   
     
     
         77 . The orthodontic appliance of  claim 76 , wherein said overlay is at least generally U-shaped. 
     
     
         78 . The orthodontic appliance of  claim 76 , wherein said overlay is selected from the group consisting of an Essix appliance, a retainer, and a positioner. 
     
     
         79 . The orthodontic appliance of  claim 76 , wherein said overlay is configured for positioning on multiple teeth between first lingual cuspal extension and said second lingual cuspal extension when said orthodontic appliance is in an installed configuration. 
     
     
         80 . The orthodontic appliance of  claim 76 , wherein said overlay is configured such that when in an installed configuration on a lower dentition: 1) said first lingual cuspal extension is disposed over a single cusp of a corresponding tooth; and 2) said second lingual cuspal extension is disposed over a single cusp of a corresponding tooth. 
     
     
         81 . The orthodontic appliance of  claim 76 , wherein said overlay is configured for addressing a Class II malocclusion such that when in an installed configuration on a lower dentition: 1) said first lingual cuspal extension is disposed over only a mesio-lingual cusp of a corresponding lower first molar; and 2) said second lingual cuspal extension is disposed over only a mesio-lingual cusp of a corresponding lower first molar. 
     
     
         82 . The orthodontic appliance of  claim 76 , wherein said overlay is configured for addressing a Class III malocclusion such that when in an installed configuration on a lower dentition: 1) said first lingual cuspal extension is disposed over only a distal-lingual cusp of a corresponding lower first molar; and 2) said second lingual cuspal extension is disposed over only a distal-lingual cusp of a corresponding lower first molar.  2   0   83 . (New) The orthodontic appliance of  claim 76 , wherein said overlay is configured for addressing a Class II malocclusion such that when in an installed configuration on an upper dentition: 1) said first lingual cuspal extension is disposed over only a distal-lingual cusp of a corresponding upper first molar; and 2) said second lingual cuspal extension is disposed over only a distal-lingual cusp of a corresponding upper first molar. 
     
     
         84 . The orthodontic appliance of  claim 76 , wherein said overlay is configured for addressing a Class III malocclusion such that when in an installed configuration on an upper dentition: 1) said first lingual cuspal extension is disposed over only a mesio-lingual cusp of a corresponding upper first molar; and 2) said second lingual cuspal extension is disposed over only a mesio-lingual cusp of a corresponding upper first molar.