U.S. patent application number 10/265522 was filed with the patent office on 2003-04-10 for esthetic profile endosseous root-formed dental implant.
Invention is credited to Balfour, Alan R., Carchidi, Joseph Edward, McAllister, Bradly S..
Application Number | 20030068599 10/265522 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29218605 |
Filed Date | 2003-04-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030068599 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Balfour, Alan R. ; et
al. |
April 10, 2003 |
Esthetic profile endosseous root-formed dental implant
Abstract
An endosseous dental implant system has an externally threaded
root-formed base (2) with self-tapping flutes (5) formed into
apical threads of the root-formed base for easy insertion and
immediate locking in an osteotomy. The coronal portion of the base
has either a male or a female self-locking tapered friction held
post that includes an apical anti-rotational polygon (7,23) to lock
the coronal attachment to the base once attached. The implant
incorporates an esthetic biological gingival profile (10,11,31,32)
to enhance inter-proximal bone attachment to the root-formed
implant, which supports the surrounding papilla.
Inventors: |
Balfour, Alan R.; (Petaluma,
CA) ; McAllister, Bradly S.; (Tigard, OR) ;
Carchidi, Joseph Edward; (West Bridgewater, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John A. Haug
P.O. Box 386
West Harwich
MA
02671
US
|
Family ID: |
29218605 |
Appl. No.: |
10/265522 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60326707 |
Oct 4, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
433/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C 8/006 20130101;
A61C 8/0071 20130101; A61C 8/0022 20130101; A61C 8/005 20130101;
A61C 8/0075 20130101; A61C 8/0077 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
433/173 |
International
Class: |
A61C 008/00 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A dental implant comprising an elongated externally threaded
base having apical and coronal portions for receipt in an
osteotomy, a head portion extending from the coronal portion of the
base, the head portion having an outer periphery formed with an
esthetic profile extending around the outer periphery of the head
and having opposed buccal and lingual sides and inter-proximal
zones generally ninety degrees from the center of the buccal and
lingual sides, the head having a peripherally extending coronal and
apical portions, the buccal side of the coronal portion of the head
formed with a scalloped, smoothly curved recess simulating the
buccal area of a natural tooth and a prosthetic attachment
mechanism on the head for receiving a selected prosthesis.
2. A dental implant according to claim 1 in which the lingual side
of the coronal portion of the head is formed with a scalloped,
smoothly curved recess simulating the lingual area of a natural
tooth.
3. A dental implant according to claim 1 in which the
inter-proximal zones of the apical portion of the head is formed
along a selected profile with a rough textured outer surface to
enhance bone attachment.
4. A dental implant according to claim 1 in which the attachment
mechanism for receiving a selected prosthesis comprises a
prosthetic receiving post extending away from the head portion, the
post formed with a self-locking taper and an anti-rotational
polygonal surface portion disposed between the head portion and the
prosthetic receiving post.
5. A dental implant according to claim 4 further comprising a
prosthesis having a post receiving bore having opposite apical and
coronal ends formed with a self-locking taper complimentary to the
prosthesis receiving post and a female polygonal surface is formed
at the apical end of the base complimentary to the anti-rotational
polygonal surface of the implant, the prosthesis receiving bore
being received on the post for permanent attachment thereto.
6. A dental implant according to claim 1 in which the head portion
has a coronal surface and the attachment mechanism comprises a plug
receiving bore formed in the base through the coronal surface with
a self-locking taper and a female polygonal surface is formed at
the apical end of the plug receiving bore.
7. A dental implant according to claim 6 further comprising a
prosthetic attachment having a generally cylindrical plug having an
outer surface formed with a self-locking taper complimentary to the
plug receiving bore, the plug having an apical portion beyond the
taper formed as a polygon surface complimentary to the female
polygonal surface in the plug receiving bore and a prosthetic
receiving post extending coronally from the cylindrical plug.
8. A dental implant comprising an elongated externally threaded
base having apical and coronal portions for receipt in an
osteotomy, a head portion extending from the coronal portion of the
base, a prosthetic attachment mechanism on the head for receiving a
selected prosthesis including a generally cylindrical surface
having a self-locking taper in series with an anti-rotational
polygonal surface.
9. A dental implant according to claim 8 in which the generally
cylindrical surface having a self-locking taper is formed on the
surface of a prosthetic receiving post extending from the head and
the anti-rotational polygonal surface is a male polygonal surface
disposed between the head portion and the post.
10. A dental implant according to claim 8 in which the generally
cylindrical surface having a self-locking taper is formed on a
surface defining a prosthetic plug receiving bore formed in the
implant and the anti-rotational polygonal surface is a female
polygonal surface.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. Section 119 (e)(1) of
Prov. Appl. No. 60/326,707, filed Oct. 4, 2001.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to artificial orthopedic
implant prostheses and more particularly, but not limited to,
dental implants.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Over the last several decades many root-formed dental
implants have been designed to replace natural dentition and
provide for both esthetic and functional occlusion. Although these
designs provided for the functional replacement of natural
dentition that was either lost or missing, creating the natural
inter-proximal tissue between adjacent implants has remained
esthetically a restorative challenge. In fact, to maintain the soft
tissue papilla between adjacent implants requires that the
underlying inter-proximal bone area be two to three millimeters
higher than in the buccal and lingual areas. Since most dental
implants are not placed in a fresh tooth extraction site, where
this physiological inter-proximal profile naturally occurs,
grafting or countersinking the implant may be required to obtain
this inter-proximal bone between the implants. Once the desired
bone profile around the implant is surgically achieved, maintaining
this inter-proximal bone for natural esthetics has remained a
physiological challenge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the
limitations of the prior art noted above. Another object of the
invention is to provide a root-formed dental implant which emulates
the anatomical characteristics of natural dentition that can be
easily manufactured and surgically placed. Another object of the
invention is to provide such an implant with an anti-rotational
interlocking mechanism to drive and secure the implant into the jaw
and act as a receptor for securing a prosthetic attachment. A
further object of the invention is the provision of a single or
multiple unit implant that incorporates a defined inter-dental
geometry to preserve and control inter-proximal bone and
papilla.
[0005] Briefly, according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention, a dental implant comprises an elongated externally
threaded base for receipt in an osteotomy, the base having a head
portion formed with an esthetic profile extending around the outer
periphery of the head and having opposed buccal and lingual sides
and inter-proximal zones generally ninety degrees from the center
of the buccal and lingual sides. The buccal side, and optionally
the lingual side, is formed with a scalloped, smoothly curved
recess simulating the corresponding areas of a natural tooth.
Preferably, portions of the inter-proximal zones are formed with a
roughened texture along a selected profile to enhance bone
attachment thereto. According to a feature of the invention a male
or female prosthetic receiving post having a self-locking taper
extends from the head and an anti-rotational polygonal surface
portion is disposed between the head and the post.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Other objects, advantages and details of the invention
appear in the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment, the detailed description referring to the drawings in
which like reference characters refer to like components or
structural features.
[0007] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a single stage endosseous
dental implant with scalloped out buccal and lingual recessed
portions made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
invention and FIG. 1(a) is a bottom view of the end face of the
base of the FIG. 1 implant;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a two stage endosseous
dental implant with scalloped out buccal and lingual recessed
portions made in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of
the invention and FIG. 2(a) is a bottom view of the base of the
FIG. 2 implant;
[0009] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a modification of the FIG.
1 single stage endosseous dental implant having a scalloped out
buccal recessed portion and FIG. 3(a) is a top view thereof;
[0010] FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partly in cross section, of a
modification of the FIG. 3 two stage endosseous dental implant
having a scalloped out buccal recessed portion;
[0011] FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a single stage endosseous
dental implant as shown in FIG. 3 with an assembled and attached
prosthetic abutment shown separately in FIG. 5(a); and
[0012] FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a two stage endosseous
dental implant as shown in FIG. 4 with an assembled and attached
prosthetic abutment shown separately in FIG. 6(a).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 1(a), a single stage
endosseous dental implant 1 made according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention comprises a root-formed externally
threaded base 2 and a tapered interlocking coronal prosthetic
attachment post 3. Incorporated at the apex of the root-formed
externally threaded base is a self-tapping thread 4 which will pull
the implant downwardly during its initial placement. To assist in
this process and to lock the implant into place, thread 4 utilizes
specially designed cutting flutes 5 to cut, form and lock the
implant into place. At the foot 6 of the tapered interlocking
coronal prosthetic attachment post 3 is an anti-rotational
polygonal surface 7 to lock the prosthetic attachment to
root-formed implant 1, once it is attached. To assure that the
prosthesis remains attached to root-formed implant 1, the male
tapered post 3 uses a defined self-locking taper angle 8, shown
extending from demarcation line 6, that friction locks with a
female mate having a complimentary self-locking taper. Once the
prosthesis is permanently attached to the tapered post, the now
single unit implant and prosthesis is secured and cannot be rotated
or removed.
[0014] An esthetic coronal profile head 9 is disposed between
root-formed externally threaded base 2 and tapered interlocking
coronal prosthetic attachment post 3. A unique scalloped out
profile 10, 11 is formed in head 9 to replicate the buccal and
lingual areas of a natural tooth. These scalloped out areas
comprise generally smoothly curved recesses in an annular margin of
a selected thickness machined within a one to two millimeter
distance 12 to the beginning of the implant's first thread 13. This
one to two millimeter separation 12 allows for the clinically
accepted bone resorption between the implant and prosthesis
connection to end at the first thread 13 of the implant. Ninety
degrees to [these] scalloped out profiles 10, 11 are enhanced
profile areas for the inter-proximal zones 14, 15, which are also
designed to replicate the bone in between natural dentition. These
areas preferably are further textured at 16, by forming micro
indentations or the like on the order of 30-50 microns, as by
blasting with appropriate particulate material known in the art, to
enhance bone attachment to the implant in these areas. Even with
the standard one to two millimeter bone resorption in these areas
14, 15, the additional textured surface 16 assures preservation and
control of the inter-dental bone and papilla for the desired
esthetics. The scalloped out recesses replicate the inter-dental
geometry of a natural tooth and assist in the maintenance of the
alveolar housing and gingival soft tissue.
[0015] FIGS. 2 and 2(a) show the endosseous dental implant 17 made
in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention
for use with a two stage surgical process. Implant 17 comprises a
root-formed externally threaded base 18 with an internally tapered,
interlocking prosthetic attachment plug receiving bore 19. As
described with reference to FIG. 1, the apex of the root-formed
externally threaded base 18 is a self-tapping thread 4 which pulls
the implant downward during its initial placement. To assist in
insertion and to lock the implant in place, threaded base 18
utilizes specially designed cutting flutes 5 to cut, form and lock
the implant into place. An anti-rotational polygonal surface 23 is
positioned at the apex 22 of the tapered prosthetic attachment plug
receiving bore 19 of the implant to lock the prosthetic attachment
to implant 17 once it is attached. To assure that the prosthesis
remains attached to the root-formed implant the female tapered plug
receiving bore 19 uses a defined self-locking taper angle 24 that
friction locks with the plug of a male prosthetic mate such as post
42 of FIG. 6(a) having a complimentary self-locking taper, to be
discussed. Once the prosthesis is permanently attached in the
tapered plug receiving bore 19 the now formed single unit implant
and prosthesis is secured and cannot be rotated or removed without
the assistance of a specially designed removal tool to be
discussed.
[0016] FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, show the single and two stage
esthetic implant embodiments 25, 26 modified to include only a
single scalloped cut-out 10 formed on the buccal faces of the
implants. In these embodiments, the lingual profile 29 are at the
same height or level as the inter-proximal sides of the implants.
Also lingual side surface texturing 31 extends above the threads to
assist in tissue attachment on this side. Since the lingual side 29
has no esthetic concerns keeping the material in this area of the
implant improves structural characteristics of the implant and
simplifies the laboratory restorative challenges. In all the
implant designs, 1,17,25,26, alignment of the anti-rotational
polygon prosthetic attachment 7,23 with the scalloped out profile
10 on the buccal side of the implant 1,25,26 assist for correct
placement of the implant in its desired rotational location.
[0017] FIGS. 5 and 6 show how the restorative attachments are made
for either the single or the two-stage esthetic implant
embodiments. The restorative prosthetic attachment 35, shown in
FIG. 5(a) with an exemplary outer surface configuration having a
generally tapered, grooved cylinder formed with a flat 35a, is used
with the single stage implant embodiment. Prosthetic attachment 35
includes a female polygonal surface 36 and self-locking tapered
plug receiving bore 37 that engages the male polygonal surface 7
and friction locks on the male plug or post 3[9] of the implant.
The restorative prosthetic attachment 40, with an exemplary outer
surface configuration including flat 40a, is used with the two
stage implant embodiment. Prosthetic attachment 40 comprises a male
polygonal portion 41 and tapered plug or post 42 that engages the
female polygonal surface 23 and friction locks on the female post
receiving bore 19 of the implant. In both cases once the prosthetic
attachment is locked onto the implant, the restoration becomes one
unit and cannot be rotated. However, in the FIG. 6 embodiment,
prosthetic attachment 40 is provided with internal threads 40b
which allow for the use of a specially designed jack screw removal
tool to apply sufficient force for removal, if desired.
[0018] Although the invention has been described with regard to
specific preferred embodiments thereof, many variations and
modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It
is, therefore, the intent that the appended claims be interpreted
as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such
variations and modifications.
* * * * *