A Modular Dental Tool for Holding Back Lips, Cheeks, and Tongue
A specialized dental device that keeps a patient's mouth open and clear by holding back the lips, cheeks, and tongue using a snap-fit, adjustable system.
Original patent title: “Dental device”
A specialized dental device that keeps a patient's mouth open and clear by holding back the lips, cheeks, and tongue using a snap-fit, adjustable system. Granted to Individual in 2025 with 13 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This device helps dentists keep a patient's mouth clear during procedures by managing soft tissues that usually get in the way. It features a circular lip retractor and two arch-shaped arms that push the cheeks outward. The most distinct part is the tongue retractor, which is a separate piece that attaches to the cheek arms using a strap. This strap slides into a channel on the arms and is held in place by a snap-fit mechanism, allowing the dentist to adjust the tongue's position precisely.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover dental retractors that lack a removable tongue-retraction component.
- Does not cover systems that use adhesives or suction rather than a mechanical snap-fit channel to secure the tongue retractor.
- Does not cover retractors that do not include a circumferentially continuous annular body for the lips.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The use of a channel with an over-hanging lip on the cheek arms allows the tongue retractor to be both removable and adjustable, solving the problem of a 'one-size-fits-all' tool that often fails to accommodate different mouth sizes.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Dental photography kits
Orthodontic bonding procedures
Intraoral scanning setups
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Managing soft tissue is a major challenge in dentistry, especially during procedures like bonding or scanning where moisture and tongue movement cause errors. By providing a modular, adjustable system, this device aims to improve visibility and reduce the need for an assistant to manually hold tissues back.
Filed
February 25, 2020
Granted
September 9, 2025
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The inventors are individual holders, suggesting this may be a niche innovation currently in the early stages of commercialization. Companies in the dental supply space, such as Dentsply Sirona or 3M, often monitor such modular designs to improve their own intraoral accessory lines.
Market impact
This patent introduces a specific mechanical standard for modular tongue management. If adopted, it could standardize how dental retractors are manufactured, moving away from bulky, fixed-frame designs toward more flexible, user-adjustable kits that improve ergonomics for the practitioner.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This device helps dentists keep a patient's mouth clear during procedures by managing soft tissues that usually get in the way. It features a circular lip retractor and two arch-shaped arms that push the cheeks outward. The most distinct part is the tongue retractor, which is a separate piece that attaches to the cheek arms using a strap. This strap slides into a channel on the arms and is held in place by a snap-fit mechanism, allowing the dentist to adjust the tongue's position precisely.
The clever bit
The use of a channel with an over-hanging lip on the cheek arms allows the tongue retractor to be both removable and adjustable, solving the problem of a 'one-size-fits-all' tool that often fails to accommodate different mouth sizes.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover dental retractors that lack a removable tongue-retraction component.
- Does not cover systems that use adhesives or suction rather than a mechanical snap-fit channel to secure the tongue retractor.
- Does not cover retractors that do not include a circumferentially continuous annular body for the lips.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
9/20
Moderate scope
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$50K – $158K
Midpoint $99K · 13.7 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
13 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Moore, P., & Hendy, H. (2025). A Modular Dental Tool for Holding Back Lips, Cheeks, and Tongue (U.S. Patent No. 12,409,012). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12409012/raptor-chamber-pressure
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does A Modular Dental Tool for Holding Back Lips, Cheeks, and Tongue cover?
A specialized dental device that keeps a patient's mouth open and clear by holding back the lips, cheeks, and tongue using a snap-fit, adjustable system.
Who owns patent US 12409012?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 2025.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 9, 2045, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Managing soft tissue is a major challenge in dentistry, especially during procedures like bonding or scanning where moisture and tongue movement cause errors. By providing a modular, adjustable system, this device aims to improve visibility and reduce the need for an assistant to manually hold tissues back.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover dental retractors that lack a removable tongue-retraction component.
Same assignee
More from Individual
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