Abstract:
An apparatus for installing a dental prosthesis. The apparatus includes a guide stent having one or more apertures. One or more implants have a tip and an abutment end connected by a body. A bridge prosthesis has one or more bores defined therein. A retaining fixture is disposed in the bore of the prosthesis. The bridge prosthesis is attached to the one or more implants via engagement between the abutment end of the implant and the retaining fixture.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of oral prostheses, and more particularly to the field of dental implants and bridge prostheses. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    There are many known drawbacks with dentures and especially lower dentures which may present issues related to eating certain foods or speaking when a patient may fear that their lower teeth may begin to “float” in their mouth. Also, because dentures include a prosthetic for both teeth and tissue connected to the teeth, the dentures take up space in the mouth that may be uncomfortable for the wearer and may cause difficulties with speaking and eating. There are also drawbacks to cement retained implant prosthetics due to the fact that cement can go down the tissue and cause problems such as periimplantitis. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    With parenthetical reference to the corresponding parts, portions or surfaces of the disclosed embodiment, merely for the purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation, the present invention provides a method for installing a dental prosthesis in a subject. The method includes providing a guide stent ( 34 ) having one or more apertures ( 40 ). One or more implants ( 31 ) are installed in the jawbone ( 43 ) of the subject such that the one or more implants ( 31 ) are substantially aligned with the one or more apertures ( 40 ). The one or more implants ( 31 ) have at least one orthogonally protruding abutment end ( 28 ). After the implants ( 31 ) are installed, the guide stent ( 34 ) is removed. 
         [0004]    One or more retaining fixtures ( 74 ) having an O-ring ( 75 ) or other mechanical attachment element disposed therein are provided. Next, the at least one retaining fixture ( 74 ) is slid over the abutment end ( 28 ) of at least one of the implants ( 31 ) to provide a positioned retaining fixture ( 74 ). 
         [0005]    A bridge prosthesis ( 22 ) is provided with a plurality of bores ( 25 ) defined therein. The bores ( 25 ) are sized to receive the retaining fixture ( 74 ). An adhesive is provided inside at least one of the bores ( 25 ). 
         [0006]    Next, the bridge prosthesis ( 22 ) is pressed onto the positioned retaining fixture ( 74 ) such that the retaining fixture ( 74 ) is permanently seated by means of the adhesive in at least one of the bores ( 25 ) in the bridge prosthesis ( 22 ). After the adhesive has set, the bridge prosthesis ( 22 ) may be detached from the abutment end  28  of the at least one implant ( 31 ). After the method has been performed, the bridge prosthesis ( 22 ) may be attached to the implants ( 31 ) in the patient&#39;s jaw to provide an effective prosthetic for dental restoration. The above method may be used for quick installation of a complete or partial bridge prosthesis. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for installing a dental prosthesis. The apparatus includes a guide stent ( 34 ) having one or more apertures ( 40 ). One or more implants ( 31 ) have a tip ( 80 ) and an abutment end ( 28 ). 
         [0008]    A bridge prosthesis ( 22 ) has one or more bores ( 25 ) defined therein. A retaining fixture ( 74 ) has an O-ring ( 75 ) or other mechanical attachment element attached thereto. The retaining fixture ( 74 ) is disposed in the bore ( 25 ) in the bridge prosthesis ( 22 ). The bridge prosthesis ( 22 ) is attached to the one or more implants ( 31 ) via frictional engagement between the abutment end ( 28 ) of the implant ( 31 ) and the O-ring ( 75 ) or other mechanical attachment element in the retaining fixture ( 74 ). 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a model of the lower jaw of a patient. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a stent for use with the system of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side view depicting the preparation for placement of the implant of the present invention in a lower jaw. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the implants of the present invention embedded in the lower jaw. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5A  is a bottom perspective view of a full bridge prosthesis of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5B  is a top plan view of the prosthesis shown in  FIG. 5A . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the implants of the present invention embedded in the lower jaw. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an exploded front elevation view showing the components of the system. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view showing the bridge prosthesis installed on the lower jaw. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    At the outset, it should be clearly understood that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portions or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawing figures, as such elements, portions or surfaces may be further described or explained by the entire written specification, of which this detailed description is an integral part. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, debris, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof, (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or of rotation, as appropriate. 
         [0019]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1  thereof, a model  10  for the present invention includes implant orifices or holes  13  that receive a set of implant analogs  16  installed in the lower jaw  19  of the model  10 . The implant analogs  16  are similar in size to miniature dental implants but may not include threaded sections as there is no need to tap into the model  10 . The implant analogs  16  have a diameter of approximately 1.5 to 4 mm. The implant analogs  16  on the model  10  provide support for a bridge prosthesis  22  ( FIG. 5 ). The bridge prosthesis  22  may be constructed of porcelain, zirconium or other materials as known to persons of skill in the art. The bridge prosthesis  22  may comprise a complete bridge or a partial bridge. The bridge prosthesis  22  includes teeth structures only and does not include any structure for surrounding tissue. As described in greater detail herein, the bridge prosthesis  22  includes a plurality of bores  25  (best shown in  FIG. 7 ) for receiving the abutment end  28  of mini dental implants  31 . 
         [0020]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , a stent  34  is made from any suitable thermoplastic material capable of vacuum forming over model  10 . The vacuum process acts to mold stent  34  into the shape of the implant receiving area comprising a gap and implant analogs  16  (and surrounding teeth in the case of a partial bridge). In a preferred embodiment of the stent  34  forming procedure, cylinders  37  are placed around implant analogs  16  and into holes  13  so that the cylindrical wall of the cylinders  37  surround the shaft of the implant analogs  16  with the abutment end  15  of implant analog  16  remaining uncovered. With cylinders  37  in place, the vacuum forming process incorporates cylinders  37  into molded stent  34  creating guide holes  40  as part of molded stent  34 .  FIG. 2  is a top plan view of stent  34 , with incorporated guide holes  40 , which is molded to the shape of the area of a patient&#39;s jaw where implants  31  are to be placed. 
         [0021]    Turning to  FIG. 3 , to insert implants  31  into the lower jaw  43 , the molded stent  34  is placed over the gums where the implants  31  are to be inserted. As a result of the vacuum forming process described above, the configuration of molded stent  34  enables it to fit or overlay snugly on the gum tissues of the patients lower jaw  43 . Also, the guide holes  40  are positioned over the gum tissues at predetermined locations analogous to the positions of the implant analogs  16  on the model  10 . Moreover, the incorporation of cylinders  37  into stent  34  orients guide holes  40  into the desired angle for inserting implants  31  into the bone material of the patient&#39;s jaw  43 . 
         [0022]    The implant  31  is inserted into bone material below the gum line of the area where the bridge prosthesis  22  is being installed. After using a local anesthetic to desensitize the area, drill  46  with drill bit  49  is used to prepare a starter hole  52  by positioning drill bit  49  through guide hole  40  and drilling through the gum and about 4-8 mm into the underlying bone. By drilling through guide holes  40 , the operator and patient are assured that the starter hole  52  is placed at the desired location and is drilled at the desired angle to ensure, as much as possible, that the starter hole  52  is surrounded by bone material of equal mass on the buccal and lingual sides and on the mesial and distal sides respectively. Drill bit  49  has a smaller diameter than that of the implants  31 . 
         [0023]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , after preparing the starter holes  52 , implants  31  are threaded or screwed into the starter holes  52  until carrier section  55  contacts the gum line of the gap. Wrenches, ratchets, and similar tools may be used to screw implants  31  into the bone material.  FIG. 6  depicts a side view of the implants  31  after insertion into the lower jaw  43 . 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 4 , the lower jaw  43  of a patient is shown after installation of mini dental implants  31 . As shown, the patient is provided with seven implants  31  to be used with a complete bridge prosthesis  22 . The implants  31  are disposed in spaced apart relation along the gums of the lower jaw  43  of the patient. Between six and eight implants  31  may be used for a typical restoration. The implants  31  are permanently attached to the lower jaw  43  and act like the root of a normal tooth. A side view of the implants  31  is shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown a threaded section  56  is disposed beneath the gum line and the carrier section  55  extends from the gum line to a short distance above the gum line at the base of the abutment end  28 . 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 5A , a complete bridge prosthesis  22  may be constructed from any material used in the manufacture of tooth prostheses. Preferably suitable resins, porcelain, porcelain fused to metal combination, zirconium or other materials having properties suitable for dental restoration prostheses may be used as will be known to those of ordinary skill in the art based on this disclosure. The bridge prosthesis  22  includes a bottom surface  58  having a plurality of bores  25  disposed therein. The bores  25  align with the implants  31  for attachment of the bridge prosthesis  22  to the lower jaw  43  of the patient. The bridge prosthesis  22  has an outer surface  61  that is formed to provide the appearance of a plurality of individual teeth. The outer surface  61  terminates in a front edge  64  that directly contacts the gums on the lower jaw  43  when the bridge prosthesis is installed. The bridge prosthesis  22  also includes an inner surface  67  that is formed in the shape of a plurality of teeth. The inner surface also terminates in an edge  70  that directly contacts the gums when the bridge prosthesis  22  is installed. The top surface  73  ( FIG. 5B ) of the bridge prosthesis  22  is formed in the shape of a plurality of teeth and includes shapes corresponding to incisor teeth and molars. The bores  25  are sized to receive retaining fixtures  74  and O-rings  75  as described herein. 
         [0026]    Turning to  FIG. 7 , a single implant  31  is shown for clarity. Implant  31  is a shaft ranging in diameter from approximately 1.8 mm to 4.0 mm. In one example, the diameter may be 1.8-2.5 mm depending on the density of the bone material that will support implant  31 . The implants  31  may be modified to include one or more materials such as osteoinductive agents, bone graft material, bone substitute material, allograft bone, demineralized bone material, ceramics, coral, collagen and ceramic composite, ossified bone protein, an osteogenesis source, a fusion promoting substance, a bone growth promoting material, bone, bone derived substances, a demineralized bone matrix, a mineralizing protein, hydroxyapatite, or genes coding for the production of bone. 
         [0027]    Threaded section  56  extends from tip  80  to carrier section  55 . Tip  80  has a point sufficient to enable implant  31  to be self-tapping when it is inserted into lower jawbone  43  or the upper jawbone. Carrier section  55  is configured in such a way as to allow instruments such as suitably sized wrenches, ratchets or similar tools to grab and turn implant  31  in order to screw implant  31  into bone material. Abutment end  28  is configured to be inserted into the retaining fixture  74  in the bridge prosthesis  22 . Abutment end  28  may have any shape including a spherical shape as shown. Other shapes may be suitable depending on the shape of the opening in the retaining fixture  74 . 
         [0028]    The O-ring  75  fits inside the retaining fixture  74  and provides for frictionally engaging the abutment end  28  of the dental implant  31  with the retaining fixture  74 . The O-ring  75 , retaining fixture  74 , and dental implant  31  are sized such that the frictional fit between the abutment end  28  of the implant  31  and the O-ring  75  in the retaining fixture  74  is strong enough to hold the bridge prosthesis  22  securely against the gums of the patient, but allows for separation of the bridge prosthesis  22  from the implants  31  by a dental professional. Accordingly, the bridge prosthesis  22  is not permanently attached to the gums of the patient, but is detachable by a dental professional, with the use of tools, for inspection and cleaning during a dental visit. The detachable feature of the bridge prosthesis  22  provides many advantages. The bridge prosthesis  22  is not typically removed by the patient. The prosthesis  22  may be removed by the dentist for recall visits and cleanings. 
         [0029]    In order to prepare the bridge prosthesis  22 , retaining fixtures  74  with O-rings  75  disposed inside may be mounted on the abutment end  28  of the implant  31 . Next, the bridge prosthesis  22  is provided with an adhesive inside the bore  25 . The bridge prosthesis  22  is then pressed onto the retaining fixture  74  (which is already mounted on the implants) such that the retaining fixture  74  is received and permanently attached inside the bore  25  by means of the adhesive. The adhesive may comprise a dental cement or the like as will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art based on this disclosure. 
         [0030]    While the retaining fixture  74  and O-ring  75  provide one example of a mechanical attachment for the abutment end  28  of the dental implant  31 , it will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art based on this disclosure that other mechanical attachments such as male/female connectors, plastic snap connectors, or the like may also be suitable. 
         [0031]    Turning to  FIG. 8 , the bridge prosthesis  22  has been installed on the lower jaw  43  of a patient. The bridge prosthesis  22  contains structures only corresponding to teeth and fits directly onto the gum tissue of the lower jaw of the patient. The bridge prosthesis  22  is held securely in position by the frictional fit between the abutment end  28  and the O-ring  75  inside the retaining fixture  74 . The bridge prosthesis  22  may be detached by a dental professional as necessary by inserting a tool between the bridge prosthesis  22  and the gum line of the patient and prying the prosthesis  22  away from the implants  31 . 
         [0032]    The present invention contemplates that many changes and modifications may be made. Therefore, while the presently-preferred form of the dental restoration system has been shown and described, and several modifications and alternatives discussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate that various additional changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined and differentiated by the following claims.