Abstract:
A template for drilling channels in a dental alveolar ridge to receive dental implants wherein interchangeable drilling guides are precisely located in a manner that each channel is formed with successive drills that are guided in the same predetermined location, axial inclination and penetration depth in the alveolar ridge.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of dental implants, and more particularly to methods and devices for installing a dental implant in the correction position within a jaw. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Implant dentistry involves the restoration of one or more teeth in a patient&#39;s mouth by the use of artificial implants to support prosthetic crowns. The process for replacing a missing tooth involves placing an implant, adding a post to receive a crown and adding a crown. The alveolar bone is first accessed through the patient&#39;s gum tissue. The specific site in the alveolar bone where the implant will be anchored is prepared by drilling and/or reaming to accommodate the width of the dental implant to be inserted. The dental implant is then inserted into the hole, typically by screwing the implant in, although other techniques are known for introducing the implant in the jawbone. A temporary healing cap is secured over the exposed proximal end in order to seal an internal bore of the implant. The patient&#39;s gums are then sutured over the implant to allow the implant site to heal and to allow desired osseointegration to occur. Complete osseointegration typically takes anywhere from three to ten months. In the alternative, the cap is placed immediately. The restoration is completed by placing a post to the implant and placing a cap over the post. 
         [0005]    It is important that the implant is installed at a proper or optimum position and angle with respect to the particular structure of the alveolar bone that is receiving the implant. The implant must be installed within the alveolar bone in order to insure the required support and longevity of the implant. The implant must also be positioned optimally in order to place a functional and esthetic cap or prosthesis. Many techniques and devices have been developed and used for the correct placement of a dental implant. Many such techniques tend to depend on the skill and experience of the oral surgeon. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The purpose of the invention is to provide all dentists and specialists alike with an accurate and reliable process in which to surgically place dental implants. Additionally, lab technicians will also be able to use the process. They will be able to create surgical stents for implant procedures coupled by the significant benefit of being able to communicate with the dentist/specialist regarding the functional results of a restoration prior to implant placement. There remains a general need for an improved device and method for determining the proper or optimum position, angle and depth of a dental implant with respect to the structure of the alveolar bone. Successive dental drills, each with increasing size, are used to drill a channel within alveolar bone in which to receive the dental implant. 
         [0007]    A mold is made of the patient&#39;s mouth. A dental model is made from the mold and upon that dental model the entry position of the future implant is determined. This is the first step. A bondable thermoplastic-vacuum-formed material is then formed over the dental model. The GRS implant drilling guide is then placed and secured with putty upright over the chosen entry position of the dental implant. The GRS implant drilling guide is essentially a hollow vertical housing containing a vertical hollow cylinder, the vertical hollow cylinder having the ability to be moved 20 degrees in all directions and locked into place with a locking set screw. In a preferred embodiment a vertical positioning guide with an attached surgical circular ring is placed within the interior of the hollow cylinder and is moved until the correct angle of the future implant channel is determined. At this point the set screw is turned clockwise, locking the vertical hollow cylinder, containing the positioning guide and surgical circular ring, into position. The positioned surgical circular ring is the structure of most importance because it is secured to the adjacent bondable vacuum-formed thermoplastic plate with putty and the cylinder and housing with the set screw housing are removed. The surgical stent is ready for transfer to the mouth. The surgical circular ring is attached over the dental ridge and the first surgical sleeve is placed into the surgical circular ring and locked in place by turning it clockwise. The first surgical sleeve would have a small internal diameter to receive a small diameter dental drill. A series of progressively larger diameter dental drills, each with a matching size surgical sleeve, are the used. The first surgical sleeve is turned counterclockwise and removed and each succeeding surgical guide is placed using the preceding steps. The depth of the dental drill penetration is controlled by a selection of spacers at the top of the surgical sleeve at the entry point of the dental drill. Each size dental drill enters the jaw at the same position and angle and drills to the same depth. 
         [0008]    In another preferred embodiment the positioning guide is eliminated and a drilling guide with an external diameter the same as the positioning guide is used. Preferably this drilling guide would have the starting internal diameter to match the first dental drill to be used. In another embodiment the surgical circular ring is held in position with a thermo-vacuum-formed plate. 
         [0009]    The above embodiments describe a single tooth; but the technique lends itself to multiple implants done at the same time. The GRS implant drilling guide may be used without opening a flap in the gum tissue of the patient 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cylinder; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a housing; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view the housing mounted between two teeth; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the cylinder inside the housing; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of  FIG. 4  with a locking set screw; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a positioning guide; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a surgical ring; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a the positioning guide inserted within the surgical ring; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a of  FIG. 8  inserted inside the housing; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a  FIG. 8  inserted between two teeth; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a longitudinal sleeve; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a surgical circular ring mounted between two teeth; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a longitudinal sleeve being placed in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a longitudinal sleeve placed in the mounted surgical ring; 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a housing with an irregular surface; 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a housing with a rectangular exterior; 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of  FIG. 16  with an irregular exterior; 
           [0027]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of  FIG. 7  with an irregular exterior; 
           [0028]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of  FIG. 11  with a spacer; 
           [0029]      FIG. 20  is perspective views of multiple longitudinal sleeves with varying internal diameters; 
           [0030]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a combination surgical sleeve fitted within a cylinder/housing; 
           [0031]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of a  FIG. 21  with a surgical ring; 
           [0032]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of  FIG. 22  mounted between two teeth; 
           [0033]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of  FIG. 22  with a spacer; 
           [0034]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of a model of teeth; 
           [0035]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of thermo-vacuum-formed material being placed on the model; 
           [0036]      FIG. 27  is a perspective view of  FIG. 9  placed over the alveolar ridge; 
           [0037]      FIG. 28  is a perspective view of a  FIG. 27  with the surgical rings attached; 
           [0038]      FIG. 29  is a perspective view of  FIG. 27  with only the surgical rings remaining; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 30  is a perspective view of the vacuum-formed plate with attached surgical rings in the mouth. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]      FIG. 1  discloses a cylinder  2  with a long axis comprising an open top first end  3  and an open lower second end  4 , an exterior circular circumference  5  and a circular hollow interior  6 , the circular hollow interior  6  extending from the open top first end  3  to the open lower second end  4  wherein the external circular circumference  5  adjacent to the second end  4  has a circular circumferential ball-shaped enlargement  8 .  FIG. 2  discloses a housing  10  with a long axis  11  comprising an exterior  12  and a hollow interior  13  with a circular circumference, an open top first end  14  and an open lower second end  15 , the hollow interior  13  extending from the open top first end  14  to the open lower second end  15 , a circular ball-shaped enlargement  16  of the interior circumference adjacent to the lower second end  15  is shaped to receive the circumferential circular ball-shaped enlargement  8  of the cylinder  2 , the hollow interior  13  progressively enlarges  17  from the circular ball-shaped enlargement  16  towards the top first end  14 , the progressive enlargement  17  at 20 degrees  18  to the long axis  11 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  shows the housing  10  second end  15  secured to a dental edentulous ridge  19  and adjacent teeth  54  with a putty  20 . In  FIG. 4  the cylinder  2  is fitted within the housing  10 . The circular circumferential ball-shaped enlargement  8  of the cylinder  2  fits within the circular ball-shaped enlargement  16  of the housing  10  and the first end  3  of the cylinder  2  fits within the top first end  14  of the housing  10  wherein the cylinder  2  may be pivoted  22  around the ball shaped enlargement  8  end  4  up to 20 degrees from the housing long axis  11 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , a threaded set screw housing  30  containing a threaded channel  31  with a set screw  32  at a right angle to the housing  10  long axis  11  adjacent to the circumferential circular ball-shaped enlargement  16 , the threaded channel  31  opening into the housing interior  13  wherein when the set screw  32  is screwed inwards the set screw  32  is seated against  33  the circular circumferential ball-shaped enlargement  8  of the cylinder  2  locking the cylinder  2  in its axial position  34  within the housing  10 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  discloses a longitudinal positioning guide  40  with a first  41  and second end  42  and an axial circumference  43  comprised of a platform  44  at the first end  41 , a longitudinal stem  45  extending from the platform  44  to the second end  42  and circumferential male keyways  46  on the longitudinal stem  45  adjacent to the platform  44 .  FIG. 7  discloses a surgical circular ring  50  with an interior  51  and an exterior  52 , the interior  51  containing keyway grooves  53  which engage the male keyways  46  of the positioning guide  40  when the stem  45  of the positioning guide  40  is placed, as in  FIG. 8 , within the interior  51  of the circular surgical ring  50  and turned clockwise wherein, with the surgical circular ring  50  attached to the positioning guide  40 , the second end  42  of the positioning guide  40  is placed, as in  FIG. 9 , in the first end  3  of the cylinder  2  and seated to the second end  4  of the cylinder  2  where the positioning guide  40  is used to position the cylinder  2 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 9  discloses a preferred embodiment of the GRS implant drilling guide. In  FIG. 10 , when the cylinder  2  is correctly positioned the set screw  32  is turned clockwise, which locks the cylinder  2  in position, the surgical circular ring  50  is then secured to the edentulous ridge  19  and adjacent teeth  54  with a putty  20 . The cylinder  2 , housing  10 , with set screw housing  30  and longitudinal positioning guide  40 , are removed.  FIG. 11  discloses a longitudinal surgical sleeve  60  with a first end  61 , second end  62 , an exterior  63  and an interior  64  wherein the first end  61  has a platform  65 , adjacent to the platform  65  the exterior  63  of the surgical sleeve  60  contains circumferential male keyways  46 , the interior  64  defines a longitudinal tube  66  sized to receive a drill. The positioning guide  40  has been removed,  FIG. 12 , from the circular surgical ring  50 . The second end  62  of the surgical sleeve  60  is placed,  FIG. 13 , within the surgical circular ring  50  seated and is turned clockwise,  FIG. 14 , wherein the male keyways  46  of the surgical sleeve  60  engage the keyway grooves  53  of the surgical circular ring  50 . The surgical sleeve  60  is now positioned in the same position as the positioning guide  40  occupied and functions as a drilling guide. Successive sleeves with different size interior longitudinal tubes may be placed in exactly the same position relative to the edentulous dental ridge  19 .  FIG. 15  discloses a housing  10  exterior  12  which is round.  FIG. 15  also shows a housing  10  exterior  12  with an irregular surface  73  in order to enhance the adhesion of the putty  20  to housing exterior  12 . In  FIG. 16  the housing exterior  12  is rectangular  72 .  FIG. 17  shows the rectangular  72  housing exterior with an irregular surface  73  in order to enhance the adhesion of the putty  20  to the housing  10  exterior  12 . 
         [0044]    In  FIG. 18  a surgical circular ring  50  has a surface; the surface is irregular  73  in order to enhance the adhesion of the putty  20  to the surgical circular ring  50  exterior  52 .  FIG. 19  shows the surgical sleeve  60  platform  65  with an outside surface facing away from the sleeve platform  65 . Various thicknesses of spacers  75  are placed on the outside surface controlling the depth a dental pilot drill penetrates a dental edentulous ridge  19 ,  FIG. 10 . a thicker spacer  75  results in less penetration.  FIG. 20  shows multiple longitudinal surgical sleeves  60 , each having an interior longitudinal tube  66 , each interior tube  66  with an increasingly larger diameter sized to fit increasingly larger diameter dental pilot drills. 
         [0045]    Putties  20 , for securing the surgical circular ring  50 , depicted in  FIGS. 3 ,  10 ,  12 ,  13  and  14 , are dental materials such as: sticky wax, light cure putty, such as Triad, acrylics such as Jet used for denture repair and temporary filling materials. 
         [0046]    In another preferred embodiment,  FIG. 21 , the GRS implant drilling guide is comprised of the same cylinder  2  housing  10  and-threaded set screw housing  30  as disclosed in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 .  FIG. 21  wherein  FIG. 21  discloses a combination longitudinal positioning guide and surgical sleeve  70  with a first end  71 , second end  71 , an exterior  73  and an interior  66  wherein the first end  71  has a platform  74 , adjacent to the platform  74  the exterior  73  of the sleeve contains circumferential male keyways  46 , the interior  66  defines a surgical sleeve  66  sized to receive a pilot drill.  FIGS. 7 and 22  disclose a circular surgical circular surgical ring  56  with an interior  51  and an exterior  52 , the interior  51  containing keyway grooves  53  which engage the male keyways  46  of the combination longitudinal positioning guide and surgical sleeve  70 ,  FIG. 21 , when the combination longitudinal positioning guide and surgical sleeve  70  second end  72  is placed within the interior of the surgical circular surgical ring  56  and turned clockwise wherein, with the surgical circular surgical ring attached to the combination longitudinal positioning guide and surgical sleeve  70 , the second end of the positioning guide is placed in the first end of the cylinder  2  and seated to the second end of the cylinder where the combination longitudinal positioning guide and surgical sleeve  70  is used to position the cylinder  2 , when the cylinder  2  is correctly positioned the set screw  32 ,  FIGS. 5 and 22  is turned clockwise which locks the cylinder  2  in position. In  FIG. 23  the surgical circular ring  50  is then secured to the edentulous ridge  19 ,  FIG. 14 , and adjacent teeth  54  with a putty  20  and the cylinder  2  within the housing  10  with the set screw housing  30  may remain or be removed. In  FIG. 24  the combination longitudinal positioning guide and surgical sleeve  70  platform  74  has an outside surface facing away from the sleeve wherein various thicknesses of spacers  75  are placed on the outside surface controlling the depth a dental pilot drill penetrates a dental edentulous ridge  19 . A thicker spacer  75  results in less penetration. 
         [0047]      FIG. 25  discloses a dental model with an alveolar ridge  19  and teeth  54 . In  FIG. 26  there is a thermo-vacuum-forming plate  80  which is vacuum-formed over the dental model. The thermo-vacuum-forming plate  80  ideally is a material that adhesives will adhere to, such as polycarbonate. In  FIG. 27  the longitudinal sleeves  60  are placed on the alveolar ridge  19  in the positions the implant holes are to be drilled. The longitudinal sleeves  60  are attached to the thermo-vacuum-forming plate  80  with putty  20  that is removable. Dental sticky wax is an example. At this point each cylinder  2  is angled into the correct position to guide the drills in the process of forming the implant shaft. The locking pins are tightened to secure the chosen cylinder  2  positions.  FIG. 28  has the surgical circular rings  50  separately secured to the adjacent thermo-vacuum-forming plate  80 . In an alternative embodiment the surgical circular rings  50  may be secured with a thermo-vacuum-forming plate  80 .  FIG. 29  discloses the longitudinal sleeves  60  removed and the housings  10  removed leaving the surgical circular rings  50  suspended over the alveolar ridge  19 . The thermo-vacuum-forming plate  80  with the mounted surgical circular rings  50  is removed from the dental model and holes are drilled in the thermo-vacuum-forming plate  80  underneath each circular surgical ring  50 . The holes allow for the dental drill to have access to the alveolar ridge  19 .  FIG. 30  shows thermo-vacuum-forming plate  80  with the mounted surgical circular rings  50  placed in the mouth with the longitudinal sleeves  80  ready to be placed into the mounted surgical circular rings  50 . Each surgical circular ring  50  receives successively larger sleeves to accommodate each larger diameter drill.