A DENTAL IMPLANT SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR ITS MANUFACTURE

Abstract: The invention relates to a dental implant system and a method for its manufacture. According to the invention, an intermediate component (2) (i.e. the mesio structure), which comprises a bar (3) for attaching the prosthesis, is attached by flush fitting directly on top of the implant screws (6).

Description: A dental implant system and a method for its manufacture The present invention relates to a dental implant system and a method for its manufacture. More precisely, the invention concerns a system, by means of which a highly permanent and precise removable prosthesis can be created, especially for a patient's mandible. Implant treatment, as such, has been known for decades. In general, an implant refers to a screw or cylinder permanently set in a hole drilled in the patient's mandible or maxilla, which can support various prosthetic structures. The screw or cylinder is nearly always made from titanium. When it is wished to construct a removable full mandible prosthesis on implants, it has usually been carried out until now by first of all setting the implant screws in place in the mandible. Once the screws have become firmly osteointegrated (i.e. ossified) in the mandible, extensions penetrating the gum (mucous membrane inserts) are screwed into them. Attachment is by means of the conical upper surface of the implant fitting a conical counter surface in the extension. However, implants are also used, in which there is a shoulder joint surface and a corresponding shoulder joint surface in the extension. Implants are also used, which themselves penetrate the gum (i.e. gingiva). A bar is constructed on the part above the gum and the prosthesis is attached by suitable means, such as a snap-fastener (riders) or attachments. This is only an approximate description of the procedure, because in practice modern systems contain tens, if not hundreds of different parts. Though these are naturally intended to create an optimal solution for each case, the large number of parts is a nuisance to both the manufacturer and the dentist. Another serious drawback of the known structures is the difficulty of creating a good fit between the adjustment surfaces described above. In itself, it is easy to create a good fit using conical or shoulder connection surfaces, but if the same assembly contains several joints formed by conical connection surfaces, adjustment becomes extremely difficult. Conical connection surfaces are very difficult, as it is awkward to create a good fit in more than one joint between a screw and an extension and then between the extension and the bar. Thus, in known systems, a great deal of attention must be paid to the parallelism of the implants. Another problem with conical fitting joints is that because certain movement tolerances are used relative to the parts to be joined, known systems often have connections in which steps are formed in the connection surface. Such steps form areas in the prosthetic system that irritate tissue and induce bacterial growth. This invention is intended to avoid these detriments in the state of the art and to create an implant system and method for its manufacture, with certain and precise fitting between the parts of the implant system, and which also ensures installation in relation to the occlusion lines in a way that guarantees maximum durability. The above and other advantages and benefits of the invention derive from a system and method with the characteristics stated in the accompanying claims. The invention is next described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic general horizontal view of a bar located in the mandible supported on implants, on which in turn the mandible prosthesis is set; Figure 2 also shows a diagram of a front (i.e. frontal) view of an implant system manufactured according to the invention, also showing the outline of the mandible; Figure 3 also shows a diagram of a side (i.e. sagital) view of an implant system manufactured according to the invention, also showing the outline of the mandible; Figure 4 shows the parts of the system according to the invention separated from each other, in a position in which they can be attached to each other; Figure 5 shows the stages in the method that ensures the compatibility of the implants and the related structures. Thus, Figure 1 shows a rough diagram of a patient's mandible, seen from directly above, in a situation in which the ready system (without the actual prostheses) is attached to the patient's mandible 1. Thus, the diagram shows, in the area above the patient's gum, the metal support 2, which consists of a bar component 3, to which the actual prosthesis is attached, for example, by means of riders ( "snap-fasteners"), and a extension 4, which becomes a vertical component and which is penetrated by attachment screw 5. Screw 5 attaches the structure to the implants, which have been attached to the mandible in a previous stage. Figure 2 also shows a rough diagram of the structure in Figure 1 in a front view and Figure 3 in a side view. Mandible 1 is articulated to the base of the skull by two condyles. Holes are drilled in the mandible, in which the actual implants 6, made from specially treated titanium, are set. The implants 6 are allowed to embed in the bone tissue for a suitable period of time. A metal support section 2, which includes the bar 3 and the extensions 4 which penetrate the gum, is supported by the implants 6 and fitted tightly to them. The prosthesis is attached to bar 3 and is supported for part of its length by the mucous membrane of the patient' s mandible. It should be noted that if the attachment bar, viewed from above and from the side, is set between the implants in parallel with the line between the joints, and if the masticatory force (arrow in Figure 3), when viewed from the side, is directed through the centre point of the implantation, as is shown in Figure 3 by horizontal and vertical broken lines, the structure will be affected by the minimum possible detrimental stresses. Figure 4 shows the components of the implant system according to the invention ready for installation, seen diagrammatically from directly in front. At its simplest, the system comprises three different components; firstly the implant screws 6, secondly the support component 2, which is supported by and attached to them and which includes the extensions 4 and bar 3 for attaching the prosthesis, and thirdly the precisely adjustable screw 5, which is intended on the one hand to adjust parts 2 and 6 very precisely to each other, and on the other hand to secure the aforesaid components to each other. There are two points that should be noted about the above structure. The first is that the connection of the implant screws 6 and component 2 to each other is by means of a flush fit and not a conical or shoulder connection. The second is that component 2 is supported by means of the extensions 4 directly on the implant screws beneath the surface of the gum at the level of the bone. Thus a system according to the invention has only a few components, compared to the multitude of parts in previous systems. The system according to the invention would not be possible, unless there was a method permitting the system described to be made in a manner allowing the parts to be fitted to each other with extreme precision. Next, a method will be described, by means of which the aforementioned extremely advantageous structure can be created. In practice there may be a certain, quite large angle between the implant screws in the mandible. In particular, it may be advantageous to set the implant screws in a certain fan-shaped way. In that case, for example, the implant screws which are in front will be slightly sloping to the front, while the rear screws will be slightly sloping to the back. In this way an extremely advantageous situation is achieved in the ability to bear masticatory forces. The achievement of the above described fan-shaped installation, or an installation which in any case differs from a parallel installation system, has caused great difficulties in the application of structures on the bone level that are supported by implants. Now, the installation of implant screws or cylinders can be performed so that the physical properties of the mandible, especially the quantity of bone, can be taken into account to achieve the optimal end result. Figure 5 shows diagrammatically a method by which it is possible to guarantee the above-described optimal conditions in all situations. After a healing period the position of the implants is duplicated using standard methods known in dentistry, and a working model is produced in which precisely fitted screws 7 are screwed into the screws 6' of the working model corresponding to the implants, of which, although only two are shown in Figure 5, there may be many. Extremely precisely fitted collars 8 are also slipped over the screws 7 so as to be tightly fitted not only against screws 7 but also against the upper surface of screws 6' which correspond to the position of the implants. The whole assembly is thus completely linear. The relationship between screws 7 and collars 8 is therefore telescopic-like. The collars 8 are supported by screws 7, but nevertheless can freely slide up and down them. On the other hand, the collars 8 are advantageously equipped with a shoulder structure on the end facing the screws 6', with the help of which the screws 7 tighten the collars against the screws 6'. Transverse bar 9, which locks collars 8 to each other in precisely the position in which they are at the time, is now attached in a suitable manner to the collars 8 in the area above the gum in the working model. Obviously, if there are, for example, four screws corresponding to implants, the transverse bar 9 is attached to every collar 8 of the securing screws 7. It is advantageous to use a plastic material for the collars and bar, so that it is easy to attach the collars 8 and the bar 9 to each other in the desired way. It is then also possible, for example, to use heat to form bar 9 to the desired shape, which then acts as a model for casting. Once bar 9 has been attached to the collars 8, and the mutual locations and orientations of the components has been thus ensured, the screws 7 are unscrewed from the working model's screws corresponding to the implants, whence the total structure formed by 8 and 9 can be lifted out and used to manufacture a casting mould, using routine methods of dentistry; i.e. a mould is made on top of components 8 and 9, from which the plastic material is removed by heating, and the resulting cavity is used as a casting mould. It is obvious that the cast piece must be suitably finished after casting. The final result is a cast piece consisting of support component 2, which fits perfectly the upper surface of the implant screws in the mandible, in relation to both the direction of the surfaces and the dimensions of the parts. This support component 2 is then screwed to the implant screws 6 by means of screws 5 and the mandible prosthesis is attached to bar 3. The components according to the invention are always made from biocompatible metals and alloys approved by dentistry. The surface of implant screw 6 is of specially treated titanium. The materials used for support component 2 can be titanium or gold or chrome-cobalt alloys. It is clear that the invention can be adapted in many ways, while nevertheless remaining within the scope of the inventive idea and the accompanying claims. Thus, for example, after the installation of the implant screws, so-called primary healing screws can be used to create a beneficial effect on the edge of the bone. Similarly, secondary healing screws can be used to create a similar effect on the gum. It is also clear that during the operations needed for making the structures referred to above, normal changes in dimensions occur. The experts in this field, however, have learned to handle this kind of changes very well and routine procedures are also used when adapting this invention into practice. Although the foregoing describes, as an embodiment of the invention, only a support for the mandible prosthesis, it is self-evident that the invention can be applied equally well to any such use whatsoever in which at least two implant screws are employed. For example, various bridge constructions can be made from this kind of support.

Claims: Claims 1. A dental implant system including at least two support points for the purpose of attaching, for example, a mandible prosthesis, and containing implant screws (6) attached to the mandible (1) and a screw-attached bar (3) supported by them for securing and supporting the prosthesis, characterized in that the bar (3) is part of a support component (2) that is directly supported, without intermediate pieces and with flush fitting by virtue of support extensions (4) parallel to the implant screws and uniform with the support component (2), on the implant screws (6) attached to the mandible by means of a joint beneath the surface of the gum. 2. A system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the outer dimensions of the support extensions (4) correspond exactly to the outer dimensions of the implant screws. 3. A system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the line of the bar (3) corresponds in orientation to the line between the joints of the mandible. 4. A system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the support component (2) between the implants, when seen from above and in front, is set parallel to the line between the mandibular condyles and, when seen from the side, is set in such a way that the masticatory force acts through the centre point of the implant. 5. A method for manufacturing a dental implant system, particularly for attaching a prosthesis to the mandible, including the attachment of implant screws (6) to the mandible (1) and using them to support a screw-secured bar (3), for example, for the attachment and support of a prosthesis, so that a working model is first manufactured using routine procedures, characterized in that - precisely fitting screws (7) are attached to the working model screws (6') that correspond to the implant screws, - precisely fitting telescopic-like collars (8) are set on top of the screws (7) and also fit flush with the head of the screws (6'), - the collars (8) are attached to each other by means of a transverse bar (9) in the area above the gum, which completely locks the collars (8) into position, and - a combination of the detached collars (8) and bar (9) is used to make a casting mould for the support component (2) containing the bar (3), which penetrates the gums and is supported with flush fitting on the upper surfaces of the implant screws. 6. A method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the collars (8) and the bar (9) are manufactured from a plastic material, which can be removed by heating from within the casting mould formed.

Inventors: LUOTIO KARI, LUOTIO, KARI
Applicants: LUOTIO KARI, LUOTIO, KARI
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61C8
IPC codes: A61C8