Method and apparatus for bending a guide post used in forming a template for locating a dental implant hole

An apparatus and method for bending a guide post used in forming a template for locating dental implant hole. The guide post includes at least one face on a distal end for registering the orientation of the guide post. The apparatus includes a base plate having protractor-like indicia, a supporting block attached to the base plate, the supporting block having an aperture for receiving a distal end of the guide post, and a stylus received by a proximal end of the guide post, the stylus extending towards the protractor-like indicia.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bending tool for a guide post used to form a template for locating a dental implant hole (osteotomy) in a patient's jawbone and methods related thereto.

2. Description of Related Art

To determine the appropriate location for drilling a hole in a patient's jawbone to insert an endosteal root form implant in a patient's mandible or maxilla, a dentist or oral surgeon typically creates a dental cast of the patient's jaw and creates a template from the cast to guide the drill when performing an osteotomy.

More specifically, a dental cast impression of a patient's mandible and/or maxilla, including the edentulous space is created. A hole is drilled into the dental cast approximately in the location and orientation of the hole corresponding to a desired location of the dental implant osteotomy is estimated. Then a guide post is inserted into the hole and a sleeve is attached to the guide post. A template-forming molding material is applied to a portion of the dental cast and to a portion of an outer surface of the sleeve and allowed to cure. Once cured, the template is removed from the dental cast and placed in the patient's jaw in order to guide a drill for planning the endosteal root form implant.

A problem, however, is that the location and orientation of the osteotomy may need to be adjusted to correctly align the osteotomy with the alveolar bone and other anatomic structures, such as the roots of the adjacent teeth nerves, and sinuses. It is important to accurately locate the osteotomy in the jawbone so that the implant is sufficiently anchored in the bone structure.

It is known in dental surgery to make a dental cast impression of the patient's mandible and/or maxilla in order to design or select the appropriate prosthetic device. Moreover, it is known to use the diagnostic tooth set-up or wax-up on a cast to determine a desirable tooth position in the final restoration. In locating and creating the hole for a dental implant, however, the most commonly used methods involve estimating the appropriate position of the implant, drilling a hole in a dental cast at an estimated location and orientation to form a template and drilling an osteotomy in a patient's jaw at the same location and orientation.

What is needed then is a method and apparatus for accurately, inexpensively, and conveniently locating an osteotomy for an endosteal root form implant in the mandible and/or maxilla of a patient using a template having an accurately aligned sleeve.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method for orienting an implant osteotomy in the mandible and/or maxilla of a patient.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for accurately bending a guide post to create a template for locating one or more dental implant osteotomies in a patient's mandible and/or maxilla.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a template for accurately locating a dental implant osteotomy in a patient's mandible and/or maxilla.

In accordance with the foregoing, an embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus for bending a guide post used in forming a template for locating dental implant hole, the guide post having at least one face on a distal end for registering the orientation of the guide post, comprising a base plate having protractor-like indicia, a supporting block attached to the base plate, the supporting block having an aperture for receiving a distal end of the guide post, and a stylus received by a proximal end of the guide post, the stylus extending towards the protractor-like indicia.

Another embodiment of the invention includes a method for making a template for locating a dental implant osteotomy in a patient's mandible or maxilla. The method comprises forming a dental cast of the patient's mandible or maxilla including the edentulous space and drilling a hole into the dental cast for receiving a guide post wherein the location of the hole corresponds to an approximate location of the dental implant osteotomy. A first template is formed, including a sleeve attached to molding material. A first and second x-ray image of the patient's mouth with the first template is taken wherein a virtual implant is moved to overlay the sleeve in the first and second x-ray images. The virtual implant is positioned in the desired location of the prosthetic tooth on the first and second images, taking into consideration the bone structure and other anatomic structures, such as the roots of the adjacent teeth, nerves and sinuses, which must be avoided. A longitudinal axis of the virtual implant and a longitudinal axis of the sleeve are determined. Then, an angle between the longitudinal axis of the virtual implant and the longitudinal axis of the sleeve is measured. The guide post is then bent at the measured off-axis angle and the bent guide post is then inserted into the hole in the dental cast. The sleeve is attached to the guide post and a template-forming, molding material is applied to a portion of the dental cast and to a portion of an outer surface of the sleeve to form a second template that is used in the patient's mouth to perform the actual osteotomy at the new desired position.

The method thus described is not limited to the location of a single implant osteotomy, but the technique applies equally to locating more than one implant osteotomy in one or more edentulous spaces in a patient's mouth.

The invention will now be described in detail in terms of the drawings and the description which follow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that the use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element.

Referring now to the figures,FIG. 1is a perspective view of a dental cast impression100of a patient's mandible or maxilla jawbone having an edentulous space102where at least one tooth has been lost and is to be replaced by an endosteal root form implant. In addition to the edentulous space102, the dental cast impression100includes the adjacent regions including the lingual surface of a tooth adjacent one side of the edentulous space wherein the implant will be located and/or an occlusal surface of a tooth adjacent one side of the edentulous space where the implant will be located, and is typically made in alginate and poured up, preferably, in cast stone or plaster. Cast stone is preferred over die stone because the relatively softer cast stone permits the drill bit for making the implant guide hole in the dental cast100, as will be more fully described below.

An appropriate position of the dental implant is estimated and a hole104is drilled into the cast100with a drill bit. To estimate the appropriate position of the dental implant, the optimum location of the prosthetic implant is evaluated, in part, on the height and orientation of the adjacent and opposing teeth, the spacing between the edentulous space102, and the height and width of the patient's bone. Preferably, the hole104is made with a standard, inexpensive, 3/32″ diameter drill bit which conveniently fits in a dental laboratory handpiece. The depth of the hole104is preferably at least 10 mm deep. The drill bit is removed, leaving the hole104in the cast that captures the proposed longitudinal axis of the proposed osteotomy. A cylindrical, straight guide post108is inserted into the hole104in the cast. The guide post108includes an upper shaft at the proximal end110and a lower shaft at the distal end112. The distal end112may include one or more, preferably four flat surfaces114,116,118, and120, at 90 degree angles, that is, 90, 180, 270 and 360 degrees, representing the mesial, distal, buccal and lingual/palatal surfaces, respectively, of the proposed tooth implant. One of the four flat face surfaces114,116,118, or120of the distal end112of the guide post108includes an indicator122for registering the orientation of the guide post108. For example, inFIG. 1, the medial portion124of the guide post108includes a depression aligned in the center of one of the four flat surfaces of the guide post, for instance the buccal surface118. Although a depression is shown, it should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art, that other types of indicators can be used, including but not limited to, engraved markings, paint markings, and ink markings.

As shown inFIG. 3, an offset guide post109may be used, which includes a distal end113offset from the proximal end111of the guide post109.

A guide sleeve126is placed over the guide post108or109to serve as a diagnostic guide for the drill and eventual creation of the hole that will be prepared in the patient's mandible or maxilla to place the implant. The guide sleeve126can be an open guide sleeve127that has a longitudinal gap125or it can be a closed guide sleeve, without a longitudinal gap (not shown), depending on whether there is enough space in a patient's mouth to insert a drill through the top of the guide sleeve126. The evaluation of the position of the guide sleeve126in the template in relation to the underlying bone can be determined with a 3D X-Ray device, for example, a Galileos manufactured by Sirona. The correction of the longitudinal axis of the guide sleeve126often requires altering the angle of the surgical guide sleeve126in one or two planes or maintaining the same angles and bodily moving the position of the guide sleeve126a distance in any two planes or four directions, that is, mesial (forward), distal (back), buccal (side) or lingual/palatal (side).

More specifically, as shown inFIG. 3, a dental cast of the patient's mandible or maxilla including the edentulous space is formed according to step200. Then a hole is drilled into the dental cast for receiving a guide post wherein the location of the hole corresponds to a desired location of the dental implant osteotomy as set forth in step202. According to step204, a first template150having a sleeve attached to cured molding material is formed. Then, as indicated in step206, a first and second x-ray image of the patient's jaw is taken with the first template. That is, a CAT scan (computer axial tomography) image or cone beam x-ray image is taken and the images from the x-rays are used to calculate any changes that need to be made in the position or angle of the guide sleeve.

More specifically, according to step208, a virtual implant is overlaid on the sleeve in the first and second x-ray images and it is determined whether the sleeve is in the optimal position209such that the virtual implant will be in the desired location if the first template is used. If the sleeve aligns with the desired location of the virtual implant, the first template can be used according to step210. If the virtual implant is not in the desired location when aligned with the sleeve, the virtual implant is positioned in the optimal location. The optimal location and alignment of the guide sleeve is determined based on the space of the alveolar bone and other anatomic structures such as the roofs of the adjacent teeth, nerves and sinuses. According to step212, a longitudinal axis of the virtual implant and of the sleeve is determined using Galaxis, Sirona software. The position and alignment of the guide sleeve are viewed in two dimensions, bucco-lingually, in a tangential slice and mesio-distally in a saggittal slice. If the longitudinal axis of the virtual implant does not correspond with the optimal position of the implant, the longitudinal axis of the virtual implant is changed so that the virtual implant is in the optimal position. Using the software, two lines are established: the first line indicates the central longitudinal axis of the virtual implant and the second line indicates the central longitudinal axis of the sleeve. The intersection of these two lines form an angle that can be measured in the first x-ray image taken in the saggital plane using the angle tool of the Galaxis software according to step214. The angle is also measured in the second x-ray image taken in the tangential plane as set forth in step216. This angle indicates the change needed to be made to the position of the guide sleeve to correctly place the dental implant. That is, the angle indicates the amount the guide post needs to be bent off-axis to form a template having a sleeve in the correct orientation. Alternatively, two x-ray images, one taken in the saggital plane and the other taken in the tangential plane, can be printed and the angle formed by the first and second line can be measured by superimposing a protractor over the angle. After the guide post is bent according to the measured off-axis angle, as set forth in step218, the bent guide post is inserted into the hole104of the dental cast100and a sleeve126is attached to the guide post108according to steps220. Then a template-forming molding material128is applied to a portion of the dental cast100and to a portion of an outer surface of the sleeve and portions of the dental cast to remake template, according to step222.

To bend the guide post, a bending tool apparatus300can be used as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. The bending tool300receives the guide post108or109and allows the guide post108or109to be bent to a desired angle. More specifically, the bending tool300includes a base plate304and a supporting block306attached to the base plate304. The supporting block306is attached to the base plate304via pins or similar attachment means and includes two receiving apertures308,309. The supporting block306also includes two v-shaped slots310to accommodate the edge of the stylus316when the stylus316is bent to the right or to the left as described in more detail below. The receiving apertures308,309are sized to receive the guide post108or109and are preferably 3/32″ in diameter, although other diameter sizes of guide posts and corresponding receiving apertures are contemplated. The guide post108or109is inserted into the first receiving aperture308most proximate the base plate304and is locked into the aperture308by a lock312, such as the central thumb screw as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. The base plate304also includes a first protractor-like indicia314positioned near the terminal end318of the base plate304A stylus316includes an at least partially hollow end320that is sized to correspond to the diameter of the guide post108or109and that engages the proximal end110of the guide post108or109. The stylus316also includes a medial portion390and a second end322that aligns with the first protractor-like indicia314for bending the guide post108or109. The stylus316also includes a second end322that aligns with the first protractor-like indicia314for bending the guide post108or109through the offaxis angle. Preferably, the second end of the stylus316is at least partially pointed to provide a more accurate measurement.

If the x-ray of the first template indicates that the off-axis angle of the guide sleeve126must be corrected in two planes, the guide post108or109must be bent in two planes, for example, bucca-lingually and mesio-distally. Thus, the guide post108or109, having an indicator122on the front face surface of the guide post108or109is placed in the supporting block306by inserting it into the aperture308and locking into place with lock312. The first bend is made by placing the stylus316over the guide post108or109and pushing the stylus316to the right or to the left. After the first bend is completed, the lock312is released and the guide post108or109is rotated 90 degrees. The guide post is then placed in the aperture308and the lock312is tightened again. If the guide post is offset, for example, as shown inFIG. 3, the other aperture309, which is farther away from the surface of the base plate304, is used. When the guidepost is rotated 90° to made the second bend after the first bend is completed, the position of the stylus316moves away from the surface of the base plate304. To make the second bend at 90° from the first bend, therefore, a support bar324is slid down the base plate304via lateral set screws326that slideably engage grooves328along the perimeter edges of the base plate304. The support bar324is slid until it contacts the stylus316. The lateral set screws326are tightened against the grooves328in the base plate304to lock the support bar324into a desired position. In addition, a second protractor device330is placed on the base plate304and over the supporting block306such that the protractor330is overlying the surface of the stylus316. The angle of the second bend is read from this protractor device330. A second protractor device330is needed because the first bend prohibits accurate readings using the first protractor-like indicia314since the guide post108or109will not lay flat against the base plate304after the first bend is made. The protractor330is temporarily secured in position by pins and/or the lock312on the supporting block306, which pins protrude through two holes in the protractor. However, it should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that other means can be used to secure the protractor device330to the supporting block306and these modifications are indented to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. The stylus316is placed over the guide post108or109and rotated to the right or left to make the second bend which is in a plane 90° from the first bend. The corrected guide post108or109is placed back in the dental cast100with the indicator122position toward the buccal surface. A guide sleeve126is now placed over the corrected and accurate guide post108or109position and a second surgical template is made. The second protractor may include ruler-like indicia332, for example markings to indicate millimeters, that are used for measuring the offset when an offset guide post109as shown inFIG. 3is required.

There has thus been described an apparatus for bending a guide post used in forming a template for locating a dental implant hole and a method relating thereto. Those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications may be made in the apparatus and method described herein without departing form the true spirit and scope of the invention which accordingly are indented to be limited solely by the appended claims.