| Method for manufacturing implant abutments for dental implants, and an implant abutment for a dental implant -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Method for manufacturing implant abutments for dental implants, and an implant abutment for a dental implantUSPTO Application #: 20070082321Title: Method for manufacturing implant abutments for dental implants, and an implant abutment for a dental implant Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing implant abutments 9 for dental implants 1, wherein the implant abutment 9 comprises a prefabricated base member 8 for joining the implant abutment to the dental implant 1, and a customized main body 15. The aim of the invention is to simplify this method of manufacturing. To this end, the main body 15 is formed by sintering and/or melting powdery material onto the base member 8 using laser sintering and/or laser melting. The invention relates also to an implant abutment manufactured by such a method. (end of abstract) Agent: Michael B. Lasky Altera Law Group - Minneapolis, MN, US Inventors: Ingo Uckelmann, Helmut Laschutza USPTO Applicaton #: 20070082321 - Class: 433173000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Holding Or Positioning Denture In Mouth, By Fastening To Jawbone The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070082321. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing implant abutments for dental implants, wherein the implant abutment comprises a prefabricated base member for joining the implant abutment to the dental implant, and a customized main body. [0002] The invention also relates to an implant abutment for a dental implant, said abutment comprising a prefabricated base member for joining the implant abutment to the dental implant, and a customized main body. [0003] In the field of dental technology, dental implants onto which implant abutments are attached are used to replace natural teeth. An implant abutment typically comprises a base member for joining the implant abutment to the dental implant and a main body that is customized to the tooth being replaced, to the remaining teeth and/or to the specific details of the jawbone. However, the main body does not form the visible area of the implanted tooth. The main body itself is surrounded instead by a crown. [0004] Implant abutments of this kind are conventionally manufactured by modeling, on a standard base member, a wax model that is substantially identical to the subsequent main body. A mold is produced from said wax model. The wax is then melted in a furnace to produce a negative mold of the main body. Said negative mold is then melted out with suitable material, such as gold alloys or alloys that do not contain precious metals. During this process, the prefabricated base member is melted onto the main body and thus fixedly attached thereto. An implant abutment is thereby produced that generally requires manual finishing. [0005] This process of making implant abutments is laborious and requires much manual work, in particular. It is therefore costly. [0006] The invention is therefore based on the technical problem of simplifying the production of implant abutments. [0007] The invention solves this problem by means of a method of the kind initially specified, in which the main body is formed by sintering and/or melting powdery material onto the base member using laser sintering and/or laser melting. [0008] The invention further solves the problem, for an implant abutment of the kind initially specified, in that the main body is formed by sintering and/or melting powdery material layer by layer using laser sintering and/or laser melting. [0009] This method of manufacturing dental implant abutments has the advantage of being able to use a prefabricated base member that can be made in large quantities and therefore with a production process that optimizes quality and cost. Such a prefabricated base member therefore exhibits a high level of precision and is also relatively inexpensive. A high level of precision is advantageous in that the base member is a connector for attaching the dental implant to the implant abutment and should be capable of being fitted into the implant in a defined position and substantially without clearance. Such a high level of precision can be achieved in an automated manufacturing process, in particular. However, automation is efficient only if a large quantity of identical components are being made. For this reason, it is particularly advantageous to use prefabricated, standardized base members. [0010] Production of the main body using laser sintering and/or laser melting permits extensively automated production of the implant abutment, since a computer-aided laser is able to generate predefined shapes. The predefined forms are firstly determined with the help of a computer. Data obtained by scanning the patient's dentures or a dental cast of the patient's dentures are used as a basis for determining the optimal form of the implant abutment. [0011] Another reason why the laser sintering and/or laser melting method is particularly advantageous is that this method allows complex structures of virtually any shape and size to be produced. [0012] Furthermore, it is usually not necessary to perform subsequent finishing work on implant abutments formed in this way. [0013] Another advantage of laser sintering and laser melting is that the material comprising the main body can be easily applied, i.e. sintered or melted, onto the base member without subsequent melting, bonding or cementing being necessary. Instead, the base member is covered directly with the respective material. The first layer is applied directly onto the base member. The second and subsequent layers are then applied onto the previously applied layer. [0014] This method can therefore be automated to a large extent. There is little or no need for any manual operations. The invention thus permits the inexpensive production of precision implant abutments. [0015] Computer-aided production of implant abutments also makes it possible to simplify the production of crowns that are subsequently attached to the abutment, since the preparation cast of the implant abutment is similarly determined and created by computer-aided means. The data used to make the implant abutment can also be used to make the crown, whereupon the production process for the entire artificial tooth comprising an implant, implant abutment and crown is further simplified. [0016] Titanium in pulverized form, or a powder containing titanium, or a pulverized titanium alloy is preferred as material. Said material is particularly suitable, since it is chemically stable and does not interact with the human organism. [0017] A particularly preferred embodiment is one in which the main body, i.e. the sintered or melted material, is subsequently given a ceramic coating. The ceramic coating is advantageously applied by means of electrophoresis, or again by laser sintering. The implant abutment is coated also, so it is possible to optimize the esthetic appearance of the implant abutment. Coating prevents dark materials such as titanium, for example, showing through the crown attached onto the main body, since the main body itself is no longer dark-colored, but ceramic-colored instead. Ceramic material can similarly be applied at the transition between implant and crown, so that no dark edges occur at the gingival margin as a result of titanium material showing through the gum. [0018] The esthetic appearance of the implant abutment is therefore considerably improved by means of this ceramic coating. [0019] The ceramic coating has the further advantage that the surface characteristics of the implant abutment are also improved where there is surrounding tissue. This improves contact with the gum and reduces the risk of a gap forming between the two, since the gum has better contact with a ceramic surface than with a titanium surface. [0020] However, it is particularly preferred to mask the base member from any ceramic coating. This is advantageous because the base member is generally inserted completely into the implant. This keeps the contact surfaces between the implant and the base member of the implant abutment free of any ceramic coating. This avoids the precision fit of the base member and the implant from being impaired by any ceramic coating in this area. [0021] Other advantageous embodiments are characterized in the subclaims, and in the embodiments explained with reference to the enclosed drawings. The drawings show: [0022] FIG. 1 a dental implant; [0023] FIG. 2 a base member for an implant abutment according to the invention; [0024] FIG. 3 a possible embodiment of an implant abutment according to the invention, comprising a base member pursuant to FIG. 2 and a main body attached onto it; Continue reading... Full patent description for Method for manufacturing implant abutments for dental implants, and an implant abutment for a dental implant Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method for manufacturing implant abutments for dental implants, and an implant abutment for a dental implant patent application. ###  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 Method for manufacturing implant abutments for dental implants, and an implant abutment for a dental implant or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Angled implant prosthesis and method of use thereof Next Patent Application: Training simulator for sharp shooting Industry Class: Dentistry ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Method for manufacturing implant abutments for dental implants, and an implant abutment for a dental implant patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.18943 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , |
||
