Abstract:
An apparatus for replicating a tooth within a user&#39;s mouth comprises a threaded insert receivable with a bore in a wearer&#39;s jaw, the threaded insert having a first connector associated therewith and a tooth implant having a second connector. The first and second connectors are frictionally engageable with each other to retain the tooth implant within the user&#39;s mouth.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to tooth implants in general and in particular to a method and apparatus for 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    The present invention is directed to an endosseous (endosteal) dental implant and a method of implantation thereof. Most endosteal dental implants are generally made of a body of elongated shape installed in a recess formed in the jawbone and they have a means for anchoring the implant within the bone as well as a means for receiving a prosthetic tooth. Generally, endosteal dental implants are placed by drilling an implant hole into the bone and inserting the implant into the prepared cavity by tapping and/or screwing. 
         [0005]    Many different types of endosteal dental implants are known in the prior art. In particular, commonly many dental implants are formed of an insert which is installed in the user&#39;s jaw and abutment which is screwed to the insert. A cap may then be installed over the abutment. Such caps are commonly permanently secured to the abutment by adhering the cap over the abutment including the abutment screw which is used to secure the abutment to the insert. Therefore, in order to remove the implant, the entire cap must be removed or a hole must be drilled through the cap to access the abutment screw. Both of these procedures will require a new cap to be prepared or the old one repaired, which may difficult to provide an identical biting surface to the original cap. Disadvantageously, such bores must then thereafter be filled with a temporary or permanent filling material. The use of such a filling material within the bore is that that filling material must first be removed in order to extract the implant for future assessment or work on the patient and the filling material adds additional time and debris to the procedure. As such, the aim of the present invention is to provide and implant that makes it possible to address the cited drawbacks of known types of endosteal dental implants. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an apparatus for replicating a tooth within a user&#39;s mouth comprising a threaded insert receivable with a bore in a wearer&#39;s jaw, the threaded insert having a first connector associated therewith and a tooth implant having a second connector. The first and second connectors are frictionally engageable with each other to retain the tooth implant within the user&#39;s mouth. 
         [0007]    One of the first or second connectors may be rotationally fixed relative to each other. One of the first or second connectors may comprise a central cavity. The other of the first or second connectors may comprise a retaining post slidably receivable within the central cavity wherein the retaining post has an outline corresponding to the central cavity. 
         [0008]    The central cavity may comprise a blind bore. The blind bore may include a keyed portion. The keyed portion may include a non-cylindrical shape. The keyed portion may comprise a groove extending longitudinally along the retaining post. The blind bore may include a retaining portion. 
         [0009]    The retaining portion may comprise a tubular bore having at least one widened region. The retaining portion may include a plurality of biased fingers extending into the central cavity at a location corresponding to a groove around the retaining post. The central cavity may be located within an insert sleeve receivable within the threaded insert. 
         [0010]    The apparatus may further comprise a washer between the insert and the tooth implant. The washer may be compressible. The apparatus may further comprise a flexible sleeve between the post and the cavity. 
         [0011]    Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a tooth implant according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the threaded insert of the implant of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is across-sectional view of the tooth insert and threaded insert as assembled together. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4 a    is a top view of the alternative embodiments of the insert cavity opening. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4 b    is a top view of the alternative embodiments of the insert cavity opening. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4 c    is a top view of the alternative embodiments of the insert cavity opening. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4 d    is a top view of the alternative embodiments of the insert cavity opening. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a tooth implant according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of an opening in the tooth insert of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a tooth implant according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is detailed perspective view of the retaining post of  FIG. 7   
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the tooth implant of  FIG. 7   
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an apparatus for replacing a tooth according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at  10 . Turning to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  10  comprises an threaded insert  12  adapted to be installed within the jaw of a patient and a tooth insert  40  which is slidably received within the threaded insert  12 . 
         [0026]    The threaded insert  12  comprises a substantially cylindrical member extending between top and bottom ends,  11  and  13 , respectively with a threaded exterior  14  proximate to the bottom end  13  and a top shoulder portion  16  proximate to the top end  11 . The shoulder portion  16  includes a top platform  18  and an annular groove  20  therearound as will be more fully described below. The threaded insert  12  is preferably made from zirconia, but may be made from any other suitable dental implant material as are commonly known. The threaded insert  12  is inserted into a bore in a patient&#39;s jaw (not shown) with the bottom end  13  first and thereafter screwed in such that the only visible part of the threaded insert  12  is the shoulder portion  16 . The top platform  18  includes a bore  22  therethrough into the interior of the threaded insert  12  with a retaining lip  24  extending therefrom towards a center of the bore  22 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  2 , the threaded insert  12  is lined with an insert sleeve  30  wherein the insert is held in place by the retaining lips  24 . The insert sleeve  30  is formed of a substantially cylindrical member having outer dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the bore  22 . The insert includes a central cavity  32  therein having a top keyed portion  33  and bottom retaining portion  34 . The top keyed portion  33  prevents the tooth insert  40  from rotating relative thereto while the retaining portion retains the tooth insert within the cavity as will be more fully described below. The insert sleeve  30  is formed of any suitable material, such as, by way of non-limiting example, Teflon and is slidably received within the bore  22 . The insert sleeve  30  and/or bore  22  may also include longitudinal ridges (not shown) to prevent relative rotation between the two. 
         [0028]    The keyed portion  33  of the cavity  32  has a non-circular shape so as to provide surface which will engage the tooth insert and prevent rotation therebetween. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 a    through  4   d,  cross-section of the keyed portion may be selected to be any suitable shape, such as, by way of non-limiting example, octagonal  33   b  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 b   , hexagonal  33   a  and  33   c  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 c   , torx  33   d  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 d    or any other suitable non-circular shape, such as, by way of non-limiting example, oval, triangular, rectangular, irregular or the like. Optionally, the keyed portion  33  of the cavity may also include a ridge  72  extending therealong as illustrated in  FIG. 6  adapted to fit a corresponding slot in the retaining post. 
         [0029]    The retaining portion  34  comprises a narrowed portion of the cavity having a substantially cylindrical profile. Retaining portion  34  includes at least one widened region  36  located therealong. As illustrated, the retaining portion  34  may include two widened regions  36  although it will be appreciated that one or more than two may also be used. The widened regions  36  may be substantially spherical as illustrated although other cross-sectional profiles may be used as well. 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , the tooth insert  40  comprises a top body  42  corresponding to the tooth which is to be replaced. The top body  42  may be formed of any suitable means as are commonly known in the art for creating replicas of missing or extracted teeth. The tooth insert  40  also includes a platform  44  which is secured to the bottom of the top body  42 . The platform  44  is formed of any suitable material, such as, by way of non-limiting example, zirconia. Extending from a lower edge of the platform  44  is a key  46  having an outline corresponding to the keyed portion  33  of the insert sleeve  30 . Furthermore, a retaining post  48  extends below the keyed portion  33  in a position and size corresponding to the retaining portion  34  of the insert. In particular, the retaining post  48  has an outer cylindrical shape corresponding to the retaining portion  34  with widened flanges  50  located therealong as positions corresponding to the widened regions  36  of the insert sleeve  30 . The width of the widened flanges  50  is selected to be greater than the diameter of the main portions of the retaining portions  34  so as to retain the widened flanges  50  within the widened regions  36  and thereby prevent unwanted removal of the tooth implant as will be more fully described below. As illustrated, the tooth insert  40  may also include an o-ring  52  or other suitable seal around the bottom outside edge of the platform  44 . Optionally, the platform  44  may include a silicon sleeve  60  adapted to be received therearound as will be more fully described below. 
         [0031]    In operation, the threaded insert  12  is threadably installed within a bore in a patient&#39;s jaw according to known methods. Thereafter, the insert sleeve  30  is installed within the bore  22  thereof. The orientation of the keyed portion  33  of the cavity may then be checked utilizing methods known in the prior art, such as the use of an indicator cap. From the orientation of the keyed portion  33  and the tooth to be replaced, the tooth insert  40  may be prepared to correspond to the tooth to be replaced and with the keyed portion  46  and retaining post  48  positioned relative to the top body  42  to position the tooth as desired. Once prepared, the silicon sleeve  60  may be installed around the platform  44  and rolled up to expose the bottom edge thereof. The tooth insert  40  may then be inserted into the cavity  32  by aligning the keyed portion  46  of the tooth insert  40  with the keyed portion  33  of the cavity  32 . The retaining post  48  is then pressed into the retaining portion  34  of the cavity such that the material of the insert sleeve  30  is deformed to permit the widened flanges  50  to be positioned into the widened regions  36  of the cavity. Such a position is illustrated in  FIG. 3  wherein the o-ring  52  is positioned between the platform  44  of the tooth insert  40  and the top platform  18  of the threaded insert  12 . Thereafter the sleeve  60  may be rolled down to cover the gap between the tooth insert and the threaded insert  12  such that a bottom ridge  62  on the silicon sleeve is engaged within the annular groove  20 . 
         [0032]    Optionally as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the tooth insert  40  may include the central cavity  32  wherein the retaining post  48  extends from the threaded insert  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the retaining post  48  may include an annular groove  74  therearound wherein the central cavity  32  includes a plurality of inwardly biased fingers  76  extending therefrom at a position adapted to engage within the groove  74  and retain the tooth insert thereon. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the apparatus may optionally include a silicone washer  70  or other suitable compression cushioning device between the threaded insert  12  and the tooth insert  40 . 
         [0033]    Turning now to  FIGS. 7 through 9 , an optional embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in which as separate retaining post  90  is provided as a separate element which may be secured to the threaded insert  12 . In particular, the threaded insert  12  may include a threaded central cavity  32  extending thereinto corresponding to a threaded post  92  extending from the bottom of the retaining post  90 . The assembly of  FIGS. 7 through 9  also includes a tooth insert  110  with a cavity  112  thereinto sized to be received upon the retaining post  90  with a gasket sleeve  100  therebetween. 
         [0034]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the retaining post  90  may include a rounded top end  94  and an outwardly flared bottom end  96 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the bottom may have an outwardly outer surface which is oriented at an angle generally indicated at  98  of between 20 and 45 degrees below horizontal, the purpose of which will be more fully described below. The retaining post  90  may have a substantially circular cross section with one or more optional groove  84  extending longitudinally along one side thereof for providing resistance to rotation of the tooth insert  40 . The groove  84  may optionally include secondary groove  86  therein proximate to a bottom end thereof, the purpose of which will be more fully described below. An optional identification of the retaining post  89  may also be included thereon, such as by way of non-limiting example, a serial number, bar code or the like. 
         [0035]    The gasket sleeve  100  may be formed of any suitable material, such as Teflon® or the like so as to be flexible. The thickness of the gasket sleeve  100  is selected to be greater than the difference between the radius of the cavity  32  and the retaining post  90  so as to cause an interference fit therebetween, such as approximately 0.0004 inches (10 microns). As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the gasket sleeve  100  may optionally include a thicker portion  102  corresponding to the groove  84  extending along the retaining post. 
         [0036]    In operation, after the threaded insert  12  is located within the jaw of the patient according to known methods, the retaining post  90  is threadably secured onto the threaded insert  12  by threadably connecting the threaded post  92  onto the threaded cavity  32 . Thereafter, the tooth insert  110  may be test fitted onto the retaining post  90  for alignment and height. The height of the tooth insert  110  may be adjusted by removing material from the bottom  114  of the tooth insert. Once the alignment and height of the tooth insert  110  is correct the gasket sleeve  100  may be inserted into the cavity  112  and retained therein by a light cement after which the alignment of the tooth insert  110  within the mouth of the patient may again be checked and adjusted. By removing material from the bottom  114  of the tooth insert or adjusting the orientation of the gasket sleeve  100  within the cavity  112 . Once the orientation and height of the tooth insert  110  is acceptable, a key  88  is then positioned under the gasket sleeve at a position corresponding to the secondary groove  86  and the tooth insert  110  pressed over the retaining post  90  until the key  88  is positioned within the secondary groove  86  so as to extrude the gasket sleeve  100  into the groove  84  and secondary groove  86  thereby retaining the tooth insert  110  on the retaining post  90 . When a tooth insert  110  is desired to be removed, one or more wedges  120  may be forced between the bottom  114  of the tooth insert  110  and the flared bottom end  96  of the retaining post  90  so as to separate the two after which the tooth insert may be pulled off the retaining post. 
         [0037]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.