Dental implant

A dental implant comprises an elongated body and a supporting ring each with a concave surfaces which cooperate to secure a shock force dampening member so as to simulate natural tooth movement. The components of the implant are tensioned together in the presence and absence of chewing forces to prevent foreign particle invasion between and into the components of the implant. Optionally, an adhesive bonds the elongated body and the supporting ring to the shock force dampening member further preventing foreign particle invasion between and into the components of the implant. The implant is secured to the jaw bone by a socket or the like.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to a dental implant utilizing a single shock force 
dampening member to dampen chewing forces, and more particularly, to an 
implant which greatly reduces the chances of foreign particle invasion 
between the components which make up the implant. 
RELATED APPLICATION 
This application is an improvement over the implant disclosed in Korean 
Patent Application No. 90-10696, filed July 14, 1990, entitled "DENTAL 
IMPLANT" and the equivalent U.S. patent application Ser. No. 574,486, 
filed Aug. 28, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,068 (hereinafter referred to 
an "prior application"). 
Information Disclosure Statement 
Dental implant systems are designed to mimic the natural tooth's ability to 
deal with the forces encountered in chewing in both tooth movement and 
tooth shock absorbing characteristics. 
Although prior art dental implant systems are intended to simulate the 
action of a natural tooth, the present invention is intended to improve 
dental hygiene by eliminating the probability of contamination due to the 
invasion of foreign materials such as bacteria, foot particles or the 
like, into the implant itself while maintaining a natural toothy like 
response to the chewing forces received in use. In addition the invasion 
of foreign material impairs the mechanical operation of the implant itself 
which further increases the probability of patient discomfort. 
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a dental 
implant which simulates the force dampening effect of a natural tooth. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a dental implant 
which decreases the probability of foreign particle contamination due to 
the invasion of foreign material. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a dental implant 
utilizing a single shock force dampening member to attenuate the forces 
received by the implant during chewing. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a dental implant 
which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. 
The preceding objects should be construed as merely presenting a few of the 
more pertinent features and applications of the invention. Many other 
beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in 
a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the 
disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the 
invention may be had by referring to both the Summary of the Invention and 
the Detailed Description, below, which describe the preferred embodiment 
in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims considered 
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The dental implant of the present invention is defined by the claims with a 
specific embodiment shown in the attached drawings. For the purpose of 
summarizing the invention, the invention relates to a dental implant for 
placement into the jaw bone and comprises an elongated body having an 
upper end and a lower end, with the lower end of the elongated body 
terminating in a concave surface and with a bore extending through the 
elongated body. An artificial tooth securing means, such as a bolt, cement 
or the like, secures the artificial tooth to the upper end of the 
elongated body. A shock force dampening member attenuates shock received 
by the elongated body during use. That is, the dampening member cushions 
the chewing force and conveys the attenuated chewing force through the 
rest of the implant toward the jaw bone where the remaining force is 
absorbed. The dampening member has an aperture formed through it and is 
configured to be received against the concave surface of the elongated 
body. A supporting ring supports the shock dampening member and has an 
upper surface and a lower surface, with the upper surface receiving, in 
use, the shock force dampening member. An opening extends through the 
supporting ring. The bore of the elongated body, the aperture of the shock 
force dampening member and the opening of the supporting ring interconnect 
with each other to form a passageway. Adhesive means bond the concave 
surface of the elongated body and the upper surface of the supporting 
ring, which are in contact with the shock force dampening member, to the 
shock force dampening member. This seals the surfaces of the elongated 
body, the shock force dampening member and the supporting ring to protect 
against the invasion of foreign material between the concave surface of 
the elongated body and the upper surface of the supporting ring which are 
in bonded contact with the shock force dampening member. A jaw bone 
securing means secures the implant in use to the jaw bone. The lower 
surface of the supporting ring is in contact with the jaw bone securing 
means. A passageway securing means, configured to extend in the 
passageway, secures the elongated body, the shock force dampening member 
and the supporting ring to the jaw bone securing means and permits, in 
use, the elongated body to move relative to the jaw bone securing means 
and the passageway securing means. Such movement enables the shock force 
dampening member to attenuate chewing forces generated in use against the 
implant. The passageway securing means also tensions the elongated body, 
the shock force dampening member and the supporting ring against the jaw 
bone securing means to ensure protection against foreign material invasion 
into the implant in the absence of a chewing force. 
Preferably, the shock force dampening member is a donut shaped resilient 
body having a convex surface which matches or fits into the concave 
surfaces of the elongated body and the supporting ring, respectively. In 
the preferred embodiment, the upper surface of the supporting ring is 
concave. 
In the preferred embodiment, the bore of the elongated body further 
includes a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion with the 
first diameter portion of the bore being greater than the second diameter 
portion of the bore. Preferably, the passageway securing means comprises a 
foundation shaft with a first end terminating in a head which has a 
diameter greater than the second diameter portion of the bore to prevent 
the first end of the shaft from passing completely through the bore and 
with a second end being threaded and having a diameter less than the 
second diameter of the bore to permit the second end of the foundation 
shaft to pass into the passageway. The jaw bone securing means is 
preferably a socket secured into the jaw bone with a threaded cavity for 
receiving the threaded second end of the foundation shaft to threadably 
secure and tension the elongated body, the shock force dampening member 
and the supporting ring such that upon the artificial tooth receiving a 
chewing force, the artificial tooth and the elongated body move vertically 
downward relative to the head of the foundation shaft to convey the force 
to the shock force dampening member, the supporting ring and to the 
socket. In the absence of a chewing force being received by the implant, 
the foundation shaft maintains tension on the elongated body, the shock 
force dampening member and the supporting ring against the jaw bone 
securing means to ensure protection against foreign particle invasion 
between the components of the implant. 
The first diameter portion of the bore of the elongated body preferably 
includes threads. The artificial tooth securing means is a bolt with 
external threads to threadably engage the threads of the elongated body to 
secure the artificial tooth to the elongated body. 
The vertical chewing forces are dampened by the shock force dampening 
member, and the lateral forces associated with chewing are dampened by the 
degree of the fit of the foundation shaft into the passageway, especially 
the bore of the elongated body and the opening of the supporting ring. 
The more pertinent and important features of the present invention have 
been outlined above in order that the detailed description of the 
invention which follows will be better understood and that the present 
contribution to the art can be fully appreciated. Additional features of 
the invention described hereinafter form the subject of the claims of the 
invention. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that the conception and 
the specific embodiment disclosed herein may be readily utilized as a 
basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the 
same purposes of the present invention. Further, those skilled in the art 
can realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the 
spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The construction of the implant of the prior application is shown in FIG. 1 
which illustrates the dental implant 10 fixed into the jaw bone 2. The 
elongated body 4 has a first end 6 and a second end 8, with the second end 
having frustum shaped aperture 12 formed therein. 
At the first end 6 of the elongated body 4 a bore 16 is formed having 
internal threads 14. A bolt 20 having external threads 18 threadably 
engages the internal threads 14, so that an artificial tooth 22 can be 
attached at the first end 6 of the elongated body 4. 
In the frustum shaped aperture 12 formed in the elongated body 4 is placed 
a bi-frustum shaped shock force dampening means 24 of resilient rubber 
silicon. The dampening means 24 substantially fills the frustum shaped 
aperture 12. An opening 26 is formed at the center of the dampening means 
24 and extends therethrough. 
A carrier body 30 with a first end 32 and a second end 34 is utilized. The 
carrier body 30 includes a first aperture 36 and a second aperture 38, 
with the second aperture 38 having a smaller diameter than that of the 
first aperture 36. 
A foundation shaft 40 with a first end 42 and a second end 44 is employed. 
The first end 42 of the foundation shaft 40 terminates in a head 46. The 
diameter of the head 46 is smaller than that of the first aperture 36 of 
the carrier body 30 and larger than that of the second aperture 38 of the 
carrier body 30. The diameter of the first end 42 of the foundation shaft 
40 is slightly smaller than that of the second aperture 38 of the carrier 
body to permit the passage of the second end 44 of the foundation shaft 40 
therethrough. The second end 44 of the foundation shaft 40 terminates in a 
jaw bone securing means 48 which fixes the dental implant to the jaw bone 
2. 
A support ring 50 is secured, utilizing a press fit for example, proximate 
the first end 42 of the foundation shaft and is spaced apart relative to 
the second end 34 of the carrier body 30. This structural arrangement 
limits axial movement of the carrier body in the direction 52 toward the 
crown by the head 46, and also limits axial movement of the carrier body 
in the direction 54 toward the jaw bone beyond the supporting ring 50. 
To secure the second end 8 of the elongated body 4 to the first end 32 of 
the carrier body 30, the first aperture 36 formed in the carrier body 
includes internal threads 56 and the second end 8 of the elongated body 4 
includes external threads 58. This enables the external threads 58 of the 
elongated body 4 to be threadably engaged by the internal threads 56 of 
the carrier body 30 to secure the elongated body 4 including the 
artificial tooth 22 to the carrier body 30. 
The vertical chewing forces are dampened by the shock force dampening means 
24, and the lateral forces associated with chewing are dampened by the 
degree of the fit of the foundation shaft 40 into the second aperture 38 
of the carrier body. 
In use, the opening 26 together with the peripheral void 60 between the 
frustum jaw bone securing means 48, the displacement of the piston 
operated tooth assembly 62 with respect to the shock force dampening means 
24 is along its axis of symmetry thereby mirroring natural tooth movement. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the dental implant 200 of the present invention fixed 
into the jaw bone 101. 
The elongated body 103 consists of an upper part 104 and a lower part 106 
with a bore 114 extending therethrough. The inner surface of the bore in 
the upper part 104 of the body 103 includes internal threads 105. The 
lower part 106 of the elongated body terminates in a concave surface 108. 
More specifically, the exterior surface of the lower part 106 of the 
elongated body defines a convex surface 107; whereas, the interior surface 
of the lower part 106 defines a concave surface 108. However, the convex 
shape 107 of the exterior surface of the lower part 106 is not critical. 
The bore 114 of the elongated body preferably includes a first diameter 
portion 114A and a second diameter portion 114B with the first diameter 
portion being greater than the second diameter portion. Where the diameter 
portions 114A, 114B of the bore meet, a shoulder 109 is defined. The head 
of the foundation shaft abuts against the shoulder 109 to limit upward 
movement of the elongated body, shock force dampening member and 
supporting ring. 
The passageway securing means 119 preferably includes the foundation shaft 
120 with a first end 121 terminating in a head 122 having a diameter 122A 
greater than the second diameter portion 114B of the bore 114 to prevent 
the head 122 of the foundation shaft 120 from passing completely through 
the bore. The second end 125 of the foundation shaft 120 is threaded. The 
second end 125 and the main body 123 of the foundation shaft have a 
diameter less than the second diameter portion 114B of the bore to permit 
entrance of these into the passageway. The girth of the foundation shaft 
120, including the head, is a little less than the size of the first and 
second diameter portions of the bore to enable the elongated body to slide 
along a portion of the main body 123 of the foundation shaft 120, as 
illustrated as "a" and "b" in FIG. 2. Also, the dimensions of the 
clearances "a", "b" can be determined to allow lateral movement of the 
artificial tooth 99 and the elongated body 103 against the chewing force 
to further simulate natural tooth movement. 
An alternative passageway securing means comprises the head of the 
foundation shaft abutting against the upper part of the elongated body 
such that the elongated body is placed entirely below the head of the 
foundation shaft. In this arrangement the artificial tooth 99 is secured 
to the external surface of the elongated body. An orifice is formed in the 
bottom of the tooth in order that the tooth is spaced apart from the head 
of the foundation shaft to allow downward movement of the artificial 
tooth, elongated body and the dampening member (compression), i.e., 
intrusion of the head into the orifice. 
The jaw bone securing means 101 is a socket 102, or the like, secured into 
the jaw bone. The socket 102 has a threaded cavity 102A formed therein for 
receiving the threaded 126 second end 125 of the foundation shaft 120. 
Thus, the foundation shaft 120 can be threadably secured into the socket 
to tension the elongated body, the shock force dampening member and the 
supporting ring such that when the artificial tooth receives a chewing 
force, the artificial tooth and the elongated body move vertically 
downward, relative to the head 122 of the foundation shaft 120, to convey 
the force to the shock force dampening member 130 and to the socket. In 
the absence of a chewing force being received by the implant, the 
passageway securing means 119, such as the foundation shaft 120, tensions 
the elongated body, the shock force dampening member and the supporting 
ring against the jaw bone securing means to ensure protection against 
foreign particle invasion between the components of the implant so 
tensioned. 
The artificial tooth securing means 110A secures an artificial tooth 99 to 
the upper part 104 of elongated body 103. The artificial tooth securing 
means includes a bolt 110 having external threads 113 which can be screwed 
into the internal threads 105 formed on the internal surface of the upper 
part 104 of the elongated body 103 to secure the artificial tooth 99 to 
the elongated body 103. A slot 112 for a bladed driver is formed at the 
head 111 of the bolt 110 so that the tooth may be easily adjusted or 
replaced. However, other such artificial tooth securing means include 
other mechanical fasteners and curable polymeric cements or glues. 
The shock force dampening member 130 attenuates the shock received by the 
elongated body during chewing and is configured to be received against the 
concave surface 108 of the elongated body. That is, the shock force 
dampening member acts like a spring which dissipates the chewing force 
upon its compression by such force. Preferably, the shock force dampening 
member 130 is a donut shaped resilient body 130A having a convex surface 
132 which matches the contour of the concave surfaces 108, 143 of the 
elongated body 103 and the supporting ring 140, respectively. The donut 
130A further includes an aperture 131 formed therethrough. the concave 
surfaces of the elongated body and the supporting ring cooperate to keep 
the donut 103A positioned against the foundation shaft by directing the 
chewing force inward toward the foundation shaft thereby pushing the donut 
inward and by providing a physical barrier. The ends of the concave 
surfaces 108, 143 are spaced apart in use from one another to enable the 
dampening member to deform outwardly into this space upon compression due 
to the action of the chewing force. Absent such dampening member 
structure, the dampening member tends to move about or distort outwardly 
which increases the chances for foreign particles to lodge in or between 
the components of the implant during use. Invasion is especially prone to 
occur between the distorted dampening member and the implant components in 
immediate contact with it. Distortion outwardly of the dampening member 
means that the components of the implant are not tensioned equally against 
each other which increases the chances for particle invasion between the 
components of the implant. 
The supporting ring 140 supports the shock dampening member 130 and has an 
upper surface 141 and a lower surface 142. The upper surface 141 is in 
contact with the surface of the shock force dampening member. An opening 
is formed in the supporting ring and extends through the ring. The bore 
114 of the elongated body, the aperture 131 of the shock dampening member 
and the opening 144 of the supporting ring together form a passageway 150. 
Preferably, the upper surface 141 of the supporting ring is concave 143 
and matches the contour of the convex surface 132 of the shock dampening 
member where it contacts the supporting ring. 
The adhesive means 160 bonds together the concave surface of the elongated 
body and the upper surface of the supporting ring which are in contact 
with the shock force dampening member to protect against the invasion of 
foreign material between the concave surface of the elongated body and the 
upper surface of the supporting ring in contact with the shock force 
dampening member. The adhesive means includes adhesives 161, represented 
as thickened lines in FIG. 2, which cure to an elastic adhesion. Such 
adhesives are known in the art, such as epoxy resin. 
The jaw bone securing means secures the implant to the jaw bone. Such means 
are well known in the art, for example a socket 102 (Interpore IMZ) 
manufactured by Interpore International. 
The passageway securing means 119 extends in the passageway and secures the 
elongated body, the shock force dampening member and the supporting ring 
to the jaw bone securing means. The passageway securing means permit in 
use the elongated body to move relative to the jaw bone securing means and 
the passageway securing means. That is, the elongated body 103 is slidably 
positioned on the passageway securing means. the passageway securing means 
enable the shock force dampening member to attenuate chewing forces 
generated against the implant and transmitted to the shock force dampening 
member. Moreover, the passageway securing means tensions the elongated 
body, the shock force dampening member and the supporting ring against the 
jaw bone securing means to ensure protection against foreign material 
invasion into the implant in the absence of a chewing force. Thus, both 
the tensioning by the passageway securing means and the adhesive means act 
to prevent the invasion of foreign material, such as food particles and 
the like, into and between the elements which comprise the implant. 
Optionally, opposite the shock dampening member 130, a notch 124 can be 
formed on the surface of the main body 123 of the foundation shaft 120 to 
receive the donut 130A when it is deformed during use, i.e. when the 
implant is tensioned by the chewing forces. Also, deformation spaces "A" 
and "B" can be provided when constructing the donut shaped 130A dampening 
member 130. These spaces provide room for the donut to occupy during the 
application of chewing forces. 
The donut 130A is preferably composed of silicon rubber of a similar 
resilient composition. However, the composition of the shock force 
dampening member should be oil resistant, physiologically inert, stable at 
high and low temperatures and flexible at low temperature. The shape can 
be easily obtained by molding. 
The lower surface 142 of the supporting ring 140 is a horizontal surface to 
correspond to the upper surface of the jaw bone securing means 101. 
A description of the process of assembly of the dental implant of the 
present invention follows. 
First of all, the foundation shaft 120 is inserted into the bore of the 
elongated body 103. The head 122 of the foundation shaft 120 contacts the 
shoulder 109 of the elongated body 103 thereby obstructing further 
passage. The concave surfaces of the elongated body and the supporting 
ring and at least part of the convex surface of the shock force dampening 
member are coated with an adhesive. The foundation shaft 120 then is 
passed through the aperture of the shock force dampening member 130 and 
through the opening of the supporting ring 140 and into the threaded 
cavity of the socket. The foundation shaft 120 is then screwed into the 
socket by utilizing a bladed driver, or the like, in the slot 122A on the 
head 122 of the foundation shaft 120. The degree of tension on the shock 
force dampening member 130 can be adjusted by the number of turns of the 
foundation shaft. The shock force dampening member is constructed and 
positioned between the elongated body and the supporting ring which are 
tensioned together by turning the foundation shaft such that under a 
no-load condition the dampening member either almost protrudes or just 
slightly protrudes from a line "C" interconnecting the elongated body and 
the supporting ring as illustrated at FIG. 2. This side in preventing the 
invasion of particles of food during chewing into and between the 
components of the implant. 
After the assembling the implant as described above, the bolt 110, via the 
external threads 113, is screwed into the internal threads 105 of the 
upper part 104 of the elongated body 103 to attach the artificial tooth 
assembly 100 to the of the implant. 
In consideration of the degree of the maximum compressed displacement of 
the shock force dampening member 130, the spacing "L" between the upper 
and surface of the head 122 of the foundation shaft 120 and the lower 
surface of the bolt 110 can be determined in advance. The precise size of 
the foundation shaft 120 and the supporting ring 140 is determined in 
accordance with the size of the existing natural teeth of the patient to 
whom the dental implant is to be applied to match the natural teeth. This 
provides an advantage in that the height of the tooth can be easily 
attained by merely providing different sized shock force dampening 
members. 
It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that there is difference in 
the chewing force exerted depending on the patient. Thus, it is preferable 
that the shock force dampening member 130 be designed to meet the 
requirements of the natural tooth of a patient by adjusting the material 
and the size of the dampening member 130. 
The present invention as described above has the effect that it can meet 
the requirements of the natural tooth and also prevent the invasion of 
foreign materials by the sealed condition of each component due to the 
tensioning of the components and the use of an adhesive on the shock force 
dampening member, as described above. 
Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a 
certain degree of particularity, it is appreciated by those skilled in the 
art that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only 
by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of the 
construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.