| Dental implant -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Dental implantDental implant description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070254265, Dental implant. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/795,876, filed on Apr. 28, 2006 and entitled DENTAL IMPLANT, the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT [0002](Not Applicable) BACKGROUND [0003]The present invention relates generally to dental prostheses and, more particularly, to a dental prosthesis including an implant, an abutment which is attachable to the implant, and a crown which is attachable to the abutment and the implant such that the joint defined between the abutment and the implant is covered and effectively sealed. [0004]As is well known in the art, dental prostheses are commonly used in the dental field to address extensive damage to teeth caused by injury or disease. A typical dental prosthesis comprises an implant, an abutment and a crown. The implant itself generally comprises a metallic component which is implanted or embedded into the bony structure of a patient's mouth subsequent to the removal of the damaged tooth alone or in combination with one or more adjacent teeth. The installation of the implant is typically initiated by forming a hole in the bony structure and then embedding the implant into the bony structure by screwing the implant into the hole via threads formed on an exterior of the implant. [0005]After the implant has been embedded into the bony structure, the bone normally recovers and grows around the implant, thus resulting in bone/implant integration. To enhance the integration of the implant into the bone, the implant may be coated with a surface finish such as etched titanium and/or a biocompatible coating such as hydroxylapatite (HA). Subsequent to the embedding of the implant into the bony structure, the abutment is attached to the implant. Such attachment may be accomplished through the use of a cement, by the engagement of complementary male and female threads formed on or in the abutment and implant, or by the mating of corresponding tapers or other geometries formed on or in the abutment and implant. [0006]When attached to the implant, a portion of the abutment extends above the gum line of the patient for purposes of facilitating attachment of the crown to the implant. If the implant is embedded into the bony structure such that the implant is completely disposed below or submerged within the gum line of the patient, the attachment of the abutment to the implant requires a second surgical procedure for purposes of accessing the implant. However, if the implant is embedded into the bony structure in a manner wherein a portion thereof protrudes above the patient's gum line, then the attachment of the abutment may be accomplished without the need for the second surgical procedure, thus requiring only the initial surgical procedure to complete the implantation or embedding process. [0007]As was previously indicated, the crown of the dental prosthesis is attached to that portion of the abutment which extends above the patient's gum line. In the prior art, crowns are fabricated and installed in accordance with well-established procedures which include taking a transfer impression of the exposed portion of the abutment to establish with precision its configuration and orientation, thus insuring a complete attachment of the crown thereto. The exposed portion of the abutment to which the crown is attached may have the natural form of a prepared tooth, or an artificial form of a particular geometry adapted to achieve a secure attachment of the crown. The attachment of the crown to the abutment is typically accomplished through the use of an adhesive and/or cement, or through the engagement of corresponding male and female threads on or in the crown and abutment to each other. The attachment of the crown to the abutment completes the assembly of the dental prosthesis. [0008]As will be recognized from the aforementioned description of the dental prosthesis, the assembly thereof results in the formation of several joints. These joints include the joint formed by the attachment of the crown to the abutment, and the joint formed by the attachment of the abutment to the implant. Of these joints, that joint considered most important in relation to the long-term viability of the prosthesis is the joint between the implant and the abutment which is commonly referred to as the implant abutment joint or "IAJ". [0009]Recent research in the dental field has suggested that the IAJ plays a key role in bone loss around the implant. Though such bone loss has not been well studied or well documented, it is believed to be a common occurrence which is at least partially attributable to the IAJ serving as a site for bacterial invasion and colonization. Over time, such bone loss can compromise the integrity of the implant or cause its failure by breaking loose from the bony structure into which the implant is embedded. [0010]Obviously, such failure, in addition to providing inconvenience and discomfort for the patient, is of serious medical concern due to the resulting bone loss or mutilation potentially rendering the installation of a replacement implant difficult or impossible. The joint formed by the attachment of the crown to the abutment is also susceptible to bacterial invasion which contributes to bone loss around the implant. [0011]The present invention addresses the susceptibility of the IAJ and the crown/abutment joint to bacterial infestation by providing a dental prosthesis which is configured to effectively cover and seal these joints. In addition, the dental prosthesis of the present invention also prevents micro-movement between the abutment and the implant at the IAJ which, under the forces of mastication (i.e., chewing), can result in the development of micro-gaps at the IAJ. Such micro-gaps can harbor bacteria which can lead to inflammation and, ultimately, failure of the implant. BRIEF SUMMARY [0012]Provided is a dental prosthesis which comprises an implant, an abutment and a crown. The implant is adapted to be embedded into the bony structure of a patient's mouth. The abutment is attached to the implant in a manner wherein an implant abutment joint is defined therebetween. The crown is attached to the abutment and the implant in a manner wherein the implant abutment joint is covered by the crown. The attachment of the crown to the abutment and implant may be facilitated through the use of adhesive (e.g., dental cement) extending between the crown and the implant (i.e., crown implant joint). [0013]The adhesive within the crown implant joint effectively seals the implant abutment joint as well as protects the crown implant joint. More particularly, the adhesive isolates such joints from the gum line in the patient in order to prevent migration of bacteria into the joints. The implant has distal and proximal portions with the implant proximal portion including distal and proximal segments. The implant proximal segment includes an outer surface. The abutment also has distal and proximal portions with distal and proximal ends being disposed respectively adjacent thereto. The abutment distal and proximal portions define an abutment shoulder therebetween. [0014]Importantly, the abutment shoulder is configured to circumferentially engage the outer surface of the implant proximal segment with increased joint surface area which thereby improves joint strength. In addition, the circumferential engagement between the abutment shoulder and the implant provides improved resistance to micro-movement of the abutment relative to the implant. The elimination of such micro-movement reduces the risk of cracking of the adhesive and also minimizes the development of micro-gapping at the joint which, in turn, reduces the potential for periodontal pathogens. The implant abutment joint and the crown implant joint are sealed from bacterial invasion due to the positioning of the crown over the abutment and implant. [0015]The implant may be comprised of an elongate, externally threaded implant distal portion which is insertable into the bony structure of the patient's mouth. The implant proximal portion itself includes distal and proximal segments. The implant distal segment may have a generally cylindrical outer surface or it may be circumferentially undercut. The circumferential undercut which defines the implant distal segment interconnects the implant distal portion to the implant proximal segment. The implant proximal segment may have an outer surface which may be tapered or concave. [0016]If tapered, the implant proximal segment is preferably conically shaped at an angle of about 45.degree. although other angles are contemplated. More preferably, the implant proximal segment is formed at an angle of less than about 45.degree. and greater than about 3.degree. relative to an axis of the implant. If concave, the implant proximal segment may itself include conical portions which interface with the crown and are therefore preferably formed at the above-mentioned half-angles of between about 45.degree. and 3.degree. to avoid cracking of adhesive between the crown and implant while eliminating the need for overly-tight manufacturing tolerances which increase manufacturing costs. [0017]The abutment may include an abutment cavity formed in the abutment proximal portion adjacent to the abutment shoulder. Preferably, the abutment cavity is formed complementary to the outer surface of the implant proximal segment in order to facilitate the circumferential engagement of the abutment shoulder to the outer surface. The abutment proximal portion engages the outer surface of the implant proximal segment at a lower end of the abutment proximal portion. Additionally, it is contemplated that the abutment cavity may be configured to engage the outer surface of the implant proximal segment in surface-to-surface or edge-to-surface contact therebetween. [0018]The abutment distal portion defines an abutment shaft. Extending axially within the implant proximal end is an implant bore which is sized and configured to receive the abutment shaft. In one embodiment, the implant bore may have a generally circular cross-sectional configuration with the abutment shaft being of complementary cylindrical configuration although other configurations are contemplated. The abutment distal portion or abutment shaft may be advanced into the implant bore and may be secured therewithin through the use of adhesive. [0019]Alternatively, the implant bore may be internally threaded with the abutment distal portion or abutment shaft being externally threaded to facilitate threadable engagement therebetween. The abutment proximal portion may have a frusto-conically shaped outer surface such that the abutment forms a truncated cone. The abutment may optionally include an abutment neck formed adjacent the abutment shoulder and which has a generally reduced cross-sectional area in an axial orientation as compared to the cross-sectional configuration of the immediately adjacent portions of the abutment. Advantageously, the abutment neck minimizes the overall size of the abutment while still providing a configuration which may effectively engage the outer surface of the implant proximal segment. [0020]The crown of the dental prosthesis includes a crown distal portion which itself defines a crown distal end having a crown cavity disposed therewithin. The crown cavity has a shape which is complementary to the outer surface of the abutment proximal portion as well as the outer surface of the implant proximal segment. Receipt of the abutment proximal portion and implant proximal segment into the crown cavity results in engagement of the crown distal portion to the implant proximal segment via direct contact therebetween. In this manner, the implant abutment joint defined between the abutment proximal portion and the implant proximal end is covered and may be thereafter sealed through the use of adhesive. Continue reading about Dental implant... Full patent description for Dental implant Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Dental implant patent application. Patent Applications in related categories: 20090004626 - Multi-cortial dental implant anchor, dental implant kit and template - A multi-cortical implant anchor for use with a dental implant having a generally elongate shank and a grippable region formed at a predetermined portion thereof, the implant anchor comprises a first elongate member and a second elongate member connected therebetween via a bridge member to generally form a member having ... ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Dental implant or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Dental accessory device Next Patent Application: Marksmanship training device Industry Class: Dentistry ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Dental implant patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.70618 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , |
||
