BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field

The present disclosure relates to dental appliances, and, in particular, to dental appliances that may enhance respiratory performance, for example, during physical activity.

Background

During engagement in a physical activity, the human body utilizes three pathways to create energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The body utilizes a mixture of both fats and carbohydrates to make ATP, with some minimal contributions from protein. However, despite the abundance of fat, the human body will fatigue during physical activity. One common cause of fatigue is the build-up of lactic acid, specifically the hydrogen ions associated with lactic acid build-up that interfere with producing ATP. Thus, reducing lactic acid build-up may reduce fatigue by reducing interference with the production of ATP, which may, for example, improve performance by increasing the duration or intensity of engagement in the physical activity.

Increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) exhalation may reduce build-up of lactic acid, as CO2in solution acts as a buffer for hydrogen ions in the body. Increasing O2uptake may also reduce the buildup of lactic acid. Thus, respiratory performance improvement including increasing exhalation of CO2and increasing O2uptake may reduce fatigue by reducing lactic acid buildup that may result in improved performance.

Cortisol is a glucocorticosteroid hormone that affects various tissues and organs in the human body. Cortisol may aid the body in responding to stress by, for example, maintaining cardiovascular functions. However, prolonged or excessively high levels of cortisol may cause fatigue, reduce endurance, suppress the immune system, and have other deleterious physiological effects. For example, protein synthesis, which is necessary for repairing and increasing muscles, is important for recovery following engagement in physical activity. However, elevated levels of cortisol have been shown to inhibit protein synthesis. By limiting the ongoing rise in cortisol levels, performance may be improved.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved apparatus as well as related methods that reduce build-up of lactic acid and cortisol during engagement in physical activity.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other needs and disadvantages may be overcome by the apparatus disclosed herein. Additional improvements and advantages may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of the present disclosure.

A dental appliance apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the dental appliance may include a body removably attachable to one or more teeth selected from premolars and molars, and a flange extending forth from lingual portions of the body to contact a tongue at one or more locations proximate the premolars and the molars in order to cause a contraction of the genioglossus that positions the tongue anteriorly and downward toward the mandible by stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve. The dental appliance may include a connector connected to the body, and the connector may pass about buccal-labial sides of the anterior teeth. A bumper may be included on a labial side of the connector, and the bumper may contact the lips to promote pursed lips breathing. An anterior flange may extend lingually from the connector to stimulate the hypoglossal nerve proximate a tongue tip of the tongue in order to cause contraction of the genioglossus that positions the tongue anteriorly and downward toward the mandible.

Related methods of use of the dental appliance may include the step of receiving a dental appliance within a mouth of a user, and may include the step of causing contraction of the genioglossus that positions the tongue anteriorly and downward toward the mandible by stimulating the hypoglossal nerve through contact of the hypoglossal nerve with more flanges that extend forth from lingual portions of the dental appliance. The hypoglossal nerve may be stimulated at various locations around the tongue including the side of the tongue and proximate the tip of the tongue, and flanges may be provided at various locations about the dental appliance to so stimulate the hypoglossal nerve by contact with the tongue.

This summary is presented to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein as a prelude to the detailed description that follows below. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

