Abstract:
A dental implant has a first coronal portion having a first width and a second apical portion having a second smaller width, where a taper between the coronal and the apical portions is of constant slope. A threaded arrangement on an outer surface of the dental implant is provided with an osteoinductive growth stimulating substance located on the outer surface of the dental implant.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/370,703, filed on Aug. 4, 2010, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present arrangement relates to a dental surgery device and method for implementing the same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The process known as osseointegration is the process where an implant, placed into bone, is integrated over time as a stable implant within the bone structure. 
         [0006]    Generally speaking osseointegration has both a mechanical stability component and a biological stability component that together form the overall stability of the implant. Mechanical stability refers to the physical integration/interface stability between the outer surfaces of the implant and the bone into which it is inserted. From the implant side, mechanical stability is influenced by many factors, including the shape of implant, the shape of the threading on the implant if any, the material of the implant, the surface characteristics (smoothness/roughness), etc. 
         [0007]    Biological stability refers to the actual integration process between the implant and the bone into which it is inserted. The biological stability is also influenced by many different factors, many of which are based on the patient&#39;s rate of healing, but it is also influenced by characteristics of the mating surfaces between the bone and the implant. 
         [0008]    In the area of dental implants there is a challenge for continual improvement. The mouth area and associated bone provide unique challenges to perfect osseointegration of dental implants. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY 
       [0009]    In accordance with various embodiments, a dental implant s provided that has a self tap smooth-constant slope tapered arrangement. 
         [0010]    In one aspect of the arrangement, the thread pattern on the implant remains the same from its apical portion to its coronal portion. 
         [0011]    In another aspect of the arrangement, an osteoinductive growth stimulating substance such as Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP-2) or GDF-5 (Growth/Differentiation Factor protein) is provided using at least two different delivery methods. A first method includes the step of immersing the implant in a vial containing an activated growth stimulating substance and delivering the immersed implant for its final use. The second method includes the step of immersing the implant in the vial during the actual implant surgery for time period, such as 15-20 minutes. 
         [0012]    To this end the present arrangement provides a dental implant having a first coronal portion having a first width and a second apical portion having a second smaller width, where a taper between the coronal and the apical portions is of constant slope. A threaded arrangement on an outer surface of the dental implant is provided with an osteoinductive growth stimulating substance located on the outer surface of the dental implant. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: 
         [0013]    The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0014]      FIGS. 1A-1C  show three arrangements for a dental implant according to one embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows a dental implant from  FIGS. 1A-1C  submersed in osteoinductive growth stimulating substance; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart for a dental implant surgery according to one embodiment; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart for a dental implant surgery according to another embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    In accordance with one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C  three dental implants  100 ,  200  and  300  having a smooth taper are provided. Implants may be constructed of typical metals used for implants, such as titanium, or other composite/alloy/artificial materials used in other bone implants. For the purposes of illustrating the salient features, implants  100 ,  200  and  300  are considered to be constructed of titanium for the below described arrangements. 
         [0019]    In the first arrangement shown in  FIG. 1A , implant  100  shows a self tap and smooth tapered implant exhibiting a width of 3.3 mm at an upper neck region  102 , at its coronal portion, with sharply tapered upper table region  104  which may have various accommodations for accepting denture or tooth components (not shown). From the 3.3 mm width at the coronal neck region  102 , implant  100  tapers down—at a constant slope towards its apical portion  106  to a width of 2.8 mm. 
         [0020]    In another arrangement shown in  FIG. 1B , implant  200  is similarly shaped to implant  100 , but exhibits a width of 4.2 mm at an upper neck region  202 , at its coronal portion, with sharply tapered upper table region  204 . From the 4.2 mm width at the coronal neck region  202 , implant  200  tapers down towards its apical portion  206  to a width of 3.6 mm. 
         [0021]    In another arrangement shown in  FIG. 1C , implant  300  is similarly shaped to implants  100  and  200 , but exhibits a width of 5.2 mm at an upper neck region  302 , at its coronal portion, with sharply tapered upper table region  304 . From the 5.2 mm width at the coronal neck region  302 , implant  200  tapers down towards its apical portion  306  to a width of 4.4 mm. 
         [0022]    It is understood that the above three arrangements from  FIGS. 1A-1C  are exemplary implants that may be employed most commonly for various dent&amp; implant uses, however, the invention is not limited in scope to these dimensions and other desired dimensions may be provided for corresponding dental applications. 
         [0023]    As shown in each of  FIGS. 1A-1C , each of implants  100 ,  200  and  300  employ threads  110 ,  210  and  310  respectively, that extend continuously with the same pattern from the apical portions  106 ,  206  and  306  all the way to their coronal portions at the neck  102 ,  202  and  302 . In the present arrangement, threads  110 ,  210  and  310  are distanced at 0.7 mm apart (as measured from adjacent thread apexes). 
         [0024]    According to the above arrangements, implants  100 ,  200  and  300  exhibit an increase in primary (mechanical) stability with an enhanced locking effect in both healed sites and in the immediate implant placement with immediate or delayed load, such as that provided by an embedded prosthetic crown, 
         [0025]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, Implants  100 ,  200  and  300  each maintain a surface texture  108 ,  208  and  308  respectively, that improves osseointegration and healing times. In one arrangement, surface textures  108 ,  208  and  308  include hydrophilic surfaces. In another arrangement, surface textures  108 ,  208  and  308  may be roughened textures that allow bone formation more easily. For example, microstructuring surfaces  108 ,  208  and  308  of implants  100 ,  200  and  300  by sandblasting and add etching enhances the bone formation along the titanium surface. For example, surfaces  108 ,  208  and  308  may be imparted by a soluble blasted media (SBM) surface texture treatment, such as an SBM containing soluble hydroxyl apatite (HA) particles. 
         [0026]    In another embodiment, Implants  100 ,  200  or  300  may be Implemented in conjunction with the use of an osteoinductive growth stimulating substance. As shown in  FIG. 2 , an osteoinductive growth stimulating substance  400  is placed in a vial  402  and an implant, such as implant  100  is placed therein, prior to being implanted in the desired location in the patient&#39;s bone. 
         [0027]    In a first arrangement, rh-BMP-2 (Bone Morphogenetic Protein) is used as osteoinductive growth stimulating substance  400 . In a second arrangement, GDF-5 (Growth/Differentiation Factor protein) is used as the osteoinductive growth stimulating substance  400 . Although these two osteoinductive growth stimulating substances  400  are discussed, the invention is not limited in this respect and other bone growth factors may be used. By placing implant  100  in an immersion of growth stimulating substance  400  the rh-BMP2 or GDF-5 accumulates on the roughened surfaces  108  of dental implant  100 . 
         [0028]    Turning to an implant procedure, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , at a first step  500  after implant  100  is manufactured, it is stored in a vial  402  of osteoinductive growth stimulating substance  400 . At step  502  a surgeon or dentist prepares the implant site according to normal procedures. At step  504 , the implant is removed and inserted according to normal implant procedures. 
         [0029]    In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , implant  100  and vial  402  of osteoinductive growth stimulating substance  400  are packaged separately at a first step  600 . At step  602  a surgeon or dentist prepares the implant site according to normal procedures. At step  604 , possibly concurrently with the site preparation, implant  100  is placed into vial  402  of osteoinductive growth stimulating substance  400 . This soak in growth stimulating substance  400  may be carried out for 15-20 minutes. Finally, after the soak, implant  100  with growth stimulating substance  400  adhered thereto is inserted according to normal implant procedures at step  606 . 
         [0030]    In either of the above procedures, the bone growth factor  400  is deposited on the roughened implant surface  108  so as to improve osseointegration and reduce the healing time period. 
         [0031]    While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes or equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art, It is therefore, to be understood that this application is intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the invention.