DENTAL IMPLANT SYSTEM

Abstract: The present invention relates to a newly invented dental implant system to provide an implant and an abutment fixed on having an excellent fixing ability against the outer force, and contains: an implant inserted into dental alveolar bone and, an abutment combined with the above implant and sustains artificial tooth on it; and comprises a post elongated from the above implant and connected with a socket of the body of the above abutment, and anchoring part provided on the surface of the above body of the abutment to anchor with the dental alveolar ridge bone. The post of implant is formed with the implant as a unit and can be made as a separated member with the implant, connects the implant and the abutment. The implant is possibly laid vertically and horizontally and this provides three dimensional dental implant system relative to the dental alveolar bone according to this invention. With the above technique according to this invention, implant system can be adopted to alveolar ridge bone even if the height and size are not enough to operate.

Description: DENTAL IMPLANT SYSTEM Technical Field The present invention relates to a dental implant system, and particularly to an osseointegrated dental implant system. Background Art The concept of the dental implant system is well known in the arts. Various implant systems have been proposed, though dental implant system itself has relatively simple concept, which is constructed by embedding an implant to the alveolar bone to be osseointegrated therewith, then coupling the abutment for supporting an artificial tooth to the implant, all of these implant systems, however, can be roughly divided into only two types, screw type and non-screw type. The system shown in FIGURE 1A is a screw type system which had been firstly proposed and widely used up to now, and entitled US Patent No. 4,330,891, 4,763,788, 4,824,372, 5,064,375, 5,064,425, 5,069,622, 5,080,589, 5,098,293, 5, 125,841, 5, 145,371, 5,154,612, 5,269,685, for example, and is now being sold in trade name of Branemark system. As shown in the drawing, the system includes an implant(Il) having self tapping screw(Fl) formed on circumference thereof, for being inserted to and osseointegrated with the alveolar bone(S); an abutment(Al) for being secured to the implant(Il) by an abutment screw(Nl) threadly-fit to the implant; and a prosthetic coping(E) for being coupled to the implant(Il), in turn, by a prosthetic retaining screw(N2). Numeral Tl designates a healing screw for clogging the threaded hole of the implant(Tl), until the implant(Il) is osseointegrated with the alveolar bone(S), and the broken-line depicts a prosthetic to be fabricated and installed later. A large number of parts of such implant system of screw type essentially requires high manufacturing and maintenance costs, and an intricate operation resulting a great expenses. As the coupling of parts of the system is maintained by coupling force of threads(Nl, N2), the maximum holding ability for the external force such as the chewing force, depends on the size of threads, and the width and length of the implant body, thus the system exhibits a low holding force to cause loosening of screws. When the implant system of screw type is masticating the chewing function in the mouse, the loosening of screw can easily be occurred as a large pulling tensional force is applied, while the system is relatively strong for the compressive force. And the gap being formed by the inadequate fit of implant/abutment interface acts as the entrance of bacteria to cause sanitary problems and inflammation of peri-implant tissues. On the contrary, implant systems of non-screw type, shown in FIGURE IB and FIGURE 1C, depend the coupling of parts on the locking taper structure, based on surface friction beetween metals thereof. FIGURE IB depicts the system of Thomas D. Driskell, entitled with US patent NO. 4,547,157 and 4,687,443, for example, which is constructed by coupling the post shaped cone(Pl) of an implant(I2) to the socket(Ol) of an abutment(A2) in a locking taper manner, to form a simple two pieces system. And the numeral T2 designates a cap-shaped temporary abutment, F2 fins for anchoring. And FIGURE 1C depicts a system similar to that of FIGURE IB, which is successfully extending in US market in the trade name of "Bicon", being able to find find relating patents No. 4,738,623 5,484,285 5,499,918. In the system, the implant(I3) for being embedded in the alveolar bone(S) is provided with a socket(02) having upwardly expanding taper therein, and the abutment(A3) is provided with a downwardly extending post ρortion(P2) having corresponding taper, thereby coupling the abutment(A3) to the implant(I3) by the frictional force therebetween, to form another two pieces system. On the upper part of the abutment(A3), there are provided with an expanding flare(Hl) and a substantially flat-top conical head(H) having two slant faces(H2) formed by leveling each sides thereof. And the numeral T3 designates a plastic plug for temporarily clogging the socket of the implant(02) during the healing period. According to the above described conventional systems, only the implantsQ ; II - 13) are coupled to the alveolar bone(S), abutmentsOA ; Al - A3) for supporting prosthetic(P) are coupled to those implants(I), in common. As the external force, such as chewing force, is applied to the abutment(I) through the prosthetic(P), the strength of the conventional systems depend on the coupling strength of the abutment(A) and implant(I), and the strength of the abutment(A) itself. In comparison with the screw system of FIGURE 1A, in which the coupling is maintained by thread teeth of screw(Nl, N2) having relatively small size, locking taper systems of FIGURE IB and FIGURE 10 exert very high coupling strength without any loosening problem, the maximum strength of these systems, however, depends on the minimum diameter of coupled portions. Namely, the maximum support strength of the system of FIGURE IB is decided by the diameter of the neck(Xl)of the implant(I2), the system of FIGURE 10 by that of neck(X2) of the abutment(A3). If one enoughly increases the overall diameter of these two systems, necks(Xl, X2) of those will naturally have smaller diameters, thus easily causing the fracture of these implant systems, for example, especially to molar tooth requiring large chewing force. This problem of support strength is the common problem of conventional implant systems to be urgently resolved. Another problem of systems of FIGURE IB and FIGURE 10, is that the prosthetic(P) is adhered to the abutments only by cementation, as they have no additional parts such as appropriate coping. The position of the prosthetic (P) depends on the location of the implant(I) in the alveolar bone(S), and the thickness of the gum of the location. And the exact position of the prosthetic(P) can not be maintained without very careful operations, in case of securing the prosthetic(P) only through cementation as described above. Other common features of systems of FIGURE 1A to FIGURE 10, is that the implant(I) structure thereof is 2-directional, thereby deciding the anchoring force mainly through the embedding depth to the jaw bone(B) and/or the alveolar bone(S), the width of the implant, and the bone quality. At each sides of the lower jaw bone(Bl), a mandibular canal(C), the passage of nerve and blood vessel, runs as depicted in FIGURE 2A. Therefore, the maximum depth(d) of the implant(I) must keep the distance of 1 to 2 mm, at least, from the canaKC). This makes the implant(I) of conventional systems not be embedded to enough depth, and resultantly selectable implant(I) of short length causes a low support strength and low chewing force. The alveolar bone(Sl) is the upper part of the jaw bone(Bl) shown in FIGURE 2A to form sockets for natural tooth. After natural tooth are being pulled out, the alveolar bone(Sl) is gradually absorbed into the jaw bone(Bl) as shown in broken line, according to the human physiological phenomenon, thus reducing the embedding depth available for the implant(I). Resultantly, the conventional system can hardly be applied to patients having shallow canaKC), or passing long time from the elimination of natural tooth. To apply conventional implant systems to these patients, a prior bone graft operation must be applied to increase the available embedding depth(d). And this problem becomes more serious when it goes to the upper jaw bone(B2) depicted in FIGURE 2B. As a hollow space called maxilliary sinus(M) is located in both sides of the upper jaw bone(B2), the depth of jaw bone(B2), especially that of the portion below the sinus(M), is considerably small not enough to separately recognize the alveolar bone(S2). Therefore, the conventional system can hardly make an enough depth to secure the implant(I). Also in the upper jaw bone(B2), the lower portion of the sinus(M) is gradually lowered as depicted in broken line in FIGURE 2B (so-called neumatization phenomenon), after the elimination of natural tooth(T), thereby additionally reducing the available embedding depth of the implant(I). And the problem becomes more serious as time passed from the loss of natural tooth. Therefore, a bone graft or a sinus lift operation for inserting another bone taken from other parts or an artificial bone onto the lower jaw bone(Bl) or the mucous membrane of the sinus(M), is typically applied prior to the application of the implant(I), if the height of the bone, such as the alveolar bone(S) of lower or upper jaw bone(B), is not enough. This process, however, requires six to twelve months for completely securing the inserted bone to the original jaw bone(B), before applying the implant(I), thereby taking enormous time and expenses over the patient. Considering the above described conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dental implant system contributing overall system to exert anchoring with the bone thereby achieving very high support strength, and being able to be applied in a rapid and easy process. It is the second object of the present invention to provide a dental implant system applicable to the bone having low embedding depth available for the implant, with an excellent support strength. It is the third object of the present invention to provide a dental implant system applicable to the bone under the sinus having low embedding depth available, without any prior operation. Disclosure of the Invention The system to achieve the first object of the present invention is characterized in that a downwardly opened socket for being coupled with a post extended from or coupled with an implant, is formed in an abutment, and that one or more means for anchoring is provided on the outer side of the abutment, which forms the outer wall of the socket. According to the aspects, the lower edge of the abutment of the present invention is inserted much deeper into the jaw bone than that of the conventional system, and the abutment is also anchored to the jaw bone not only the implant, thereby making entire section of the present system withhold the external force, and exerting a great supporting strength. The system to achieve the second object of the present invention is constructed in a 3-ρiece system having a horizontal or slant implant for being coupled to the jaw bone in a considerably horizontal direction, and an separate post for connecting the abutment and the implant. According to these aspects, the implant is inserted into the jaw bone in a considerably horizontal direction, and then coupled with vertically inserted abutment by the connecting post in a T-shape, to achieve a 3 -dimensional anchoring, thereby providing a secure anchoring even if for the case of a shallow embedding depth available for the implant. The system to achieve the third object of the present invention is characterized in that a horizontal implant is inserted into the upper jaw bone in a bucco-lingual direction, or each ends thereof are respectively secured to the buccal cortical plate and palatal plate of upper jaw bone. According to these aspects, the abutment, the implant, and the post are combinedly form a 3-dimensional anchoring of T-shape, thereby making immediate application of the present implant system to a shallow jaw bone under the sinus, without any prior operation such as the sinus lift. Another system to achieve the third object of the present invention has a horizontal implant in a form of a short bar having a trapezoidal section, this feature allows a secure anchoring for a narrow jaw bone. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent through the following detailed descriptions with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings FIGURE 1A to FIGURE 10 are sectional views respectively depicting structures of conventional implant systems, FIGURE 2A to FIGURE 2B are views for respectively explaining the restriction of the installation of the implant to the lower jaw bone and the upper jaw bone, FIGURE 2A is sectional view of the lower jaw bone, and FIGURE 2B is side elevation of the upper jaw bone, FIGURE 3 is a sectional view depicting an implant system according to the present invention, FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view thereof, FIGURE 5A and 5B are sectional views respectively depicting two systems embodied in submerged and non-submerged type, FIGURE 6A and B are partially sectioned side elevation depicting angled abutments for the present system, FIGURE 7A to FIGURE 7C are side elevations for respectively showing anti-rotation means for the present system, and especially FIGURE 70 depicts a union angled type, FIGURE 8A to FIGURE 8B are exploded side elevations for respectively depicting various combinations of the implant, the abutment, and means for coupling them, FIGURE 9 is a sectional view depicting a temporary abutment to be used in the present system, FIGURE 10 is an exploded side elevation of the 3-dimensional organizing type system, and (A) to(C) respectively depicts various embodiments of the horizontal implant, FIGURE 11 is a sectional view depicting the installation of the system shown in FIGURE 10 to the lower jaw bone, FIGURE 12A and FIGURE 12B are partially sectioned and exploded side elevations for respectively depicting various coupling structures of the post, FIGURE 13 is a rough elevation depicting the installation of the present system to the upper jaw bone, FIGURE 14A and FIGURE 14B are side elevations for respectively depicting structures of the horizontal implant to be used for the system shown in FIGURE 13, FIGURE 15A to FIGURE 15B are respectively partial perspective and combined section depicting a trapezoidal implant available for a narrow bone such as that of front tooth. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention In FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 4, an embodiment of 2-piece system is depicted, which is appropriate for the case of enough embedding depth of the jaw bone being available. In the drawings, the present system consists of two elements, an implant(l) and an abutment(2), the implant(l) is preferably provided with a considerably vertical body(ll) having means for anchoring, such as fins(13), to improve the coupling with the alveolar bone(S), and a tapered post portion(12) extending upwardly from the top of the body(l l). And the abutment(2) is preferably provided with a body(21), having a socket(22) therein, with the taper corresponding that of the post portion(12) of the implant(l), and having means for anchoring , such as a retentive groove(23), at the circumference thereof. When the abutment(2) is osseointegrated with the alveolar bone(S), bone tissue of the alveolar bone(S) grows into the retentive groove(23) formed along the circumference of the abutment(2), to increase the coupling strength of the abutment(2) and the alveolar bone(S). The retentive groove(23) is preferably formed near the lower end of the abutment(A), and can be provided not only one but in plurality as depicted in broken lines in FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 4. Additionally, short grooves(23J, which extends along the axial direction perpendicular to the radial direction of the retentive groove(23), can also be provided as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 4. And the lower end of the abutment(2) is preferably located at the depth of several millimeters, at least, from the surface of the alveolar bone(S), to exert an appropriate anchoring force. According to the experience of the inventor, the lower end of the abutment(2) is preferably located at the depth of over six millimeters, the upper end of the retentive groove(23), anchoring means, over four millimeters. More preferably, the middle portion of the circumference of the abutment body(21) is inwardly recessed to form a concave portion(24). As the result, when the abutment(2) is osseointegrated with the alveolar bone(S), the bone will grow into the concave portion(24) to form a ring-shaped mechanical wedge, thereby providing an additional anchoring means for coupling the abutment(2) and the alveolar bone(S) more securely. As described above, the implant system according to the present invention provides a highly rigid structure, in which the post portion(12) of implant(l) being embedded into and osseointegrated with the alveolar bone(S), is coupled in the socket(22) of the abutment(2) being embedded into and also osseointegrated with the alveolar bone. At the upper part of the abutment body(21), there are preferably provided with a flare portion(25) expanding outwardly to comparing the standard width of the natural teeth for matching with the prosthetic(P) and being located in the gum(G), and a post potion(26) extending upwardly to support the prosthetic (P). The post potion(26) ensures an exact position and shape and strength of the prosthetic(P), and is preferably adopted with a metal coping(Kl). For this purpose, the post portion(26) preferably has a taper to be coupled with the metal coping(Kl), and a extruded land(27) is preferably formed between the flare portion(25) and the post portion(26), to which a plastic cuff(K2) can be coupled, if necessary. Though the plastic cuff(K2) can be used for supporting the lower part of the metal coping(Kl), it is not essential to the construction of the present invention, as it is mainly used for installation of a temporary resin teeth, or for the direct manufacture of an acrylic resin teeth on the abutment(2). In the above described system, the implant(l) and the abutment(2) are coupled together through the Blocking taper" by the frictional force between surfaces of the post portion(12) of the implant(l) and the socket(22) of the abutment(2), each of which having corresponding tapers. As the locking taper coupling depends on the occurrence of the frictional force by the direct contact of two metal surfaces, tapered surfaces of the post portion(12) of the implant(l) and the socket(22) of the abutment(2) can not exert an appropriate coupling force without the considerably high mechanical accuracy. To reduce the required accuracy, it is preferable to adopt an additional mechanical means for coupling the implant(l) and the abutment(2), a recess(12a) is formed at the upper part of the post portion(12) of the implant(l) to receive a C-ring(Rl) made from an elastic metal wire. The C-ring(Rl) acts as an wedge to intensify the coupling of implant(l) and the abutment(2τ_--"). If necessary, additional recess(26a) for receiving another C-ring(R2) can be formed on the post portion(26) of the abutment(2), to which the metal coping(Kl) is to be coupled. However, the use of C-rings(Rl, R2) is not essential in general, as the locking taper will do the coupling of the implant(l) and the abutment(2), or the abutment(2)and the metal coping(Kl). C-rings(Rl, R2) can be preferably used as an auxiliary coupling means for the case of an ill-fit of the locking taper due to problems of manufacturing or handling , and for the case of reassembling after completing a locking taper coupling due to an operational problems, for example. This method results in an full usage of precise and expensive parts of the implant system without discarding any part, to greatly improve the economics of the present system. The above described system according to the present invention, will preferably be applied to a patient as follows. Firstly, a dentist drills the alveolar bone(S) to insert an implant(l) in the alveolar bone(S), then the alveolar bone(S) gradually grows to osseointegrated with the implant(l). This healing procedure requires nine weeks to several months according to the patient and the quality of the bone. Completing the osseointegration procedure, in which the implant(l) is completely coupled to the alveolar bone(S), then an abutment(2) is coupled to the implant(l), in turn, and an appropriate prosthetic(P) is supported on the abutment(2), to complete a dental implant system. Though these procedures are similar to those of conventional systems, the most apparent aspect of the present invention lies in that the abutment(2) coupled to the implant(l) is successively osseointegrated with the alveolar bone(S). According to this aspect, the present system is supported by only the anchoring force of the implant(l) against the alveolar bone(S) in the initial stage of coupling the abutment(2) to the implant(l), as is the conventional system. But the abutment(2) can also exert an additional anchoring force as the osseointegration of the abutment(2) and the alveolar bone(S) successively proceeds. As a result, the present system provides with a unique effect of increasing anchoring force and supporting strength against the external force, as time passed from application of the implant system. In a conventional system, the anchoring is accomplished only through the implant(I), and abutment(A) coupled to the implant(I) resists against the external force applied to the prosthetic(P), such as chewing force, thus the maximum supporting strength is decided by the minimum diameter of the abutment(A). In the present system, on the contrary, not only the implant(l) but also the abutment(2) is anchored to the alveolar bone(S) by the retentive groove(23) and the concave portion(24), to make overall section of the system resist against the external force, and the implant(l) still maintain the coupling with the alveolar bone(S), even if the coupling of the abutment(2) and alveolar bone(S) is broken, to provide a dental implant system having a great supporting force against the external force. In FIGURE 5A and FIGURE 5B, there are respectively depicted systems of submerged and non-submerged types according to the present invention, divided by the extent of the post portion(12) of the implant(l) against the gum(G) over the alveolar bone(S). The system of submerged type is based on the old theory of the healing procedure of the ossointegration being promoted by suturing the gum(G) after inserting the implant(l), while the non-submerged system is based on the opposite new theory, and all of the conventional implant system falls into anyone of these two types. The present system can be constructed in either type, and be selectively adopted according to requirements, such as the condition of the patient or the location of teeth. In the above embodiments, the post portion(12) of the implant(l) and the post portion(22) of the abutment(2) are coaxially arranged to form a straight system in the whole. When it goes to the front teeth of the upper jaw, for example, the optimum direction available for inserting the implant(l) and the optimum extending direction of the teeth are different each other. To resolve the conflict, angled abutments(201, 202), respective post portions(26) of which has a slant of a prescribed angle, are depicted in FIGURE 6A and FIGURE 6B. The system shown in FIGURE 6A, the central axis of the socket(22) intersects the central axis of the abutment(201) to form an angle with the implant(l) to be coupled thereto, though the system is apparently straight. This structure can be applied without any significant problem in a small angle. When the intersected angle increases, however, increasing thickness difference of each sides of the abutment(201), which forms side walls of the socket(22), causes a strength problem. Thus, in the angled abutment shown in FIGURE 6B, the central axis itself of the abutment(202) and the post portion(26) thereof has a slant with the central axis of the body(21) in a prescribed angle. In FIGURE 7A to FIGURE 70, there are depicted various embodiments of means for preventing rotation to be adopted to the implantG, 101). In the conventional screw type system, these anti-rotation means are especially useful for securing the implant(l) during the thread-fit of parts after embedding the implant(lθl) into the jaw bone(B), and for increasing the surface area to be coupled with the bone. And they can also be effectively adopted to other systems, for preventing the rattling and the resultant dislocation from the alveolar bone(S) of the implant(l) by the external force applied to the prosthetic(P). In FIGURE 7A, there is depicting an implant, in which fins(13a) are protruded for anchoring along the circumference of the implant body(ll) with a vertical channel(14a) formed by cutting out part of fins. Then, the alveolar bone(S) will grow into the channel(1 a) to be coupled, thereby forming a circumferential wedge to prevent the rotation of the implant(l). And in FIGURE 7B, a self-tapping screw(13b) is formed on the circumference of the implant body(l l) as means for inserting and anchoring, a through hole(14b) is formed across the body(l l) as means for preventing rotation. Then the alveolar bone(S) grows to be merged together in the through holed b), thereby preventing the rotation of the body(l l) and enhancing the anchoring. Next, in FIGURE 70, there is depicted a union angled implant(lθl), in which the implant body(l l_) and the post portion(12) intersects in a prescribed angle, it provides more secure anchoring and rotation preventing, as the implant body(l l_) has a slant against the central axis of the abutment(2). Fins(13) are preferably protruded from the surface of the implant body(l l_) in a direction perpendicular body(ll_) or that of the post portion(12). The main features of the present invention can be applied to any of conventional systems, though the present invention is mainly described for a preferable aspects of system which is newly constructed by the present inventor in the above description. For example, the embodiment depicted in FIGURE 8A, adopts screws for coupling the implant(102) and the abutment(203) as that of conventional system shown in FIGURE 1A, instead of the locking taper. More specifically, a male-threaded portion(12a) is formed on the circumference of the post portion(12') of the implant(102), while a corresponding female-threaded portion(22a) is formed on the socket(22') in the body(21') of the abutment(203). In the system, the implant(102) and the abutment(203) are coupled through thread-fitting of two threaded portions(12a, 22a) by rotating the abutment(203) against the implant(102), after the implant(102) is inserted to and osseointegrated with the alveolar bone(S). The most significant advantage of the system shown in FIGURE 8A comparing with the conventional screw type system shown in FIGURE 1A, lies in that a loosening problem inherent to the screw system, will not occur, as the abutment(203) thread-fit to the implant(102) is also secured to the alveolar bone(S) by the retentive groove(23), thus both of the implant(102) and the abutment(203) are to be secured to the alveolar bone(S). Moreover, the invasion of bacteria will not arise, as the entrance of two threaded portion(12a, 22a) is located in the lower end of the abutment(203), which is inserted into the alveolar bone(S) to a, significant depth. And the embodiment depicted in FIGURE 8A is similar to the Bicon(trade name) system shown in FIGURE 1C, in that the upper part of the abutment(204) is provided with a conical head(H) having a bulbous flare(Hl) and two slope faces(H2) formed by cutting out either sides thereof. This embodiment adopts the locking taper for coupling the implant(103) and the abutment(204) as in the system of FIGURE 10, the present system exert a great supporting strength with compared to the conventional system of FIGURE 10, as the retaining groove(23) of the abutment(204) is secured the alveolar bone(S) with the socket(22) of the abutment(204) putting on the post portion(12) of the implant(103). Moreover, each implants(102, 103) depicted in FIGURE 8A and FIGURE 8B is respectively provided with anchoring and anti-rotation means somewhat different from those in FIGURE 3 to FIGURE 7C, to exhibit the wide applicability of the present invention, and repeated description is omitted as structures and functions thereof will be apparent from the above description. Space for inserting the abutment(2) later should be maintained in the alveolar bone(S) during the healing procedure of the implant(l) being inserted and osseointegrated with the alveolar bone(S), a preferable embodiment of a temporary abutment(5) appropriate for the present system, is depicted in FIGURE 9. In the body(51) of the temporary abutment(5), there is formed a socket(52), the post potion(12) of the implant(l) to be coupled thereto, as in the permanent abutment(2). Preferably, the socket(52) of the temporary abutment(5) is loose-fit with the post potion(12) of the implant(l) for easy separation afterwards, as a permanent abutment(2) will replace the temporary abutment(5) after the implant(l) is completely coupled to the alveolar bone(S). For this purpose, the socket(52) of the temporary abutment(5) is preferably formed with a taper smoother than that of the post portion(12) of the implant(l), or without any taper to form in considerably vertical. In this case, the socket(52) of the temporary abutment(5) and the post portion(12) of the implant(l) is temporarily maintained by an week coupling of locking taper only at the entering portion of the engagement. According to the same reason, anchoring means, the primary feature of the present invention such as the retentive groove(23), is not formed on the circumference of the body(51) of the temporary abutment(5), and the body(51) preferably extends straight without the concave portion(24) not to allow entering of the alveolar bone(S). And a flat head(53) is provided on the upper part of the temporary abutment(5) without any functional elements, as it only acts to maintain the space for receiving the permanent abutment(2). The solid-lined head(53) in FIGURE 9 is used for a submerged type implant(l) as in FIGURE 5A, and the top face thereof extends approximately to the level of the upper surface of the alveolar bone(S), while the broken-lined head is for a non-submerged type implant(l) as in FIGURE 5B, and the top of the head(53') extends over the level of the upper surface of the gum(G). And appropriate tooling grooves(54) or projections are preferably provided on the head(53) of the temporary abutment(5) for installation and dislocation. In FIGURE 10 and below, several embodiments having the horizontal implant, another feature of the present invention, are depicted. In FIGURE 10, the abutment(2) has basically similar construction of the above embodiments, and the body(31) of the implant(3), which extends horizontal or slightly slanted direction, includes a radially formed socket hole(31), instead of the post portion, and a separate connecting post(4) connects the abutment(2) and the implant(3) to form a 3 -piece system. The connecting post(4) includes the first post portion(41) for upwardly coupling to the socket(22) of the abutment(2), and the second post portion(42) for downwardly coupling to the socket hole(32) of the implant(3). The connecting post(4) is formed in a spindle shape, if each coupling adopts the locking taper coupling. The horizontal implant(3) can be installed in horizontal direction(A), or in upwardly slanted direction(B), or in downwardly slanted direction(C), it is preferable to insert the implant(3) from up to down as (C) for the operational convenience. Around the upper side of the socket hole(32), there is preferably provided with a guide groove(33) for receiving the lower end of the abutment(2), in order to guide the exact entrance and coupling of the abutment(2). And the forefront of the implant(3) is formed in conical shape having taper towards the front for promoting the entrance into the alveolar bone(S), with anchoring means preferably formed thereon, such as self-tapping screws(34a)(A), or protruded rim(34b)(B), or fin(34c)(C). At the rear end of the implant(3), there is preferably provided with an appropriate tooling means, such as an internal hexagonal groove(35a)(A), or a slot(35b)(B), or an external hexagonal head(35c)(C), for applying torque of tools to make the implant(3) enter into the alveolar bone(S). In FIGURE 11, there is depicted the horizontal implant system shown in FIGURE 10 being is applied to the lower jaw bone(B) and the alveolar bone(S) thereof. As the mandibular canal(C), the passage of blood vessel and nerve, runs in the lower jaw bone(B), the lower end of the implant(3) should maintain the distance of several millimeters, at least, from the canaKC). At first, a dentist drills a horizontal hole(lθ) for inserting the implant(3) from the buccal or lingual side of the jaw bone(B), then drills the vertical hole(20) for inserting the connecting post(4) and the abutment(2) from the alveolar bone(S) of the jaw bone(B). Terms "horizontal" and "vertical" do not means the exact horizontal and vertical, and is used in an wide meaning including directions having a range of a prescribed angle from the exact vertical and horizontal direction. Thus, the horizontal implant(3) will preferably have a downward slope for the convenience of the operation, and the abutment(2) and the connecting post(4) will preferably be inserted in a vertical or somewhat sloped direction, according to the location of the teeth. Completing drilling of two holesQO, 20), the implant(3) is firstly inserted through the horizontal hole(lθ) and adjusted to align the socket hole(32) thereof with the vertical hole(20), and then the connecting post(4) is inserted through the vertical hole(20) and the second post portion(42) is coupled to the socket hole(32) of the implant(3). After that, the temporary abutment(5) is also inserted through the vertical hole(20) and the socket(52) thereof to be coupled to the first post portion(41) of the connecting post(4), and then the whole assembly goes to the osseointegration procedure. After the implant(3) being osseointegrated with the jaw bone(B) as time passed, the temporary abutment(5) is dislocated, and the permanent abutment(2) is inserted and the socket(22) thereof is coupled to the first post portion(41) of the connecting post(4). As a result, the present system forms a rigid T-shaped coupling with the jaw bone(B) and the alveolar bone(S) thereof, and the present system performs more complete anchoring after the jaw bone(B) and the alveolar bone(S) grows and coupled to the permanent abutment(2). As described above, the present system accomplishes a 3-dimensional coupling by entering of the implant(3) and the abutment(2) in different directions, thereby exert an excellent supporting force with compared to a 2-dimensional system, where the implant(l) and the abutment (2) enters in the same direction. Therefore, the present system can be applied to a patient, having shallow depth of the lower jaw bone(B) due to an absorbtion of the alveolar bone(S) and not available for the application of a conventional implant system, without any prior operation such as a bone graft. And perils of the occurrence of aftereffect and damages of nerval or blood vessels can be prevented, as an enough distance can be maintained between the implant(3) and the mandibular canaKC). Also in the horizontal implant system, the screw coupling can be adopted not only the locking taper coupling. In the embodiment depicted in FIGURE 12A, male threaded portions(41a, 42a) are respectively formed on the first and second post portions(41', 42') of the connecting post(401), and corresponding female-threaded ρortions(32a, 22a) are respectively formed on the socket hole(32') of the implant(301) and the socket(22') of the abutment(203), to be thread-fit each other. And in FIGURE 12B, there is depicted a combined embodiment, in which the thread-fit coupling is adopted between the abutment(203) and the connecting post(402), while the locking taper coupling is adoped between the connecting post(402) and horizontal implant(3). In FIGURE 13, there is depicted an embodiment, in which the horizontal implant system is applied to the upper jaw bone(B2) beneath the sinus(M). Though depicted system is basically similar to that of the lower jaw bone(Bl) depicted in FIGURE 11, the implant(3) is formed in the shape of an elongated horizontal bar, either ends of which is respectively coupled to the buccal and lingual plates of the upper jaw bone(B2) of the sinus(M) (depicted in solid line), or inserted to the bone(Bl) in a slanted direction (depicted in broken line), as the upper jaw bone(B2) beneath the sinus(M) is bent in a large U-shape. The structure depicted in the solid line in FIGURE 13 can appropriately be adopted to the vicinity of the sinus(M) having small height of the alveolar bone(S) of the upper jaw bone(B), while the structure depicted in the broken line can appropriately be adopted to an enough height of the bone(B2) outside the sinus, inserting the implant(3) from buccal to lingual side, and is similar to that of the system depicted in FIGURE 11. In FIGURE 14A and 14B, there are respectively depicted preferable embodiments of the implant(3) in the shape of the horizontal bar, for appropriately adopted in the system depicted in FIGURE 13. In both drawings, the implant(3) includes a bar-shaped body(31', 31") having a socket hole(32) to which the connecting post(4) is to be coupled, and a housing ring(61) is preferably coupled at the front end thereof, where the entering end of the implant(3), and an end fixing ring(62) is coupled to the rear end thereof. As the inner portion of the upper jaw bone(B2) is the low quality bone, commonly like sponge, and the implant(3) should be coupled to the outer cortical bone, means for anchoring, such as self-tapping screws(61 , 62a) towards the entering direction depicted in an arrow, is preferably formed on circumferences of each rings(61, 62), to secure the implant(3) to the cortical bone of the upper jaw bone(B2). In FIGURE 14A and FIGURE 14B, there are respectively depicted two embodiments applicable to the present system. The implant depicted in FIGURE 14A includes an implant body(3D having an overall taper, and numeral 35 designates a tooling groove for installation. While the implant depicted in FIGURE 14B includes an implant body(31") having taρers(31a, 31b) at either ends, and two rings(61, 62) respectively have corresponding tapered sockets(61a, 62a), and numeral 35 designates a tooling slot. In the system depicted in FIGURE 13, as the horizontal implant(3) in the shape of an elongated bar is secured to the bone(B) of either sides of the sinus(M) at each ends, or slantly inserted in the bone(B) under the sinus(M), the present implant system can be installed without any prior operation, such as sinus lift, even if the height of the upper jaw bone(B) is not enough. Nextly, in FIGURE 15A and FIGURE 15B, there are depicted a system having a trapezoidal section appropriate for a relatively narrow bone(B) such as front teeth, though it is basically a 3-dimensional system using a horizontal implant. As depicted in FIGURE 15A, the horizontal implant(7) of the system includes a body(71) having a socket hole(72) to which the connecting post(4) is coupled, and both ends thereof being upwardly sloped faces(73a, 73b), thereby forming a short bar having a trapezoidal section. Same as the system in FIGURE 15B, the implant(7) depicted in FIGURE 15A is inserted in horizontal direction to be coupled with the vertically inserted connecting post(4), and then integrally coupled with the vertically inserted abutment(2) through connecting post(4). As a result, all the parts form a 3-dimensional coupling of T-shape, thus the system is similar to the system depicted in FIGURE 11, except the implant(7) being formed in a short bar. Though the present invention has been described through several preferred embodiments, the description is only to exemplify and not to restrict the present invention. Those skilled in the arts can make various modifications from the present invention defined by following claims.

Claims: Claims 1. A dental implant system having an implant for being embedded into a jaw bone and/or an alveolar bone thereof, and an abutment for being coupled with said implant and supporting a prosthetic, characterized in that: a post is extended from said implant, a socket for being coupled with said post of said implant is formed in the body of said abutment, means for anchoring for being coupled to said jaw bone and/or said alveolar bone thereof, is provided on the circumference of said body. 2. A dental implant system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said post of said implant is a post portion integral with said implant. 3. A dental implant system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a socket hole is formed on said implant, said post of said implant is formed in a separate connecting post having a first post portion for being coupled to said socket of said abutment, and a second post portion for being coupled to said socket hole of said implant. 4. A dental implant system, as claimed in anyone of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein: said post of said implant or said first post portion of said connecting post, and said socket of said abutment, respectively have corresponding taper to be coupled in a locking taper coupling. 5. A dental implant system, as claimed in anyone of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein: said post of said implant or said first post portion of said connecting post, and said socket of said abutment, respectively have corresponding male and female threaded portions to be thread-fit together. 6. A dental implant system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said anchoring means of said abutment is one or more retentive groove formed on the circumference of said body extending along a radial or axial direction thereof. 7. A dental implant system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said anchoring means of said abutment is a concave portion formed by inwardly recessing the middle of said body. 8. A dental implant system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said second post portion of said connecting post and said socket hole of said implant respectively have corresponding taper to be coupled in a locking taper coupling. 9. A dental implant system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said second post portion of said connecting post and said socket hole of said implant respectively have corresponding male and female threaded potions to be thread-fit together. 10. A dental implant system, as claimed in anyone of claim 1 or claim 3, wherein: said implant extends horizontally to be inserted to said jaw bone and/or said alveolar bone thereof in a horizontal or a horizontally slanted direction for a prescribed angle, said abutment is inserted to said jaw bone and/or said alveolar bone thereof in a verical or a vertically slanted direction for a prescribed angle, said implant and said abutment is coupled by said connecting post thereby said three elements form a T-shaped coupling in said jaw bone and/or said alveolar bone thereof. 11. A dental implant system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: at the front end of said horizontal implant, there is provided with means for anchoring against said jaw bone and/or said alveolar bone thereof. 12. A dental implant system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: at both ends of said horizontal implant, there are respectively provided with two rings having means for anchoring and being coupled to said jaw bone and/or said alveolar bone thereof. 12. A dental implant system, as claimed in claim 9, wherein: at both ends of said horizontal implant, there are respectively provided with two slanted faces respectively facing said connecting post to form a trapezoidal section.

Inventors: CHANG SANG-KOHN, CHANG, SANG-KOHN
Applicants: CHANG SANG KOHN, CHANG, SANG-KOHN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A61C8
IPC codes: A61C8