a dental apparatus for maintaining the mouth of a patient in an open position during a dental procedure . the apparatus includes a bite block that is inserted into the patient &# 39 ; s mouth between the upper and lower teeth on either side of a patient &# 39 ; s mouth . disposed in operable relation to the bite block is a tongue suppressor for confinement of the patient &# 39 ; s tongue within a desired location , such as the bottom cavity , of the patient &# 39 ; s mouth . the tongue suppressor includes a retention arm that extends across the tongue laterally away from the bite block . the bite block includes features , such as a plurality of slots or paired recesses , that allow for a portion of the tongue suppressor , such as the retention arm , retention prongs or an adjustment peg to be selectively inserted and retracted relative to the bite block to provide for lateral adjustment of the tongue suppressor relative to the bite block . in addition , the tongue suppressor can be moved vertically relative to the bite block to account for the tremendous variation between the sizes and shapes of different patient &# 39 ; s mouths , teeth , tongues and the like .