WO2004014247A2

WO2004014247A2 - Apparatus for performing dental implants

Info

Publication number: WO2004014247A2
Application number: PCT/IL2003/000653
Authority: WO
Inventors: Baruch Aminov
Original assignee: Infinity Dental Implants Ltd; Baruch Aminov
Priority date: 2002-08-08
Filing date: 2003-08-07
Publication date: 2004-02-19
Also published as: AU2003249553A8; WO2004014247A3; IL151145A0; RU2005106357A; AU2003249553A1

Abstract

A dental implant device and method, that provides for a simplified protocol and reduced patient pain. The device comprises a body (10) and an abutment (15) that constitute a single piece, the body (10) having an external screw thread (12) and a self-tapping distal end (11) and the abutment (15) having an internally threaded, axial cavity (13) and a proximate portion (18) that is shaped for turning to screw the device into the bone (40). A handle (44) is further provided for engaging and rotating the abutment (15). In performing the implantation, the device is screwed into the bone (40) until only the abutment (15) protrudes, and then the prosthesis (53) may be applied. Analogs (56) are also provided to facilitate production of the prosthesis (53).

Description

APPARATUS FOR PERFORMINGDENTAL IMPLANTS

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an improved apparatus and devices which permit to perform dental implants in a shorter time, with fewer operations and less pain to the patient than the existing apparatus and devices. The invention also relates to devices and methods for facilitating the preparation of the dental prosthesis. The invention further relates to the use of said apparatus and devices for carrying out dental implants according to a simplified protocol and to the protocol itself.

Background of the Invention

Dental implants are an important part of dental techniques and are carried out in continuously expanding numbers. The conventional method for performing implants is to drill a seat in the bone, insert the implant device into it, allow sufficient time for integration of the implant with the bone, and finally expose the implant and applying the desired prosthesis to it.

USP 5,915,567 describes an implant assembly having an elongate intrabony stem portion, a transmucosal base portion and an abutment member, which assembly has passages for the flow of an osseointegration promoting liquid.

USP 5,931,675 discloses an implant having an abutment attached thereto and a crown attached to the abutment and the implant in such a manner that the implant-abutment joint is covered by the crown. USP 5,989,028 discloses an implant which includes a body portion for insertion into an opening in the jaw bone of a patient, a neck portion above the body portion, and an abutment portion above the neck portion.

USP 6,048,204 discloses a screw-shaped dental implant which is characterized by one or more cavities in its screw body, said cavities including a cutting edge with cutting teeth. The implant is characterized in that the upper surface of each of the cavities is parallel to the thread.

EP-A 0 458 254 Al discloses a device for performing surgical implants which comprises a portion which constitutes a drill-bit adapted for perforating the bone in which the implant is to be seated. The said device, in one embodiment thereof, has a proximate portion provided with an external screw thread onto which the prosthesis is screwed.

All the aforesaid devices do not permit to change the conventional protocol for carrying out dental implants. The protocol comprises carrying out perforations in the jaw bone of increasing widths until the final desired width is achieved, then seating the implant in the final perforation, providing it with a healing cap, waiting a period that is generally from two to six months for the osseointegration (USP 5,915,967 claims to reduce said period to one month or even three weeks thanks to the use of an osseointegration-promoting composition), then carrying out the operations required for the preparation of the prosthesis, removing the healing cap and cutting the gum to expose the implant, and inserting the prosthesis. The procedure is lengthy and involves discomfort and pain to the patient. It is therefore a purpose of the invention to provide a dental implant apparatus which permits to carry out implants with a simpler protocol, with fewer operations, in less time, and with less discomfort and pain to the patient.

It is another purpose of the invention to provide a dental implant device that is part of said apparatus and which is self-tapping, can be directly screwed into the bone, and is provided with an abutment so shaped as to permit the attachment of a variety of accessories.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide such an apparatus and device that are simple, easy to use and not expensive to manufacture.

It is a still further purpose of the invention to provide a number of accessory elements of the implant apparatus that can be connected to the implant device and permit a variety of operations.

It is a still further purpose of the invention to provide improved analog devices that simplify and improve the preparation of the prosthesis.

It is a still further purpose of the invention to provide a protocol for dental implanting that is simpler, shorter and less painful than prior art protocols.

Other purposes and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. Summary of the Invention

In one aspect thereof, the invention provides an implant device which comprises: a) a drill portion or body having an outer screw thread and a self- tapping distal end; b) an abutment or head forming the proximate part of said device, said abutment having a cavity, the surface of which comprises a female screw thread, said cavity being axial and open at the proximate end of said abutment; and c) said implant device being monolithic, viz. said drill portion and abutment being integral with one another and constituting, together, a single piece.

The abutment is preferably wider than the drill portion, and more preferably comprises an outwardly flaring conical surface adjacent to the drill portion and an inwardly flaring conical surface adjacent to said outwardly flaring portion. Also, preferably, said abutment comprises a most proximate portion so shaped that a torsional moment may be imparted to it, to cause the whole device to rotate in such a direction that the said drill portion will screw into the bone to which the implant is to be applied.

In this specification and claims, the term "distal" means at or close to the end of the implant that will be deepest into the bone when the implant is in place (root of the implant), and the term "proximate" means at or close to the end of the implant that will protrude from the bone when the implant is in place (head of the implant).

For the sake of brevity, the terms "upper" and 'lower" can be used instead of "distal" and "proximate", because in this description reference will be made, for the sake of example, to an implant in the lower jaw. This should not be understood as a limitation, because obviously, if the implant is in the upper jaw, those terms are reversed, "upper" means "distal" and "lower" means "proximate". The expression "conical surface" means a surface, generally an annular one, the cross-section of which is V-shaped or shaped like a truncated V.

The implant device can be made of metal that has been or will be recognized as suitable for dental surgery, for example titanium, stainless steel etc.

In another aspect thereof, the invention comprises an apparatus for dental implants, which comprises:

I) an implant device as hereinbefore defined;

II) a handle, which comprises a seat adapted to couple said handle to the abutment of said device for positive rotation;

III) means for positively rotating said handle; and

IV) means for removably securing said handle to said abutment.

By "positive rotation" is meant herein rotation in such a direction that the drill portion of the implant device will screw into any body against which it is held, which body is generally the bone in which the implant is to be made. The means for removably securing the handle to the abutment of the implant device is preferably a securing screw, adapted to engage the female screw thread of the axial cavity of said abutment of the implant device.

Preferably the apparatus also includes one or more securing screws for connecting its various components, as will be described hereinafter.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method for performing a dental implant, which comprises the steps of:

A) providing an apparatus for dental implants, as hereinbefore defined;

B) connecting the handle of the apparatus to the abutment of the implant device;

C) preparing the implant zone as required to expose the bone which is to house the implant; and

D) turning the handle of the apparatus to screw the implant device into the bone until only the abutment of said implant device protrudes from the bone.

Subsequently, the method of the invention has two variants. In one variant, the upper portion of the said handle is removed and the remaining portion, having a partly cylindrical outer surface, serves as a support for the prosthesis, which can be applied to it as soon as it has been prepared. In another variant, the handle is disconnected from the abutment of the implant device, a healing cap is connected to said abutment, and, when the prosthesis is ready, the healing cap is removed, a prosthesis support is attached in its place to said abutment and the prosthesis is mounted on said support.

The performance of an implant requires operations carried out by skilled technicians for the preparation of a suitable prosthesis. For this purpose the invention provides devices, hereinafter called "analogs", that have an upper portion similar to the abutment and a lower portion that is preferably as long as the body or drill portion of the implant, but has any convenient shape, though preferably such a shape that will not rotate when it has been inserted into a cast of gypsum or other suitable material. The analogs are made of a material that is not as expensive as that of the implant device, for instance are made of brass.

The analogs are also used for shaping the prosthesis in such a way that it will not interfere with nearby teeth, particularly in the case that the implant device, for some reason, is seated into the bone at a slant to the vertical.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the dental implant according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section showing the same implant after its insertion into the bone;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section showing the implant and the handle secured to it, prior to insertion of the implant into the bone; Fig. 4 is an exploded view and cross-section showing the handle and the securing screw after they have been removed from the implant;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section showing the components of Fig. 3 as they are at the end of the insertion of the implant into the bone;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the implant to which a healing cap has been applied;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the components of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the implant and the handle connected together;

Fig. 9 is a cross-section of an implant to which a healing cap has been attached;

Fig. 10 is an exploded view showing an implant inserted into the bone, a prosthesis support, a securing screw and, schematically, a prosthesis;

Fig. 11 is a cross-section and partial view showing a finished implant to which the prosthesis has been applied;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of an implant carrying attachments for the application of a specific prosthesis;

Fig. 13 is an exploded view of the components of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of an implant and handle, wherein the upper portion of the handle has been separated;

Figs. 15 and 16 are schematic views of two analogs;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of an analog for use in preparing a Dolder bar;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of another analog;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of an implant carrying a support for a prosthesis, when the implant has been inserted at a slant from the vertical. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an implant device, according to an embodiment of the invention. The drill portion or body of the implant is generally indicated at 10 and the abutment is generally indicated at 15. The body carries at the distal end cutting edges as shown at 11 and has a self-tapping screw thread 12. Self-tapping screw threads are known to and can be easily provided by skilled persons. The head 15 comprises an outwardly flared conical surface 16 and an inwardly flared conical surface 17 joined to the surface 16 to form a circular edge 14. The word "conical" should be understood as explained hereinbefore. Above the surface 17, or more accurately, more proximate than the surface 17, is an engageable surface 18 which in this embodiment is polygonal, but must be shaped anyway in such a manner that a torsional moment may be applied to it by the handle, hereinafter described, in order to screw the implant device into the bone. Above, or more proximate than, the surface 18 is a top surface 19 which, in this embodiment, has a shape of a sphere, but could have a different shape as it is not critical. The abutment 15 has a central cavity 13.

Flared conical surface 17 and top surface 19 are adapted to disperse vertically directed forces that act on head 15, in the direction of the bone. It will be appreciated that surface 17 allows for an aesthetic restoration of the front teeth, since it curves below the gum line.

Fig. 2 shows the implant of Fig. 1 inserted into a bone 40. The gum 41 has been opened to permit the insertion. As it is seen, the abutment 15 is outside the bone and the polygonal surface 18 is easily accessible for being engaged by a handle for turning the implant device.

Fig. 3 shows the implant device connected to a handle 44, which rests on the inwardly flared surface 17 and engages the polygonal surface 18 by a corresponding inner surface, so that by turning said handle 44 the implant device will also be turned. The handle 44 is connected to the implant device by securing screw 26, the head of which bears on a shoulder 45 of the handle, thereby securing this latter to the implant device. The handle 44 is hollow, to permit the introduction and removal of the securing screw through its inner hollow 47, and is provided at its upper, or more proximate, end with a surface 46 so shaped that the handle may be engaged with a suitable tool and turned. Surface 46 is shown herein as polygonal, but may have any other suitable shape. This representation of the handle, however, is schematic. As will be explained later, the handle has a vertically elongated body and a head solid with it or attached to it, and is turned by means of a tool engaging said head.

Fig. 4 shows the same component of Fig. 3, but in a different stage of operation. The implant body 10 has been screwed into the bone 40. The handle 44 has been removed by unscrewing the securing screw 26.

Fig. 5 shows in cross-section the end of the operation of screwing the implant device into the bone. The handle 44 is still in place and is connected to the implant device as it was during the operation of screwing the implant device into the bone. Fig. 6 shows an implant device screwed into the bone 40, and a healing cap 50 that has been applied to it. Said healing cap is connected to the implant device by a securing screw, indicated as 26' because it may be identical to the screw 26 of Figs. 3 to 5. Be as it may, said securing screw has an outwardly flaring conical surface at the bottom of its head, which engages a corresponding inner surface of the healing cap 50, all as shown at 51, whereby to secure said cap to the implant device.

Healing cap 50 is annular and is provided a curvilinear longitudinal profile. That is to say, a central portion of the healing cap has a constant outer diameter, while a top and bottom portion thereof have a smaller outer diameter than the central portion.

Fig. 7 shows the components of Fig. 6 in exploded view.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the implant device connected to the handle 44, viz. showing in perspective view what is shown in cross-section in Fig. 5. In Fig. 8, however, the handle 44 is shown completely, including a head 47, which may be solid with the body of the handle or may be connected to it, for example screwed into it.

Fig. 9 shows in cross-section an implant device connected to the healing cap 50. The healing cap is secured to the implant device by a securing screw, which is indicated at 26" because it may be the same as securing screws 26 and 26', but may be different. In any case, it is provided with an outward thread 20 at its lowermost, or most distal, portion which screws into an inner screw thread 22 formed on the outer surface 18 of the bore of the abutment. The securing screw 26" has a cavity 29 at its top, or more proximate, end, the surface of which is polygonal or at any rate so shaped that a torsional moment may be applied to it. Through said surface of said cavity 29 the securing screw 26" is securely screwed into the abutment 15 and firmly holds the healing cap 50 in place.

In Fig. 10, the implant device has been screwed into the bone and a support 52 is shown in exploded view. A securing screw, indicated at 26, is also shown and a prosthesis 53 is shown in outline. The support 52 may be a separate component, so shaped that it may be firmly connected to the implant device by a securing screw, or may be a residual part of the handle 44, as will be explained hereinafter.

Fig. 11 shows the components of Fig. 10 in their final position. The prosthesis 53 is in place and therefore its support is not shown.

Fig. 12 shows an implant device 10 to which a cap 30 and a prosthesis support 31 have been applied and which is shown in Fig. 13 in exploded condition. The support 31 engages a surface 33 which is connected to a securing screw indicated at 32. Such an implant device can be used particularly for the immediate application of a prosthesis after the implant has been made, the conformation of support 31 being such that the prosthesis is firmly retained. A number of such devices can be used for supporting a complete prosthesis when the treated person has no teeth in the upper or lower jaw. Fig. 14 shows an implant connected to a prosthesis support 35, which is similar in purpose and structure to support 52 of Fig. 10 and is solid with it, and can be cut off by a cutting instrument. Fig. 14 illustrates one of the variants of the method of the invention. In this method the implant device is screwed into the bone by acting on the handle, and then the head of the handle, which had been engaged with a tool for turning the handle and therefore the implant device, is separated. This leaves an elongated portion 35 of the handle as a support to which the prosthesis can be assured in any convenient manner. It is seen that portion 35 has a surface that is partly cylindrical, but includes partial flat surfaces.

Figs. 15 and 16 show in schematic vertical view two analogs. The head of an analog according to the present invention is advantageously provided with a uniform diameter, e.g. 4.1 mm, substantially equal to the uniform diameter of a prosthesis head, or proximate part. Although the distal part of each prosthesis may have a different diameter, due to the anatomical structure of the bone, the use of a uniformly sized analog head saves a considerable amount of time and money for a doctor and technician when preparing a tooth impression.

The analog proper has a head 55 which is shaped like the abutment 15 of the implant device, and has a body indicated at 56 which is as long as the drill portion or body 10 of the implant device, however is differently shaped and of a different metal. It is seen that it comprises portions 57 which are not circular and have flat surfaces, as will be better seen thereafter, so that the analog can be inserted into a cast and retained therein without turning. Over, or more proximate than, the analog proper, a component 58 (Fig. 15) is secured to it, which has the same shape as the handle 44 of the implant apparatus. Component 58 has a head 59 similar to the head 47 of the handle 44. If the implant procedure to which Fig. 14 refers, is adopted, the head 59 is removed and the situation of Fig. 16 is generated. The remaining portion of the component 58 serves as a support for the prosthesis, as the component 35 of Fig. 15, and therefore is indicated as 35' in Fig. 16. Numeral 60 indicates the protruding stem of the screw which holds the parts of the analog together, which protruding stem facilitates the work of the technicians using the analog.

In Figs. 17 and 18 are shown two embodiments of an analog. They comprise an analog 56, which is the same as illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16, but additionally they comprise an outer plastic sleeve indicated as 62 in Fig. 17 and 63 in Fig. 18, and within it, a smaller plastic cylinder, indicated at 64 and 65 respectively, supported by a metal stub 65 and 66 respectively. Sleeves 62 and 63 are analogs of components which, in the final implant may have different lengths, as required in each case. For example, sleeve 62 is made of gold or plastic, and is intended for a complete prosthesis that is supported by a Dolder bar. Sleeve 63 is made of plastic and is intended for a temporary or permanent crown. These analogs are particularly useful for verifying that the prosthesis will not encroach on nearby teeth. Such an encroachment, if existing, will be detected when the technician inserts the analogs into a cast including analogs of said nearby teeth. If there is an encroachment, the plastic elements 62 to 65, as the case may be, will be cut off to eliminate the encroachment and the cut-off will be maintained in the prosthesis. The different dimensions of the analogs of Figs. 17 and 18 permit to deal with different particular situations.

Fig. 19 shows an implant device which has been inserted at an angle to the vertical, because of a particular situation due to conformation of the bone or other reasons. In this case the slant should be corrected so that the prosthesis will have a regular orientation. This is achieved, as shown in Fig. 19, by applying to the implant device a prosthesis support 68 that is at a compensating angle to the implant device, so that it will be vertical when in place in the mouth, and is cut off to avoid encroachments, which might result as a consequence of the slant of the implant, with other teeth.

The invention comprises the use of the apparatus and devices hereinbefore described for the performance of a dental implant procedure.

The invention permits two variants, hereinbefore described, of the implant procedure. It is clear that the variant in which the prosthesis support is generated by removing the head of the handle from the handle is particularly fast, more comfortable, less painful, and in the end, less expensive than the procedures known so far. In such variant, once the self-tapping implant device has been screwed into the bone, all that needs to be done, if the handle has a removable upper portion or head, is to remove said handle upper portion or head and the implant is ready to receive the prosthesis, as soon as the dental technicians have produced it. In the other variant the same advantages are essentially obtained, since all that is needed is to remove the handle, substitute it provisionally with a healing cap and finally with a prosthesis support which will have been previously prepared. The progress provided by the invention is therefore important and obvious. It is to be noted that similar advantages would be obtained also by different structures of the implant apparatus, provided that certain basic features of the invention are maintained. Thus the invention broadly comprises the use for performing dental implants of an apparatus comprising a self-tapping implant device for insertion by rotation into the jaw bone of a patient, a handle adapted to be coupled to said implant device for rotation, and means for removably securing said handle to said device.

While embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried out with many variations, modifications and adaptations, without departing from its spirit or exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. Dental implant device which comprises: a) a body having an outer screw thread and a self-tapping distal end; b) an abutment forming the proximate part of said device, said abutment having a cavity, the surface of which comprises a female screw thread, said cavity being axial and open at the proximate end of said abutment; and c) said body and said abutment being integral with one another and constituting, together, a single piece.

2. Implant device according to claim 1, wherein the abutment is wider than the body.

3. Implant device according to claim 1, wherein the abutment comprises an outwardly flaring conical surface adjacent to the body and an inwardly flaring conical surface adjacent to said outwardly flaring portion.

4. Implant device according to claim 3, wherein the abutment further comprises a most proximate portion so shaped that a torsional moment may be imparted to it, to cause the whole device to rotate in such a direction that the said drill portion will screw into the bone to which the implant is to be applied.

5. Apparatus for dental implants, which comprises: I) an implant device according to claim 1;

III) means for positively rotating said handle; and

IV) means for removably securing said handle to said abutment.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for removably securing the handle to the abutment of the implant device is a securing screw, adapted to engage the female screw thread of the axial cavity of said abutment of the implant device.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for positively rotating the handle comprise a head of said handle so shaped that a torsional moment may be applied to it by means of a correspondingly shaped tool.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the handle comprises an elongated portion and a head.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the elongated portion and the head the handle are solid with one another.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the elongated portion and the head the handle are detachably connected to one another.

11. Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising at least an analog of the implant device for use in making the prosthesis.

12. Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a healing cap and a securing screw for connecting said cap to the abutment of the implant device.

13. Analogs of apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. Use for performing dental implants of an apparatus comprising a self- tapping implant device for insertion by rotation into the jaw bone of a patient, a handle adapted to be coupled to said implant device for rotation, and means for removably securing said handle to said device.

15. Method for performing a dental implant, which comprises the steps of:

A) providing an apparatus for dental implants, comprising a self-tapping implant device for insertion by rotation into the jaw bone of a patient, said device comprising a body and an abutment, a handle adapted to be coupled to said implant device for rotation, and means for removably securing said handle to said device;

B) securing said handle to said implant device;

D) turning said handle to screw said implant device into the bone until only the abutment of said implant device protrudes from the bone; and thereafter

E) either, if said handle has a detachable upper portion, removing said upper portion of said handle and applying the prosthesis to the remaining parts of said handle, or F) disconnecting said handle from said implant device, attaching a prosthesis support to said implant device and applying the prosthesis to said support.