Omnidirectional multi-unit abutment system for screw-attached dental prostheses

A dental implant system, comprising:

• an abutment base having a longitudinal axis, the abutment base comprising a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the proximal end comprising a ball portion with an abutment base drive interface, the distal end comprising a post with screw threads sized and configured for attachment to a dental implant;
• a swivel shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, the swivel shell configured to at least partially encase the ball portion, wherein the inner surface comprises threads;
• and
• a lock screw having an annular body with a longitudinal axis and an open through channel centered along the longitudinal axis, wherein the lock screw comprises external threads that engage the threads of the inner surface of the swivel shell, wherein the lock screw comprises internal threads, and wherein the lock screw further comprises a lock screw drive interface in the open through channel,
• wherein the lock screw is configured to threadably rotate in the swivel shell to move longitudinally against the ball portion to fix an orientation of the longitudinal axis of the lock screw in an orientation that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the abutment base,
• wherein the swivel shell has a body providing the inner surface and the outer surface, wherein the body of the swivel shell increases in wall thickness from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion and has a maximal wall thickness that is below the threads of the inner surface that engage the external threads of the lock screw.

A dental implant system, comprising:

• an abutment base having a longitudinal axis, the abutment base comprising a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the proximal end comprising a ball portion with an abutment base drive interface, the distal end comprising a post with screw threads sized and configured for attachment to a dental implant;
• a swivel shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, the swivel shell configured to at least partially encase the ball portion, wherein the inner surface comprises threads;
• a lock screw having an annular body with a longitudinal axis and an open through channel centered along the longitudinal axis, wherein the lock screw comprises external threads that engage the threads of the inner surface of the swivel shell, wherein the lock screw comprises internal threads, and wherein the lock screw further comprises a lock screw drive interface in the open through channel;
• and
• a Ti base coupled to the swivel shell, wherein the Ti base has an open center channel extending longitudinally therethrough and an inner wall that tapers outward in a distal direction to terminate against a seating surface that extends radially outward from a distal end portion of the outer surface of the swivel shell, and wherein the outer wall of the swivel shell has a corresponding taper,
• wherein the lock screw is configured to be threadably rotatable in the swivel shell to move longitudinally against the ball portion to fix an orientation of the longitudinal axis of the lock screw in an orientation that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the abutment base.

A dental implant system, comprising:

• an abutment base having a longitudinal axis, the abutment base comprising a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the proximal end comprising a ball portion with an abutment base drive interface, the distal end comprising a post with screw threads sized and configured for attachment to a dental implant;
• a swivel shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, the swivel shell configured to at least partially encase the ball portion, wherein the inner surface comprises threads;
• and
• a lock screw having an annular body with a longitudinal axis and an open through channel centered along the longitudinal axis, wherein the lock screw comprises external threads that engage the threads of the inner surface of the swivel shell, wherein the lock screw comprises internal threads, and wherein the lock screw further comprises a lock screw drive interface in the open through channel,
• wherein the lock screw is configured to be threadably rotatable in the swivel shell to move longitudinally against the ball portion to fix an orientation of the longitudinal axis of the lock screw in an orientation that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the abutment base,
• wherein the outer surface of the swivel shell is devoid of threads, wherein the outer surface of the swivel shell tapers outward to a maximum diameter, wherein the swivel shell comprises a seating surface configured to engage a distal end portion of a coping that couples to a dental prosthesis, and wherein the seating surface projects radially outward from a portion of the swivel shell.

A method of aligning and attaching a dental prosthesis to a dental implant, the method comprising:

• providing an abutment assembly comprising an abutment base with a post with threads, a ball portion captured in a swivel shell and a lock screw;
• attaching the lock screw to the swivel shell with the lock screw not fully tightened to a lock position and with the abutment base post with threads extending through an aperture of the swivel shell;
• inserting a tip of an abutment drive tool through the lock screw to engage an abutment base drive interface provided in the ball portion;
• aligning the post with threads with the dental implant;
• rotating the abutment base drive tool to a first torque to attach the abutment base to the dental implant while the swivel shell and lock screw are in a first orientation to assemble the abutment base to the implant and define an implant abutment system;
• disengaging the abutment base drive tool from the abutment base drive interface;
• pushing a dental prosthesis comprising at least one Ti base onto the implant abutment system;
• tightening the lock screw against the ball portion using a tool inserted through one of the at least one Ti base of the dental prosthesis and into the lock screw;
• and
• securing the dental prosthesis with the at least one Ti base to the implant abutment system with a prosthetic screw.

A system for alignment and attachment of a dental prosthesis to a dental implant comprising:

• a multi-unit implant abutment comprising:
• an abutment base comprising a first end having a ball and a second end with a threaded post with a longitudinal axis, wherein the ball comprises an abutment base drive interface, and wherein the threaded post is configured to screw into the dental implant to a predetermined torque for screw attachment to the dental implant;
• a shell portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the ball is captured inside the shell portion with the threaded post of the abutment base extending through an aperture of the shell portion to reside distal to the shell portion;
• and
• a lock screw in the shell portion;
• a coping, the coping comprising an aperture on a proximal end that merges into an open channel, and a seating interface on a distal end configured to mount against a cooperating seating interface of the shell portion, wherein the cooperating seating interface of the shell portion extends about a distal end portion of the exterior surface of the shell portion;
• and
• a drive tool sized and configured to engage the lock screw,
• wherein the drive tool is sized and configured to be inserted through the aperture of the coping to engage the lock screw, and wherein the lock screw is configured to be rotatably moved to lock the shell portion in a desired orientation relative to the ball.

A method of aligning and attaching a dental prosthesis to a dental implant, the method comprising:

• providing an abutment assembly comprising an abutment base with a post with threads, a ball portion captured in a swivel shell and a lock screw;
• aligning the post with threads with the dental implant;
• attaching the abutment base to the dental implant by applying a first torque to the abutment base using an abutment base drive tool that engages an abutment base drive interface of the abutment base while the swivel shell is in a first orientation to assemble the abutment base to the dental implant and define an implant abutment system;
• disengaging the abutment base drive tool from the abutment base drive interface;
• reorienting the swivel shell to enter a distal end of a Ti base incorporated into a dental prosthesis;
• placing the dental prosthesis comprising the Ti base onto the implant abutment system with the swivel shell at least partially in the Ti base;
• applying a force to the dental prosthesis sufficient to seat the Ti base on the swivel shell in a seated position;
• tightening the lock screw to a second torque to fix the swivel shell in a second orientation in the seated position;
• and
• securing the dental prosthesis to the implant abutment system by applying a third torque to a prosthetic screw coupled to the lock screw.