Fixation base and guides for dental prosthesis installation
AssigneeWatson Guide IP LLC
InventorJason Watson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and method for installing a multi-tooth dental prosthesis in one session are shown and described. A first tool attaches to the jawbone, and serves as a foundation for subsequently used guides. Existing teeth and dental fixtures are removed, and the bone tissue is removed to accommodate the prosthesis. Subsequently, a drill guide is used to drill implant holes. An abutment guide is then used to place abutments. Copings are then installed. Next, the prosthesis may be installed and cemented to the copings. A resinous filler material may be applied to fill gaps and holes in and between the copings and the prosthesis, and is sanded smooth. The first tool, the guides, and the prosthesis are predesigned and prefabricated based on images taken of the patient anatomy.
Claims13
A method of installing a multi-tooth dental prosthesis in a maxillary or mandibular position in a mouth of a patient, the method comprising:
- providing a dental prosthesis for the maxillary or mandibular positioning in the patient's mouth,
- utilizing a fixation base to serve as a mounting jig for a plurality of other dental guides comprising a first dental guide, a second dental guide, and a third dental guide, wherein the fixation base comprises a generally arcuate shape with a front surface that has a plurality of openings through which fasteners can be passed, a rear surface, and a horizontal surface bearing first attachment elements for engagement of the dental guides used in the prosthesis installation, wherein the fixation base is configured and dimensioned to fit only in front of the maxillary or mandibular bone structure of said patient and itself does not include any portion which would otherwise extend in back of the maxillary or mandibular bone structure of said patient;
- utilizing the first dental guide, wherein the first dental guide is a mouthpiece that attaches to the fixation base and is used to assure appropriate location to attach the fixation base to the maxillary or mandibular bone tissue of said patient;
- installing the fixation base to the maxillary or mandibular bone tissue of said patient;
- removing the mouthpiece from the installed fixation base;
- removing at least one of natural teeth, dental fixtures, and obstructive mouth tissues from the work site, to expose an underside of the maxillary or mandibular bone tissue;
- recontouring the bone tissue;
- utilizing the second dental guide, wherein the second dental guide is a drill guide that attaches to the installed fixation base to assure appropriate location and orientation of holes to be drilled for the subsequently installed implants;
- drilling the implant holes in the recontoured bone tissue using the drill guide attached to the fixation base;
- removing the drill guide from the installed fixation base;
- utilizing the third dental guide, wherein the third dental guide is an abutment guide base that attaches to the installed fixation base to assure appropriate location for the subsequently installed abutments;
- installing the abutments, using the abutment guide base attached to the fixation base;
- and,
- installing said dental prosthesis to the abutments.
An apparatus for installing a dental prosthesis to maxillary or mandibular jaw bone of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- a fixation base for providing an attachment surface for a dental guide used during a dental prosthesis installation procedure, the fixation base further comprising a generally arcuate base member with a front surface that includes a plurality of openings through which fasteners can be passed, a rear surface, a horizontal surface, and manually releasable attachment elements for attachment of a dental guide used during a prosthesis installation to the fixation base, wherein the fixation base is configured and dimensioned to fit only in front of the maxillary or mandibular bone structure of a patient and which fixation base itself does not include any portions which would otherwise extend in back of the maxillary or mandibular bone structure of a patient.
A method of installing a fixation base in a maxillary or mandibular position in a mouth of a patient, the method comprising:
- obtaining anatomical data of at least some of the surfaces of the maxillary or mandibular portion of the mouth of the patient;
- utilizing a fixation base, wherein the fixation base comprises a generally arcuate shape with a front surface that has a plurality of openings through which fasteners can be passed through, a rear surface, and attachment elements, wherein the fixation base is configured and dimensioned to fit only in front of the maxillary or mandibular bone structure of a patient and itself does not include any portion which would otherwise extend in back of the maxillary or mandibular bone structure of a patient;
- utilizing a mouthpiece generated at least in part from the obtained anatomical data;
- attaching the mouthpiece to the fixation base using said attachment elements;
- installing the mouthpiece onto at least some surfaces of the maxillary or mandibular portion of the mouth of the patient to assist in positioning the fixation base appropriately prior to installing the fixation base to maxillary or mandibular bone tissue of the patient;
- installing the fixation base to the maxillary or mandibular portions of the patient using fasteners through said plurality of openings in said front surface of the fixation base;
- and
- detaching the mouthpiece from the fixation base using said attachment elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.