# 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. - **Patent:** US 12409012 - **Original title:** Dental device - **Owner:** Individual - **Granted:** 2025 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** mechanical, consumer_electronics ## What it does 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Dental photography kits 2. Orthodontic bonding procedures 3. Intraoral scanning setups ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12409012/raptor-chamber-pressure **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12409012 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How a Robotic Surgical Tool Clamps Tissue Manually and Automatically](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11786761/ultrasonic-robotic-tool-actuation) — This patent describes a surgical tool for robotic operations that can clamp tissue using a motor-driven yoke, but also allows a surgeon to manually control the clamping action. - [Attaching Flexible Circuits with Light Sensors to a Chip](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9055681/method-for-attaching-a-flexible-structure-to-a-device-and-a-device-having-a-flex) — This patent describes a method and device for attaching a bendable circuit, which includes light-sensing or light-emitting components, onto a main chip, allowing light to pass through a hole in the chip to reach the flexible part. - [How Gideon Sundback Invented the Modern Zipper](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1219881/zipper-separable-fastener) — The 1917 patent for the separable fastener that perfected the design of the modern zipper using interlocking teeth on two flexible tapes. - [Interchangeable Blades for Folding Pocket Tools](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4669140/leatherman-multitool) — A 1987 patent for a folding pocket knife with split handles that can securely swap out different tools, like saw blades, using a locking pivot block and protective aluminum handles. - [How Rocket Lab Secures Satellites Inside Their Launch Dispensers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11059609/starlink-inter-satellite-laser-links) — A mechanical system that allows engineers to tighten and secure a satellite inside a launch container from the outside after the door is already closed.