ABUTMENT FOR IMPLANT WITH CONNECTOR REDUCING DIAMETER OF SCREW HOLE

An abutment for implant including a connect reducing a diameter of a screw hole according to the present invention includes: a base provided with a coupling hole having a screw thread penetrating therethrough in a height direction of a central portion; a connector having a screw thread formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof to be threaded with the coupling hole of the base and having a screw hole penetrating along a height direction of a central portion; and a screw inserted into the screw hole to be threaded with a coupling hole and a fixture.

The present invention relates to an abutment for implant including a connector reducing a diameter of a screw hole, and more particularly, to an abutment for implant that is configured to have a prefabricated structure of a connector coupling an abutment to a base and an upper portion of the base and can enhance the overall aesthetics of an implant by reducing a diameter of a screw hole formed on an upper surface thereof.

An implant is made of a strong and biocompatible material such as titanium, and is a treatment method of restoring a lost tooth by implanting the material in a gum bone of a portion of the lost tooth and installing an artificial tooth on the material. The implant is a treatment method and structure capable of restoring a form and function similar to natural teeth.

In general, the implant may be configured to have an artificial tooth, an abutment, and a fixture. The fixture is a part inserted into and fixed to a gum bone, and the abutment is a part connecting the artificial tooth and the fixture.

FIG.1is a conceptual diagram illustrating a schematic structure of the known abutment.

Referring toFIG.1, it can be seen that a general abutment is composed of a one-piece type in which a base serving as a body and a screw for coupling with a fixture are integrally formed, and a two-piece type in which the base and the screw are separated.

Here, the two-piece type is also called a dual abutment. Unlike the one-piece type in which the diameter of the screw hole may be adjusted, the dual abutment requires a screw to be inserted directly into the screw hole that penetrates from an upper surface to a bottom surface thereof.

In this case, generally, since the screw is configured to have a head with a larger diameter than a body at an upper portion of the body where a screw thread is formed, to accommodate this screw, a screw hole with a larger diameter than a diameter of the head of the screw may be inevitably fabricated on an upper surface of the dual abutment.

In this way, when the diameter of the screw hole increases, the diameter of the head of the screw naturally increases, and as the diameter of the head increases, even if a hole (a hole in which a coupling tool such as a driver should be inserted to fix the screw to the fixture) formed on an occlusal surface of the artificial tooth is filled with a filling material such as resin, compared to an abutment (mainly one-piece type) with a small occlusal surface or hole formed thereon, aesthetics is inevitably inferior. The problem of the phenomenon becomes evident in implants with small occlusal surfaces, such as premolars.

Referring to the related art, Korean Patent No. 1899284 discloses an abutment for implant in which a compression socket is configured to press a bolt inserted into a first insertion hole of the abutment, and as a pressure force of the compression socket continues to act on the bolt, even if vibration or the like due to self-movement continues to act on the abutment, so any loosening of the bolt may be prevented by the pressure force of the compression socket.

That is, the related art presents a structure in which the compression socket is coupled to the upper portion of the base (abutment). Although the compression socket may be possible to prevent the bolt from loosening by pressing the bolt (screw) from the upper portion, as described above, the compression socket does not play a role of reducing the diameter of the bolt (screw) itself, so the problem of having a screw hole with a large diameter still remains.

Therefore, there is a need to develop an improved structure in which a medium capable of reducing a diameter of a screw hole while reducing a height of a base in an abutment, in particular, a dual abutment is prefabricated with the base.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

The present invention provides an abutment in which a connector is coupled to an upper portion of a base, a screw is coupled to a screw hole of the connector to reduce a diameter of the screw hole of the connector, thereby improving aesthetics while improving structural stability.

Another object of the present invention is to improve aesthetics while improving overall integrity of an abutment by configuring a connector with a head and a body and then tapering an outer circumferential surface of the head at an inclination angle corresponding to an outer circumferential surface of a base.

Still another object of the present invention is to efficiently control an external force by forming a slit on an upper surface of a connector.

Yet another object of the present invention is to strengthen a bonding force with an artificial tooth by adding a cap coupled to an upper portion of a connector.

Technical Solution

According to the present invention, an abutment for implant including a connect reducing a diameter of a screw hole includes: a base provided with a coupling hole having a screw thread penetrating therethrough in a height direction of a central portion; a connector having a screw thread formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof to be threaded with the coupling hole of the base and having a screw hole penetrating along a height direction of a central portion; and a screw inserted into the screw hole to be threaded with a coupling hole and a fixture.

In addition, the coupling hole of the base may include a first hole threaded with at least a portion of the connector and penetrating with a first diameter, and a second hole threaded with the screw and penetrating with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.

In addition, the base may include a lower coupling portion that is coupled to a fixture and an upper coupling portion that is located in the lower coupling portion to be coupled to an artificial tooth and is tapered to be narrow at an upper portion and wide at a lower portion at a lower height than that of the lower coupling portion, and the connector may include a body that has a screw thread coupled to the coupling hole formed on an outer circumferential surface and a head that is located in an upper portion of the body and exposed to an upper portion of the base when coupled to the base.

According to an abutment for implant including a connector reducing a diameter of a screw hole according to the present invention,

1) it is possible to provide convenience in manufacturing by manufacturing the abutment in a prefabricated structure of a base and a connector, and at the same time, reduce a diameter of a hole to which a screw is coupled while the connector is coupled to the base to improve the overall aesthetics of an implant,

2) it is possible to pursue integral harmony with the base by configuring the connector with a head and a body,

3) it is possible to effectively regulate and control an external force using a slit formed recessed on an upper surface of the connector as a medium, and

4) it is possible to provide a strong coupling relationship with artificial teeth by including a cap coupled to an upper portion of the connector.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale, and like reference numbers in each drawing indicate like elements.

FIG.2is a conceptual diagram illustrating an abutment including a base and a connector of the present invention.

As can be seen fromFIG.2, an abutment10of the present invention is based on a structure including a base100and a connector200.

The base100of the present invention has a structure and shape similar to a known abutment, and includes a lower coupling portion110that is coupled with a fixture2and an upper coupling portion120that is located on an upper portion of the lower coupling portion110and coupled with an artificial tooth1.

That is, the base100is similar to the known abutment having an upper/lower coupling portion and is not limited to a specific shape and structure. However, the base100has a lower structure than the upper coupling portion of the known abutment in consideration of a coupling structure with the connector200to be described later. In other words, in the base100coupled with the connector200, the upper coupling portion120has a lower standing figure than that of the lower coupling portion110, so it is possible to prevent the total height of the connector200and the upper coupling portion120from being unnecessarily raised when the connector200is coupled to be exposed to the upper portion of the upper coupling portion120of the base100.

The base100is provided with a coupling hole130having a screw thread formed along a height direction of the central portion.

The coupling hole130is similar to a screw hole of the known abutment that provides a space into which the screw400is inserted in order to couple the known fixture2and the screw400, but in the present invention, in particular, the coupling hole130has a function of providing a space in which not only the screw400but also the connector200to be described later is accommodated.

This coupling hole130has significance in that it may be formed regardless of whether the abutment10of the present invention is manufactured in a one-piece type or a two-piece type.

That is, as described above, in addition to the basic function for accommodating the connector200, the one-piece type may provide a space into which a coupling tool such as a driver for tightening the head of the screw400may be inserted in order to fix the integrally installed screw400to the fixture, and the two-piece type may provide a space into which the screw400as well as the above-described coupling tool may be inserted.

In this case, in the one-piece type abutment, the coupling hole130is recessed to a certain depth from the upper portion to the lower portion along the height direction of the central portion of the base100, and in the two-piece type, the coupling hole130can be formed to penetrate along the height direction of the central portion of the base100. That is, the coupling hole130of the present invention may include both the concept of a hole formed by a recess method and a penetration method.

The connector200of the present invention is a structure body that is accommodated in the coupling hole130while being threaded with the above-described coupling hole130of the base100in a state in which it has a diameter corresponding to that of the coupling hole130.

In the connector200, a screw hole230is basically formed (penetrating or recessed) along the height direction of the central portion. In this case, when the cap300to be described later is coupled together, the screw hole230of the connector200may not be formed to penetrate, but may be recessed to a certain length from the upper portion to the lower portion along the height direction of the central portion.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the connector200may have a shape of a cone or a truncated cone as a whole, but is not limited thereto, and although not illustrated in the drawings, the connector200can have a shape of a cylinder or a ring.

In addition, the connector200may be entirely accommodated in the coupling hole130of the base100, but as illustrated inFIG.3to be described later, may have a structure in which a portion of the connector200is exposed to the upper portion of the base100.

The screw hole230serves not only to provide a space in which a coupling tool such as a driver for fastening the screw400enters, but also to provide a space in which the cap300to be described later may be accommodated.

Specifically, when the screw hole230penetrates, as described above, the space into which the coupling tool enters and the space in which the cap300is accommodated are provided. As illustrated in the cross-sectional view ofFIG.2, when the screw hole230does not penetrate but is recessed, before fastening the connector200, it is also possible to first fasten the screw400(apply to both single and dual types) accommodated in the coupling hole130to the fastener2via the coupling tool.

According to this structure, the diameter of the coupling hole130, in particular, the diameter of the hole formed on the upper surface of the abutment10increases to ensure coupling with the screw400in the known abutment, resulting in poor aesthetics, thereby providing characteristics that may solve the problem of poor aesthetics.

As a specific example, the hole formed on the upper surface of the known abutment is often formed unnecessarily larger than the use for screw fastening, so the aesthetics may be poor. The connector200of the present invention may make the size of the hole, that is, the screw hole230small while adjusting the size according to various environments, so it provides a minimum space into which a coupling tool for fastening the screw400may enter. As a result, the connector200serves to enhance the natural aesthetics of the upper surface of the abutment, that is, the base100.

As another example, when a certain period of time has elapsed after the implant is placed, there may be a problem in which the screw is loosened. It is possible to conveniently tighten the screw400by entering the coupling tool through the screw hole230of the connector200.

In addition, when the diameter of the screw hole and screw of the known abutment is reduced, compared to the overall volume of the abutment, the volume or diameter of the screw hole becomes smaller, which may lead to a problem in that the fixture coupling force of the screw or the stable position fixing force in the coupling hole of the abutment is lowered.

That is, to solve this problem, the connector200of the present invention is configured to ensure the coupling force between the screw400and the base100without reducing the diameter of the coupling hole130of the base100, and to faithfully perform the role of a medium capable of ensuring durability such as stiffness (i.e., non-fracture) of the base100.

Since the base100and the connector200have an assemblable structure rather than an integral structure, compared to the integral structure made by reducing the diameter of the coupling hole130of the base100, the stress or external force may be dispersed through a small gap that may occur during the assembly of the base100and the connector200to reduce the problem that the base100itself is fractured or broken as much as possible, and furthermore, when the connector200(a portion of the base occupied by the connector in the integral structure) is damaged, it may have the advantage of maintenance that only the connector200may be conveniently replaced without having to replace the entire implant.

In summary, compared to the case where aesthetics are enhanced by forcibly reducing the diameter of the screw hole230of the abutment10as well as the screw400having a head having a larger diameter than the conventionally body having a screw thread, the abutment10of the present invention has the connector200, and thus, may efficiently prevent the problem of poor aesthetics due to unnecessarily large holes formed on the upper surface of the abutment10while ensuring structural stability and manufacturing convenience (compared to manufacturing a structure in which the connector is integrally combined with the base, manufacturing as a prefabricated method may pursue cost reduction such as mold production) of the abutment10as a whole.

FIG.3is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure in which a base and a screw are coupled while the connector of the present invention includes a head and a body.

For example, in a two-piece type abutment, when the connector200is not long enough to reach the entire height of the coupling hole130of the base100(it is not necessary to manufacture the connector with a long structure corresponding to the height of the coupling hole), the connector200will be located in the middle or upper portion of the base100. In this case, the screw400and an empty space remain in the coupling hole130of the remaining lower portion of the base100. In this case, the remaining portion of the coupling hole130of the base100is configured to have a diameter for accommodating the connector200, so, when the screw400having a smaller diameter than that of the connector200is located in the remaining portion of the coupling hole130, the screw400may flow unnecessarily in the remaining portion of the coupling hole130due to the difference in diameter.

Of course, when the head diameter of the screw400is larger than that of the screw hole230of the connector200, it is possible to reduce this problem. However, the screw400is configured to have a head and a body, but when the head of the screw400is larger than the diameter of the body as in the normal screw having the head/body, the above problem may remain due to the difference in diameter.

In order to prevent this problem, as can be seen fromFIG.3, the coupling hole130of the base100is preferably configured to have first and second holes131and132having diameters different from each other.

Specifically, the first hole131is an upper area of the coupling hole130, and is a portion that is threaded with all or part of the connector200and is a portion that may accommodate the head of the screw400. That is, the first hole131has a diameter corresponding to the head of the screw400as well as an outer diameter of the connector200.

The second hole132is a lower area of the coupling hole130, and furthermore, in a state where the screw400is accommodated, the second hole132is for the screw threaded with the body (portion where the screw thread is formed) except for the head of the screw400, and has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter of the first hole131, that is, a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the body of the screw400.

This structure may efficiently prevent the problem in that, as described above, the structure in which the connector200does not have the height corresponding to the overall height of the coupling hole130causes the screw400to unnecessarily move in the lower remaining portion of the coupling hole130remaining after the connector200is coupled.

In addition, referring toFIG.3, in the base100configured to have the upper coupling portion120and the lower coupling portion110, it can be seen that the upper coupling portion120has a structure in which a taper surface121is tapered to be wide at the upper portion and narrow at the lower portion in a state where the lower coupling portion110has a low height.

This taper surface121is similar to the outer surface shape of the upper coupling portion of the known abutment, and is a structure formed to strengthen the coupling area with the artificial tooth or the coupling relationship with the artificial teeth stably.

As a result, the connector200according toFIG.3may be configured to have a body220and a head210.

The body220is a portion where a screw thread is formed on the outer circumferential surface for being threaded with the coupling hole130, and the head210is formed on the upper portion of the body220. The body220is a portion exposed to the upper portion of the base100when the connector200is coupled with the coupling hole130of the base100.

In particular, since the head210has a larger diameter than the body220, the connector200may take a shape similar to an arrow as a whole.

That is, as illustrated inFIG.3, the head210is exposed to the outside in the state in which the connector200includes the head210and the body220. Compared to the case where the connector200is entirely accommodated in the coupling hole130, it is possible to provide an advantageous characteristic of easily providing the coupling area in which the outer circumferential surface of the connector200may be coupled with the artificial tooth, and the height of the upper coupling portion120of the base100is reduced more than the height of the lower coupling portion110, so for the above reasons, it is possible to pursue structural stability that allows the head210of the connector200to easily provide a coupling area with an artificial tooth while lowering the height of the connector200itself.

Furthermore, the outer circumferential surface of the head210exposed to the outside has the same or similar inclination angle as or to the tapered surface121of the upper coupling portion120on the base100, so the head taper surface211that is tapered to be narrow at the upper portion and wide at the lower portion may be formed so that it may extend in a straight line without a step or a short edge (i.e., difference in an inclination angle).

Accordingly, the overall shape of the abutment10of the present invention may provide the advantage of providing characteristics that can ensure the integrity and stability of the area (portion of the outer circumferential surface in the upper coupling portion and the outer circumferential surface of the connector) coupled to the artificial tooth1while having an appearance made of a single body.

Additionally, although not illustrated in the drawings, it is possible to form a separate driver hole along the circumferential direction of the lower area of the head taper surface211to couple with a coupling tool such as a driver. According to this, since the driver may be operated not necessarily through the screw hole only, but also by coupling with the head taper surface211, it is possible to provide the advantage of pursuing convenience in the assembly process.

FIG.4is a cross-sectional view and a partially enlarged view illustrating a structure in which a slit is formed in the connector of the present invention.

As can be seen fromFIG.4, the slit240may be recessed in an area between the outer circumference and the portion through which the screw hole230penetrates on the upper surface of the connector200.

As can be seen from the partially enlarged view ofFIG.4, a plurality of slits240are recessed at regular intervals along the circumferential direction of the upper surface of the connector200, and in particular, it is not recessed vertically, but is recessed inclined toward the direction of the screw hole230(center direction of the upper surface of the connector).

When the slits240are simultaneously subjected to pressure in both directions while coupling the artificial tooth1to the outside and the screw400to the inside based on the connector200, the slit240efficiently disperses the pressure force, or in a situation in which the remaining space of the screw hole230occurs as the screw400is inserted and dropped to the inside, the slit240serves to efficiently disperse or guide the above-described pressure force to the screw hole400.

That is, when the head210of the connector200is firmly coupled to the artificial tooth1, an external force is applied in a vertical direction during the coupling or occlusion of the artificial tooth1. The slit240provides a characteristic capable of dispersing this external force in the extension direction of the slit240, that is, in the inclined direction which is the screw hole230direction.

As a result, by efficiently inducing the phenomenon in which unnecessary pressure is applied to the fixture2or the alveolar bone by the vertical external force of the artificial tooth1toward the screw hole230, which is the remaining space in which the screw400is accommodated, it is possible to ensure the overall stability of the abutment10, and since the direction of the screw hole230is toward the center of the connector200, even if there is a deviation in external force, it is possible to efficiently disperse and alleviate the deviation in external force.

In particular, such a slit240is more useful in a structure in which the artificial tooth1and the screw400are located inside and outside the head210in the connector200having the head210and are subjected to pressure.

In addition, since the connector200is usually made of a metal material having rigidity, bending does not occur, but due to the formation of the slit24, a fine elastic force is provided to a portion of the head210, so it is possible to disperse the external force applied to the connector200(particularly, the head) .

Furthermore, an expansion hole241having a larger diameter than the slit240may be formed at an inner end of the slit240.

When teeth are weakly occluded and thus an occlusion force is not great or the occlusion force of the artificial tooth1is weak, as described above, the external force such as the occlusal force may be sufficiently dispersed only by the slit240. However, when the relatively large occlusal force is applied, the stress is concentrated in the central portion or both ends, the fatigue of the corresponding area increases, which may lead to fracture from the corresponding portion when the abutment10is used for a long period of time. However, since the expansion hole241, which has a larger diameter than that of the slit240and secures sufficient space, may efficiently distribute the stress concentrated on the inner end of the slit240, even if the abutment10is used for a longer period of time, the stability of the implant can be ensured so that the fatigue does not relatively increase.

That is, the expansion hole241has an improved structure provided by maximally supplementing the disadvantages of the thin and long incised slit240, so the expansion hole ensures the overall durability of the implant as well as the abutment10and serves to sufficiently strengthen the occlusal force and stress dispersion function.

FIG.5is a conceptual view illustrating a structure in which a reinforcement film is coupled to the slit ofFIG.4.

As can be seen fromFIG.5, it is possible that a reinforcement film250is additionally fitted to the above-described slit240in order to enhance a buffering action against external force.

The reinforcement film250takes a structure in which the longitudinal section shape extends in a U shape. In other words, since the slit240has a three-dimensional hexahedron or cylindrical shape, the reinforcement film250means that the upper portion has an open reverse dome or cup shape.

The reinforcement film250is made of a human-friendly elastic material, for example, silicon, and more preferably, a biocompatible material such as polydionaxone (PDO), PLLA, and PCL that may be absorbed by the human body, and therefore, even if a small amount of reinforcement film250is escaped or separated from the slit240, it is possible that the reinforcement film250may be spit out by the user or dissolved in the body unconsciously.

As described above, the reinforcement film250maximizes the elasticity of the reinforcement film250when a small amount of elasticity is applied to the surrounding area by the slit240, and when the slit240shrinks or condenses in a small amount, the external force may be absorbed by the elasticity of the reinforcement film250.

In particular, since the reinforcement film250is not made of a single block or film but takes a U-shaped longitudinal section shape, that is, a structure in which the inlet side of the slit240is open, a lower end of the reinforcement film250acts like a hinge, and both ends of the reinforcement film250may rotate in small amounts, so that the external force concentrated on the inner end (lower portion) of the slit240may be efficiently distributed toward the upper portion of the slit240.

Furthermore, both ends of the reinforcement film250are bent and extend to the upper area of the connector200around the inlet of the slit240, and an expansion part251can be formed between cracks252formed at regular intervals along the extension direction of the slit240.

That is, as described above, since the reinforcement film250does not have a flat surface but has a three-dimensional shape extending along the inner circumferential surface of the slit240, when a portion exposed to the outside of the slit240is simply folded, the exposed portion is not folded, For this reason, the cracks252are formed at regular intervals, and the fragments divided based on the cracks252can be folded to contact the upper surface of the connector200, and the folded portion is called an extension portion251. Through these cracks252, the overall shape of the expansion part251may maintain a ring shape more stably, thereby ensuring a close contact relationship with the artificial tooth1.

An upper surface of the expansion part251may be recessed with a certain depth and shape in order to enhance adhesion with the artificial tooth1. That is, since the lower portion of the artificial tooth1has a round three-dimensional shape, the seating groove may also be round correspondingly, that is, rounded, and recessed.

In the partially enlarged view ofFIG.5, in the expansion part251divided into five parts based on the crack252, a partial area or all area of the upper surface is designed according to a contact portion of the artificial tooth1, so the shape of the seating groove may be determined to fit the shape of the artificial tooth1.

In summary, the extension portion251and the seating groove formed on the upper surface thereof serve to safely support the artificial tooth1and ensure a close contact relationship between the artificial tooth1and the extension portion251, thereby more smoothly performing the basic function of the reinforcement film250, and the expansion portion251primarily absorbs and processes the coupling force or the occlusal force generated by the artificial tooth1to provide characteristics capable of pursuing the structural stability of the abutment10as well as the connector200.

FIG.6is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure in which the abutment of the present invention further includes a cap.

In the abutment10of the present invention illustrated inFIGS.2to5, the coupling structure of the base100and the connector200has been described. Here, it is possible that the cap300is additionally coupled.

As can be seen fromFIG.6, the cap300is coupled to the upper portion of the connector200including the head210and the body220. In this case, the upper portion or entire of the area of the screw hole230formed in the head210may be provided with the screw thread.

The cap300has a structure coupled to the screw hole230of the head210and exposed to the upper portion of the head210. In this case, at least the upper area of the screw hole230and the outer circumferential surface of the cap300are provided with the screw thread, so the connector200can be threaded with the screw hole230of the head210.

The inside of the cap300is sealed and may serve as a lid for sealing the upper portion of the abutment10, in detail, the upper portion of the connector200.

There may be various methods for mounting the connector200including the cap300on the base100or the like. However, after the base100and the fixture2are coupled via the screw400, it is preferable to go through a process of accommodating the connector200in the coupling hole130of the base100and then accommodating and coupling the cap300to the screw hole230of the connector200.

Like the connector200, the cap300may be configured to include a cap head310and a cap body320. The screw thread is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cap body320, and when the cap300is coupled to the connector200, the cap head310is exposed to the upper portion of the connector200and serves to increase the bonding area with the artificial tooth1.

Such a cap300provides the convenience of being conveniently manufactured as a prefabricated assembly when it is difficult to manufacture to increase the height of the abutment10(or dual abutment) composed of a single body, as well as may increase the bonding area with the artificial tooth1to pursue a strong and stable coupling structure between the artificial tooth1and the abutment10.

Furthermore, in order to increase the coupling area with the artificial tooth1and prevent the artificial tooth1from escaping upward, as described above, in the state in which the head taper surface211in which the outer circumferential surface of the head210is tapered to be wide at the upper portion and narrow at the lower portion to correspond to the tapered surface121of the upper coupling portion120is formed, the outer circumferential surface of the cap300may be formed with the cap taper surface340that is tapered to be wide at the upper portion and narrow at the lower portion to be symmetrical (x-axis symmetry, which is an imaginary horizontal line) to the inclination angle of the head taper surface211.

According to this structure, since the head210and the cap300of the connector200take a shape similar to that of a “ribbon” rotated 90°, the coupling area with the artificial tooth1increases as well as the problem of the artificial tooth1escaping in the upward direction is completely prevented due to the reverse taper structure of the cap300(inclination to spread upward), so it is possible to increase the occlusal force with the artificial tooth1.

As described so far, the configuration and operation of the abutment for implant including the connector for reducing the diameter of the screw hole according to the present invention are described and illustrated in the above description and drawings, but this is only an example. Therefore, it goes without saying that the configuration and operation of the abutment for implant can be variously changed and modified without deviating from the technical spirit of the present invention.