Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a customized abutment is disclosed. The method for manufacturing a customized abutment, includes: coupling a second coping in a combination of a copied fixture (or a copied analog) same as the actual fixture and the second coping same as the first coping with the negative impression of the first coping formed in the impression body; performing scanning; removing the second coping from a scanned image; designing an abutment coupled to the actual fixture; and manufacturing an actual abutment suitable for a patient by using the designed abutment. Thus, since a manufacturing time of the abutment is shortened, productivity is improved and at the same time, it is possible to manufacture a customized abutment for a patient.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a customized abutment. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are a variety of methods for dental treatments including orthodontic treatments, filling treatments, and prosthodontic treatments. A dental implant treatment is included in prosthodontic treatments. 
         [0003]    The dental implant treatment is a therapy for placing a titanium fixture appropriate for a living body into a jawbone around an area where a tooth is missed or pulled out and restoring natural teeth functions by coupling prosthesis with the fixture. 
         [0004]    For dental implants, one of the important matters is to implement a teeth model same as or similar to the shape of an affected area. 
         [0005]    A conventional method for manufacturing an abutment to be coupled with a fixture and an artificial tooth is explained. 
         [0006]    A titanium screw-shaped actual fixture is placed into an area of a jawbone where a tooth has been pulled out. After a certain period of time when the actual fixture completely integrates into the jawbone, one side of a first coping for impression is coupled with one side of the actual fixture that faces the outside of the jawbone. At the time, it is natural that the other side of the first coping is exposed to the outside of the jawbone. 
         [0007]    Since then, after impression materials are applied around the first coping, gums and teeth that are not pulled out, an impression body of the first coping and teeth around the first coping is taken. A negative impression of the first coping and that of the teeth are formed in the impression body. 
         [0008]    A combination of a copied fixture (or a copied analog) with a structure same as or similar to the actual fixture and the first coping separated from the actual fixture is coupled with the impression body where the negative impression of the first coping is formed. At the time, the first coping is coupled with the area of the impression body where the negative impression of the first coping is formed and the copied fixture (or the copied analog) is exposed to the outside of the impression body. 
         [0009]    Since then, a plaster teeth model is formed by pouring plaster into the impression body. At the time, the copied fixture (or the copied analog) is inserted into the inside of the plaster teeth model and the first coping is exposed to the outside of the plaster teeth model. 
         [0010]    After the first coping is removed and a coping for acquiring data is coupled with the copied fixture (or the copied analog), the plaster teeth model is scanned and coordinates of the copied fixture (or the copied analog) are obtained by using the coping for acquiring the data. By using the acquired coordinates of the copied fixture (or the copied analog) and data of the scanned plaster teeth model, the abutment to be coupled with the actual fixture placed into the jawbone is manufactured and prosthesis such as an artificial tooth coupled with the abutment is manufactured. 
         [0011]    Because the conventional method for manufacturing an abutment as shown above uses plaster, it takes a long time to harden plaster. This decreases productivity. 
         [0012]    It is difficult to obtain an accurate abutment due to the expansion of plaster. 
         [0013]    The prior arts related to the present invention are disclosed in the Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2011-0020323, etc. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    It is an object of the present invention to solve all the aforementioned problems. 
         [0015]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a customized abutment capable of improving productivity and allowing the customized abutment fit for a patient to be obtained at the same time. 
         [0016]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing an abutment, including steps of: (a) placing an actual fixture into a jawbone from which one or more teeth are pulled out; (b) coupling a first coping for impression with one side of the actual fixture that faces the outside of the jawbone; (c) applying impression materials around the first coping and taking an impression body where negative impression of the first coping and that of teeth are formed; (d) coupling a second coping in a combination of a copied fixture (or a copied analog) with a structure same as or similar to the actual fixture and the second coping same as or similar to the first coping with the negative impression of the first coping formed in the impression body; (e) acquiring a negative teeth model by scanning the impression body with which the combination is coupled by using a scanning device; (f) acquiring a positive teeth model to make the copied fixture (or the copied analog) implanted and to make the second coping exposed by converting the negative teeth model; (g) removing the second coping; (h) replacing the copied fixture (or the copied analog) of the positive teeth model with data of the actual fixture, and designing an abutment at the area where the second coping has been removed; and (i) manufacturing an actual abutment by using the designed abutment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0018]      FIGS. 1A through 1D  are diagrams showing a method for manufacturing a customized abutment in accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention, although different, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described herein in connection with one embodiment may be implemented within other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, it is to be understood that the position or arrangement of individual elements within each disclosed embodiment may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, appropriately interpreted, along with the full range of equivalents to which the claims are entitled. The length, size, thickness and shape of example embodiments illustrated in drawings may be expressed exaggeratedly for convenience. 
         [0020]    To allow those skilled in the art to the present invention to be carried out easily, the example embodiments of the present invention by referring to attached diagrams will be explained in detail as follows: 
         [0021]      FIGS. 1A through 1D  are diagrams showing a method for manufacturing a customized abutment in accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0022]    As illustrated in the drawings, at a step of S 110 , a titanium screw-shaped actual fixture  11  is made and is placed into a jawbone where one or more teeth is pulled out by using a jig, etc. 
         [0023]    At a step of S 120 , after the actual fixture  11  completely integrates into the jawbone, one side of a first coping  15  for an impression is coupled with one side of the actual fixture  11  that faces the outside of the jawbone. At the time, the other side of the first coping  15  is exposed to the outside of the jawbone. 
         [0024]    To make directionality, an inner surface of the actual fixture  11  and an external surface of the first coping  15 , which is inserted into and is coupled with the inner surface of the actual fixture  11 , may be oval, triangular, quadrangular, pentagonal, hexagonal or polygonal in a mutually symmetrical shape. Since the inner surface of the actual fixture  11  is formed in an oval or polygonal shape and the external surface of the first coping  15  is formed in an oval or polygonal shape, the first coping  15  is prevented from being rotated when the first coping  15  is inserted into and coupled with the actual fixture  11 . 
         [0025]    At a step of S 130 , after impression materials are applied around the first coping  15 , gums, and teeth that are not pulled out, an impression body  20  of the teeth around the first coping  15 , including the first coping  15 , is taken. Then, a negative impression  21  of the teeth and a negative impression  25  of the first coping are formed in the impression body  20 . 
         [0026]    At a step of S 140 , a combination  30  is coupled with the negative impression  25  of the first coping formed in the impression body  20 . The combination  30  is a configuration of combining a copied fixture (or a copied analog)  31  and a second coping  35  with each other. The copied fixture (or the copied analog)  31  has the structure same as or similar to the actual fixture  11  and the second coping  35  is same as or similar to the first coping  15 . At the time, the second coping  35  in the combination  30  is coupled with the negative impression  25  of the first coping formed in the impression body  20 , and the copied fixture (or the copied analog)  31  is exposed to the outside of the impression body  20 . 
         [0027]    To have directionality, an inner surface of the copied fixture (or the copied analog)  31  and an external surface of the second coping  35 , which is inserted into and is coupled with the inner surface of the copied fixture (or the copied analog)  31 , may be formed in a mutually symmetrical oval, triangular, quadrangular, pentagonal, hexagonal or polygonal shape. 
         [0028]    After that, a negative teeth model  50  is acquired by scanning the impression body  20  with which the combination  30  is coupled through a scanning device  40  including a monitor  41 , at a step of S 150  and a positive teeth model  60  is acquired by converting the negative teeth model  50  at a step of S 160 . 
         [0029]    In the negative teeth model  50 , a copied fixture (or a copied analog)  51  is exposed and a second coping (non-illustrated) is implanted, but in the converted positive teeth model  60 , a copied fixture (or a copied analog)  61  is implanted and a second coping  65  is exposed. The negative teeth model  50  may be converted into the positive teeth model  60  by using scanner software, etc. 
         [0030]    At a step of S 170 , the second coping  65  is removed while the monitor  41  of the scanning device  40  is looked at. 
         [0031]    At a step of S 180 , while the monitor  41  of the scanning device  40  is looked at, a teeth model is manufactured by replacing the copied fixture (or the copied analog)  61  in the positive teeth model  60  with data  61 A of the actual fixture  11 . The copied fixture (or the copied analog)  61  in the positive teeth model  60  may be replaced with the data  61 A of the actual fixture because the copied fixture (or the copied analog)  31  may be deformed during a manufacturing process of the teeth model. The copied fixture (or the copied analog)  61  in the positive teeth model  60  may be replaced with the data  61 A of the actual fixture by overlapping the data  61 A of the actual fixture with the copied fixture (or the copied analog)  61  in the positive teeth model  60 . An abutment  71  where one side will be coupled with the data  61 A of the actual fixture and the other side will be coupled with an artificial tooth is designed. 
         [0032]    After that, it is properly processed by using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software and coordinates of the data  61 A of the actual fixture in the teeth model are acquired by using the data  61 A of the actual fixture. By using the coordinates of the acquired data  61 A of the actual fixture, the abutment  71  which will be coupled with the actual fixture  11  that has been placed into the jawbone is designed. By using the designed the abutment  71 , an actual abutment  13  customized for a patient and prosthesis, including an artificial tooth, are manufactured. 
         [0033]    In a method for manufacturing a teeth model in accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention, the second coping  35  in the combination  30  of the copied fixture (or the copied analog)  31  with the structure same as or similar to the actual fixture  11  and the second coping  35  same as or similar to the first coping  15  is coupled with the negative impression  25  of the first coping formed in the impression body  20  and scan it. After the second coping is removed from the scanned image through the monitor  41 , the abutment to be coupled with the actual fixture is designed and then the actual abutment fit for a patient is manufactured by using the designed abutment. Therefore, the method may shorten the time of manufacturing the actual abutment and manufacture the abutment customized for a patient at the same time. 
         [0034]    The drawings in the example embodiment of the present invention described as shown above are exemplarily illustrated to make it easy to identify the technical concept of the present invention by omitting detailed outline. Besides, the aforementioned example embodiment cannot be a reference limiting the technical concept of the present invention, but it is just a reference to understand the technical matters included in the claims of the prevent invention. 
         [0035]    The method for manufacturing the customized abutment in accordance with the present invention is to couple a second coping in a combination of a copied fixture (or a copied analog) with a structure same as or similar to an actual fixture and the second coping same as or similar to a first coating with an impression area of the first negative coping formed in the impression body and then scan it, remove the second coating in the scanned image, design an abutment to be coupled with the actual fixture, and manufacture an actual abutment fit for a patient by using the designed abutment. The present invention has effects of improving productivity by shortening the time of manufacturing an abutment and manufacturing a customized abutment fit for a patient at the same time.