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Abstract

An articulating connector for a mandibular repositioning appliance comprises upper and lower housings each pivotally mounted on a pin and rotatable about the axis of the pin, to selectively permit movement of the mandible in the lateral direction. The pins are hingedly connected respectively to threaded adjusting screws to selectively permit movement of the mandible in the vertical direction. The adjusting screws have opposite thread directions and are engaged within a collar, rotation of which sets a desired spacing between the adjusting screws to fix the position of the mandible in the anterior/posterior directions. Optionally the lateral and/or vertical hinges can be locked to restrain lateral and/or vertical movement of the mandible. An appliance embodying the invention can be used to alleviate snoring and sleep apnea, and certain types of temporal mandibular dysfunction, to reposition the mandible in functional appliance therapy such as for CI II patients, for orthodontic treatment of retronagthic mandible, in TMJ pain treatment, and to retain the mandible in a forward opening position wherever limited movement is desired, for example for therapeutic purposes or in post pharyngeal operations and examinations.

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First Claim