An intraoral discluder for preventing chronic tension headaches, common
migraine headaches, and temporomandibular disorders that are caused or
perpetuated by chronic activity of the temporalis muscle. The discluder
includes a trough, contoured to encompass at least one maxillary or
mandibular incisor, from which extends a protruding platform, for
engagement by the opposing incisors. The trough can be retained on the
teeth by any adaptable material than can flow around the teeth and then
maintain its shape. Once in place in the wearer's mouth, one or two
opposing incisors will come into contact with the platform prior to the
upper and lower posterior and/or canine teeth coming into contact,
regardless of the position of the mandible, thereby reducing the
intensity of the activity of the temporalis muscle. In addition, a
special post on the discluder's platform is engageable directly with one
or more opposing incisors, to act as a stop and thereby inhibit excessive
retrusive movement of the mandible and urge the mandible toward a more
protrusive position. This can reduce the intensity of undesired
clenching, and it can enhance the size of the wearer's pharyngeal
airspace, thereby reducing the incidence and severity of snoring.