Mouthpiece

Abstract

The mouthpiece includes an enhanced mouthpiece, a data sensor, and a personal data device. The data sensor collects data regarding the bite force, the number of bites and the duration of each bite. The data sensor wirelessly transfers the collected data to a personal data device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A jaw exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a mouthpiece configured for positioning between a superior dentition and an inferior dentition of a user, the mouthpiece comprising:
 an anterior surface configured to be facing outward away from the user when the mouthpiece is positioned between the superior dentition and the inferior dentition of the user; 
 a posterior surface opposite the anterior surface; 
 a left side surface; 
 a right side surface; 
 a top surface configured to engage the superior dentition of the user; 
 a bottom surface configured to engage the inferior dentition of the user; and 
 one or more cavities extending through the mouthpiece between at least two of the anterior surface, the posterior surface, the left side surface, and the right side surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The jaw exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece further comprises:
 a superior dental arch cavity comprising a curvature configured to receive a superior dentition of the user and extending from the left side surface to the right side surface; and   an inferior dental arch cavity comprising a curvature configured to receive an inferior dentition of the user and extending from the left side surface to the right side surface.   
     
     
         3 . The jaw exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the superior dental arch cavity and the inferior dental arch cavity each comprises a channel or indentation formed in the exterior surface. 
     
     
         4 . The jaw exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the superior dental arch cavity and the inferior dental arch cavity each comprises one or more pieces of material molded to the superior dentition or the inferior dentition of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The jaw exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor cavity configured to receive a data sensor operative to determine bite information corresponding to one or more compressive forces applied by the superior dentition and the inferior dentition of the user; and   the data sensor,   wherein the one or more compressive forces corresponds to one or more bites from the user, the bite information comprising at least one of a bite force, a number of bites, and a duration of each bite.   
     
     
         6 . The jaw exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a data sensor operative to determine one or more compressive forces corresponding to one or more bites from the user, the bite information comprises a bite force, a number of bites, and a duration of each bite. 
     
     
         7 . The jaw exercise apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the data sensor comprises a logic module, a communication module, a piezoelectric sensor, and a power system. 
     
     
         8 . The jaw exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the communication module comprises a wireless electronic communication device that provides wireless communications with a personal data device. 
     
     
         9 . The jaw exercise apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless communication module is configured to provide the bite information to the personal data device via a Bluetooth protocol. 
     
     
         10 . The jaw exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece further comprises a tongue shelf defined by the posterior surface. 
     
     
         11 . The jaw exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the tongue shelf comprises a concave recess configured to receive at least a portion of a tongue of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The jaw exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         13 . A method for providing a jaw exercise apparatus, the method comprising:
 forming a mouthpiece from elastomeric material configured for positioning between a superior dentition and an inferior dentition of a user, comprising:
 forming an anterior surface of the mouthpiece configured to be facing outward away from the user when the mouthpiece is positioned between the superior dentition and the inferior dentition of the user; 
 forming a posterior surface of the mouthpiece opposite the anterior surface; 
 forming a left side surface of the mouthpiece; 
 forming a right side surface of the mouthpiece; 
 forming a top surface configured to engage the superior dentition of the user; 
 forming a bottom surface configured to engage the inferior dentition of the user; and 
 forming one or more cavities extending through the mouthpiece between at least two of the anterior surface, the posterior surface, the left side surface, and the right side surface; and 
 forming a sensor cavity configured to receive a data sensor operative to determine bite information corresponding to one or more compressive forces applied by the superior dentition and the inferior dentition of the user. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising installing the data sensor,
 wherein the data sensor comprises a logic module, a communication module, a piezoelectric sensor, and a power system, and   wherein the one or more compressive forces corresponds to one or more bites from the user, the bite information comprising at least one of a bite force, a number of bites, and a duration of each bite.