Secure friction retained denture

#The present invention relates to dentistry, and more particularly, to functionally secure frictionally retained dentures.

#Dentures are typically utilized within the dental field to replace a plurality of natural teeth using a single assembly. Dentures are typically secured to a patient's jaw by use of previously installed dental implants. A number of difficulties arise with prior art dentures. One is that they may require a relatively great number of implants to be properly supported within the mouth. Another is that it may be objectionable to fasten dentures in place using screws or bolts secured to the denture and threaded directly into the implant. For one thing, the implant may be oriented at an angle unsuitable for passing into or through the denture. Another issue may be that bone tissue at any given desired implant site may be eroded or otherwise unsuitable for securely supporting an implant.

#There exists a need for denture attachment to the patient's jaw that requires relatively few implants. Also, there is a need to reduce precision in components and component alignment to assure secure attachment to the jaw.

#Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a side cross sectional view of a dental implant;

#FIG. 2 shows a component added to FIG. 1;

#Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown an implant 100 installed in a jaw bone 10 of a patient, with soft tissue such as gum tissue 12 overlying jaw bone 10. Implant 100 may be conventional and may preexist installation of a denture 102 (see FIGS. 6-9), or alternatively, may be fabricated and installed specifically for installation of denture 102. As seen in FIG. 2, a seat 110 for seating elements of a novel retention system for denture 102 sits atop implant 100. Seat 110 elevates a load bearing working surface of implant 100 from a location recessed within the jaw to a location reasonably flush with gum tissue 12. It would be possible to omit seat 110 if implant 100 were flush with the upper surface of jaw tissue. Ordinarily, implant 100 sits recessed below such upper surface.

#It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as overlying, atop, laterally, vertically, and transverse refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes in posture and position of the novel denture retention system as installed in a patient, or with use of an opposed jaw (drawings illustrate a lower jaw). Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way.

#Referring also to FIGS. 3A-9, there are additionally shown elements of the novel retention system for frictionally retaining denture 102 to a jaw of the patient. The retention system may comprise at least one prong anchor 104 (shown isolated from other elements in FIG. 3A) having a plurality of prong reception sites 106 and an implant connector (e.g., a screw 108) configured to secure prong anchor 104 to dental implant 100.