Mouth Guard

The present invention relates to a mouth guard used in sport competition and the like.

Conventionally, in a contact sport that demands players to perform a play with a strenuous motion such as boxing, rugby or American football, to prevent a player from having a wound on his/her teeth or in his/her mouth or brain concussion due to an impact that the player receives from the outside, a mouth guard has been used. Further, it has been also known that a mouth guard has sport ability enhancing effects such as an effect of allowing a user to improve biting itself, an effect of allowing a user to generate a strong biting force, or an effect of allowing a user to increase his/her concentration. Accordingly, recently, a mouth guard has started to be used in so-called non-contact sports such as golf, ping pong, swimming, tennis and the like where a player neither receives a direct contact or a strong impact on his/her body from the outside.

As such a mouth guard, for example, there has been proposed a mouth guard that covers at least teeth between left and right first molars on an upper jaw or a lower jaw wherein, on either occlusal surface out of a left occlusal surface covering portion that covers an occlusal surface ranging from the left first molar to a left premolar or a right occlusal surface covering portion that covers an occlusal surface ranging from the right first molar to a right premolar, a groove having a fixed width that penetrates from a buccal side to a tongue side is formed (see patent literature 1).

However, conventional mouth guards including the mouth guard described in the above-mentioned patent literature 1 are configured such that the entirety of the mouth guard has a large thickness to absorb an impact thus giving rise to drawbacks such as a drawback that strong biting is difficult when a user intends to perform strong biting, a drawback that breathing is difficult when it is unnecessary for a user to perform strong biting, a drawback that conversation is difficult, a drawback that taking necessary water is difficult, and a drawback that a user feels nauseated by a chance.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a mouth guard that allows a user to easily perform strong biting at the time of performing strong biting and is excellent in wearing feeling.

The inventor of the present invention has made extensive studies to solve these problems. As a result of the studies, the inventor has found that, by forming a mouth guard of a thin wall thickness type having a shape capable of forming a gap between the mouth guard and a valley portion of a molar tooth, the gap ensures a sufficient strong biting distance and performs a buffering function, a user can easily perform strong biting at the time of performing strong biting, and the mouth guard gives a comfortable wearing feeling to a user. The inventor has arrived at the present invention based on such finding.

Specifically, the present invention is as follows.

[1] A mouth guard that is formed by molding into a shape that corresponds individual teeth of a maxillary dentition or a mandibular dentition of a user, and is attached to the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user, the mouth guard having a thickness of 0.1 to 5.0 mm, wherein

[2] The mouth guard according to [1], wherein a portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at a valley portion of at least one of a first premolar and a second premolar of the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user when the mouth guard is attached to the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user is formed into a shape that forms a gap between the portion of the mouth guard and the valley portion of at least one of the first premolar and the second premolar.

[3] The mouth guard according to [2], wherein the portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at the valley portion of the premolar has either a convex cross-sectional shape or a U-shaped cross-sectional shape.

[4] The mouth guard according to [2] or [3], wherein a distance between an outer surface of the portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at the valley portion of the premolar and a bottom of the valley portion of the premolar is 1.0 to 5.5 mm.

[5] The mouth guard according to any one of [2] to [4], wherein the portion of the mouth guard that is positioned in the valley portion of the premolar has a convex cross-sectional shape that includes a first premolar protruding portion and a second premolar protruding portion each having a gap therein.

[6] The mouth guard according to any one of [2] to [5], wherein a buffer material is disposed on an inner surface of the portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at the valley portion of the premolar.

[7] The mouth guard according to any one of [2] to [6], wherein the mouth guard is formed by molding using an ethylene vinyl acetate resin.

[8] The mouth guard according to any one of [2] to [7], wherein a portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at an anterior tooth occlusal portion (anterior occlusal portion) of an anterior tooth of the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition is formed into a shape that forms a gap between the portion of the mouth guard and the anterior tooth occlusal portion of the anterior tooth when the mouth guard is attached to the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user.

[9] The mouth guard according to [8], wherein the portion that is positioned at the anterior tooth occlusal portion of the anterior tooth has a shape selected from a group consisting of a convex cross-sectional shape, a U-shaped cross-sectional shape, and a flat cross-sectional shape.

[10] The mouth guard according to [8] or [9], wherein the portion that is positioned at the anterior tooth occlusal portion of the anterior tooth has a convex cross-sectional shape that includes an anterior tooth protruding portion (anterior protruding portion) having a gap therein.

[11] The mouth guard according to any one of [8] to [10], wherein a buffer material is provided to an inner surface side of the portion that is positioned at the anterior tooth occlusal portion of the anterior tooth.

[12] The mouth guard according to any one of [8] to [11], wherein the anterior tooth is a central incisor.

[13] The mouth guard according to any one of [2] to [12], wherein the portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at the valley portion of at least a first molar and a second molar of the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition has a shape that forms a gap between the portion of the mouth guard and the valley portion of at least one of the first molar and the second molar when the mouth guard is attached to the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user.

[14] A method of manufacturing a mouth guard comprising mounting a gap forming mold in a valley portion of at least one of a first premolar and a second premolar of a dentition model that is formed by molding corresponding to a maxillary dentition or a mandibular dentition of a user, covering the dentition model on which the gap forming mold is mounted by a heated thermoplastic resin sheet, and applying a vacuum suction to the thermoplastic resin sheet thus forming the thermoplastic sheet into a shape that conforms to an outer shape of the teeth portions of the dentition model.

[15] The method of manufacturing a mouth guard according to [14], wherein, in addition to the valley portion of at least one of the first premolar and the second premolar of the dentition model, a gap forming model is mounted in an anterior tooth occlusal portion of an anterior tooth.

[16] The method of manufacturing a mouth guard according to [15], wherein the anterior tooth is a central incisor.

[17] The mouth guard according to [1], wherein a portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at a valley portion of at least one of a first molar and a second molar of the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user when the mouth guard is attached to the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user is formed into a shape that forms a gap between the portion of the mouth guard and the valley portion of at least one of the first molar and the second molar.

[18] The mouth guard according to [17], wherein the portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at the valley portion of the molar has either a convex cross-sectional shape or a U-shaped cross-sectional shape.

[19] The mouth guard according to or [18], wherein a distance between an outer surface of the portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at the valley portion of the molar and a bottom of the valley portion of the molar is 1.0 to 6.5 mm.

[20] The mouth guard according to any one of to [19], wherein the portion of the mouth guard that is positioned in the valley portion of the molar has a convex cross-sectional shape that includes a first molar protruding portion and a second molar protruding portion each having a gap therein.

[21] The mouth guard according to any one of to [20], wherein a buffer material is disposed on an inner surface of the portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at the valley portion of the molar.

[22] The mouth guard according to any one of to [21], wherein the mouth guard is formed by molding using an ethylene vinyl acetate resin.

[23] The mouth guard according to any one of to [22], wherein a portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at an anterior tooth occlusal portion of an anterior tooth of the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition is formed into a shape that forms a gap between the portion of the mouth guard and the anterior tooth occlusal portion of the anterior tooth when the mouth guard is attached to the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user.

[24] The mouth guard according to [23], wherein the portion that is positioned at the anterior tooth occlusal portion of the anterior tooth has a shape selected from a group consisting of a convex cross-sectional shape, a U-shaped cross-sectional shape, and a flat cross-sectional shape.

[25] The mouth guard according to or [24], wherein the portion that is positioned at the anterior tooth occlusal portion of the anterior tooth has a convex cross-sectional shape that includes an anterior tooth protruding portion having a gap therein.

[26] The mouth guard according to any one of to [25], wherein a buffer material is provided to an inner surface side of the portion that is positioned at the anterior tooth occlusal portion of the anterior tooth.

[27] The mouth guard according to any one of to [26], wherein the anterior tooth is a central incisor.

[28] A method of manufacturing a mouth guard comprising mounting a gap forming mold in a valley portion of at least one of a first molar and a second molar of a dentition model that is formed by molding corresponding to a maxillary dentition or a mandibular dentition of a user, covering the dentition model on which the gap forming mold is mounted by a heated thermoplastic resin sheet, and applying a vacuum suction to the thermoplastic resin sheet thus forming the thermoplastic sheet into a shape that conforms to an outer shape of the teeth portions of the dentition model.

[29] The method of manufacturing a mouth guard according to [28], wherein, in addition to the valley portion of at least one of the first molar and the second molar of the dentition model, a gap forming model is mounted in an anterior tooth occlusal portion of an anterior tooth.

[30] The method of manufacturing a mouth guard according to [29], wherein the anterior tooth is a central incisor.

[31] The mouth guard according to [1], wherein a portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at a valley portion of at least one of a first premolar and a second premolar of the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user when the mouth guard is attached to the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user is formed into a shape that forms a gap between the portion of the mouth guard and the valley portion of at least one of the first premolar and the second premolar, and further a portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at a valley portion of at least one of a first molar and a second molar of the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user when the mouth guard is attached to the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user is formed into a shape that forms a gap between the portion of the mouth guard and the valley portion of at least one of the first molar and the second molar.

The mouth guard according to the present invention is excellent in enabling a user to easily perform strong biting at the time of performing strong biting, and to have comfortable wearing feeling.

A mouth guard according to the present invention is a mouth guard having a thickness of 0.1 to 5.0 mm that is formed by molding into a shape that corresponds individual teeth of an maxillary dentition or a mandibular dentition of a user, and is attached to the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user, wherein a portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at a valley portion of a molar tooth of the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user when the mouth guard is attached to the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition is formed into a shape that forms a gap between the portion and the valley portion of at least one molar tooth. In the present invention, the molar teeth include premolars and molars. To be more specific, a first premolar, a second premolar, a first molar, a second molar and the like are named. Further, in the present invention, anterior teeth include central incisors (incisors), lateral incisors (incisors), canine teeth (thread incisors).

In the present invention, in the oral cavity, there is a case where a buccal side or a labial side is referred to as “an outer side”, and a lingual side or a palatal side is referred to as “an inner side” with respect to teeth. Further, a biting distance means a distance that the portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at the valley portion of the molar tooth of the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition changes its position or moves by a pressing force of a teeth that opposedly faces the portion. Further, in the present invention, there is a case where a surface of the mouth guard that is not brought into contact with the teeth when the mouth guard is attached to the dentition is referred to as “an outer surface” and a surface of the mouth guard that is brought into contact with the teeth when the mouth guard is attached to the dentition is referred to as “an inner surface”.

The mouth guard according to the first embodiment is a mouth guard having a thickness of 0.1 to 5.0 mm that is formed by molding into a shape that corresponds individual teeth of an maxillary dentition or a mandibular dentition of a user, and is attached to the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user, wherein a portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at a valley portion of at least one of a first premolar and a second premolar of the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user when the mouth guard is attached to the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user is formed into a shape that forms a gap between the portion of the mouth guard and the valley portion of at least one of the first premolar and the second premolar.

In the mouth guard according to the first present invention, the portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at the valley portion of at least one of the first premolar and the second premolar of the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user when the mouth guard is attached to the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user is formed into a shape that forms the gap between the portion of the mouth guard and the valley portion of at least one of the first premolar and the second premolar. With such a configuration, the gap portion that is formed by the portion of the mouth guard that is positioned at the valley portion of the first premolar and/or the second premolar secures a sufficient biting distance and, at the same time, performs a buffer function and hence, the mouth guard can easily bite at the time of biting whereby the mouth guard can exhibit a sufficient biting function. Further, the mouth guard according to the first present invention is formed by molding into a shape that corresponds to the dentition of a user and, at the same time, has an extremely thin thickness of 0.1 to 5.0 mm. Accordingly, even when the user cannot strongly bite, the user can easily perform breathing, can easily perform conversation, can take necessary water easily, and does not feel nauseated. That is, the mouth guard according to the first present invention has a sufficient biting function. Further, the mouth guard according to the first present invention does not obstruct breathing and the like and hence, the user can have excellent mounting feeling. Further, the mouth guard according to the first present invention can prevent external injury, and can prevent damages on teeth and gum caused by a biting pressure generated at the time of biting strongly or clenching.

In the mouth guard according to the first present invention, a predetermine gap is formed on at least one of the first premolar and the second premolar and hence, a load to a tooth (a pain) at the time of performing strong biting can be suppressed compared to a case where the gap is formed in a molar whereby the mouth guard can perform strong biting with a properly strong force and, at the same time, can be used for a long time.

The mouth guard according to the first present invention is formed by molding into a shape that corresponds to the individual teeth of the maxillary dentition and the mandibular dentition. That is, with respect to the mouth guard according to the first present invention, the entirety of the mouth guard is formed by molding into a horseshoe shape and, at the same time, the individual portions are formed by molding into the shapes of the teeth of a user. Accordingly, the mouth guard is configured such that the mouth guard is fitted on the teeth and covers the teeth at the time of being attached to the teeth (see). The user may be an adult or a child. Further, the mouth guard according to the first present invention may be formed by molding into a shape where a part of the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user is missing. To be more specific, for example, a mouth guard may be formed into a shape where anterior teeth that include central incisors, lateral incisors, and canine teeth of the maxillary dentition or the mandibular dentition of the user are missing. In the case of the mouth guard that is formed by molding into the shape where the anterior teeth portions are missing, it is preferable that the mouth guard include a connecting portion that connects the left and right maxillary dentitions (or mandibular dentitions). With such a configuration, an accidental swallowing of the mouth guard or the loss of the mouth guard can be prevented.

The mouth guard according to the first present invention is a mouth guard of a type that is attached to the maxillary dentition or a mouth guard of a type that is attached to the mandibular dentition. It is preferable that the mouth guard according to the first present invention be the mouth guard of a type that is attached to the maxillary dentition. The mouth guard according to the first present invention covers at least coronal portions (teeth and gums). However, it is preferable that the mouth guard include fold portions that extend toward a gum side from a lower end side (a tooth neck portion side). By making the fold portions snugly adhere to the gum, the mouth guard can protect the gum and, at the same time, the mouth guard is made to fit on the teeth more snugly. A length of the fold portion is preferably 0.5 to 20 mm, and is more preferably 1.0 to 15 mm, and is still more preferably 3.0 to 12 mm. It is preferable that the fold portion be disposed on at least one of an outer side and an inner side of the teeth, and it is more preferable that the fold portion be disposed on both outer and inner sides of the teeth.

A material used for forming the mouth guard according to the first present invention is not particularly limited provided that the mouth guard can be formed by molding into a shape that corresponds to a dentition of a patient. For example, a thermoplastic resin material such as an ethylene vinyl acetate resin (an EVA resin), a polyolefin rubber material, a silicone rubber material, a biomass composite plastic material and the like are named. It is preferable to use a thermoplastic resin material, and it is particularly preferable to use an ethylene vinyl acetate resin material with respect to the thermoplastic resin material.

A thickness of the mouth guard according to the first present invention is 0.1 mm to 5.0 mm, is preferably 0.2 to 4.0 mm, and is more preferably 0.25 to 3.0 mm, and is still more preferably 0.3 to 2.0 mm. By setting the thickness of the mouth guard according to the first present invention in such ranges, even when the user cannot perform biting, the user can easily perform breathing and the like. Further, it is possible to form a gap that secures a sufficient space between a valley portion of a first premolar and a second premolar and the mouth guard with more certainty. Further, in the same manner, it is possible to form a gap that secures a sufficient space in the inside of a first premolar portion and a second premolar portion with more certainty.

[Portion that is Positioned in Valley Portion of Premolar]