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AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsWynn E. Hornburg, John Beumer, III
Estimating the term…
A retrievable dental prothesis fabricated by using a special plastic cylinder using low-wax casting procedures for the purpose of eliminating the need for a visible titanium abutment cylinder typically used for conventional prostheses. This improves the appearance and functional features of the prosthesis. The prosthesis is connected by a titanium alloy screw directly to an implant embedded in a patient's underlying dental bone structure. Internal hexagonal surfaces formed at the base of the prosthesis which mate with hexagonal surfaces of an upward extension of the implant prevent loosening or rotation of the prosthesis due to rotational forces and vibrations and enable fabrication of single implant-supported restoration. However, the prosthesis may be used without such internal hexagonal surfaces if desired. Because an abutment cylinder is not used, the prosthesis provides increased working space between the implant and corresponding opposite upper or lower existing teeth. An access aperture may be provided at the back of the prosthesis for allowing access by an installation tool to the titanium alloy screw. The prosthesis is formed by shaping a wax pattern around the plastic cylinder to represent a patient's tooth to be replaced by the prosthesis. The prosthesis is then cast out of gold-palladium alloy. A bottom surface at the base of the prosthesis is polished using a lapping tool and guide pin. Cutting edges may be used on the lapping tool to facilitate deburring of the bottom surface.
A retrievable dental prosthesis adapted to be removably connected by a screw to an implant anchor, said implant anchor adapted to be embedded in a patient's dental bone structure and to be disposed below a top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva, said dental prosthesis comprising an integral cast metal portion removably connected to said implant anchor, said cast metal portion being shaped to generally represent contours of a tooth of said patient to be replaced by said prosthesis, said cast metal portion having a base with an annular bottom surface and means at said base for engaging said implant and interlocking therewith in order to prevent rotation of said cast metal portion with respect to said implant anchor, said cast metal portion having an access aperture passing therethrough from an upper position above said base downward toward said base, said screw being disposed inside and at a bottom of said aperture in order to removably connect said cast metal portion to said implant anchor so that said top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva and directly interfaces with said implant anchor, and so that said base interlocks with said implant anchor below said top surface of said gingiva, said aperture providing access to said screw so that said screw is capable of being selectively (a) loosened in order to remove said cast metal portion from said implant, and (b) tightened in order to removably connect said cast metal portion to said implant anchor.
A retrievable dental prosthesis adapted to be removably connected by a screw to an implant anchor, said implant anchor adapted to be embedded in a patient's dental bone structure and to be disposed below a top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva, said dental prosthesis comprising an integral cast metal portion removably connected to said implant anchor, said cast metal portion being shaped to generally represent contours of a tooth of said patient to be replaced by said prosthesis, said cast metal portion having a base and means at said base for engaging said implant anchor and interlocking therewith in order to prevent rotation of said cast metal portion with respect to said implant anchor, said cast metal portion having an access aperture passing therethrough from an upper position above said base downward toward said base, said screw being disposed inside and at a bottom of said aperture in order to removably connect said cast metal portion to said implant anchor so that said base extends downward below said top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva and is directly connected to and interlocked with said implant anchor below said top surface of said gingiva, said aperture providing access to said screw so that said screw is capable of being selectively (a) loosened in order to remove said cast metal portion from said implant, and (b) tightened in order to removably connect said cast metal portion to said implant anchor, said cast metal portion having an annular collar at said base, said collar having an annular ledge at the top thereof.
A retrievable dental prosthesis adapted to be removably connected to an implant anchor, said implant anchor adapted to be embedded in a patient's dental bone structure and to be disposed below a top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva, said dental prosthesis comprising a screw and an integral cast metal portion removably connected to said implant anchor by said screw, said cast metal portion being shaped to generally represent contours of a tooth of said patient to be replaced by said prosthesis, said case metal portion having a base with an annular bottom surface and means at said base for engaging said implant anchor and interlocking therewith in order to prevent rotation of said cast metal portion with respect to said implant anchor, said cast metal portion having an access aperture passing therethrough from an upper position above said base downward toward said base, said screw being disposed inside and at a bottom of said aperture in order to removably connect said cast metal portion to said implant anchor so that said annular bottom surface of said base extends downward below said top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva and directly interfaces with said implant anchor, and so that said base interlocks with said implant anchor below said top surface of said gingiva, said aperture providing access to said screw so that said screw is capable of being selectively (a) loosened in order to remove said cast metal portion from said implant, and (b) tightened in order to removably connect said cast metal portion to said implant anchor.
A retrievable dental prosthesis adapted to be removably connected to an implant anchor, said implant anchor adapted to be embedded in a patient's dental bone structure and to be disposed below a top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva, said dental prosthesis comprising a screw and an integral cast metal portion removably connected to said implant anchor by said screw, said cast metal portion being shaped to generally represent contours of a tooth of said patient to be replaced by said prosthesis, said cast metal portion having a base and means at said base for engaging said implant anchor and interlocking therewith in order to prevent rotation of said base metal portion with respect to said implant anchor, said cast metal portion having an access aperture passing therethrough from an upper position above said base downward toward said base, said screw being disposed inside and at a bottom of said aperture in order to removably connect said cast metal portion to said implant anchor so that said base extends downward below said top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva and is directly connected to and interlocked with said implant anchor below said top surface of said gingiva, said aperture providing access to said screw so that said screw is capable of being selectively (a) loosened in order to remove said cast metal portion from said implant, and (b) tightened in order to removably connect said cast metal portion to said implant anchor, said access aperture having a frusto-conically-shaped surface at said bottom thereof which engages a corresponding frusto-conically-shaped surface at the bottom of a head of said screw, said head having a recess therein with internal surfaces, said access aperture entering said cast metal portion from a back of said portion so that said aperture provides access allowing an installation tool to engage said internal surfaces of said screw in said head in order to selectively loosen and to selectively tighten said screw.
A retrievable dental prosthesis adapted to be removably connected to an implant anchor, said implant anchor adapted to be embedded in a patient's dental bone structure and to be disposed below a top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva, said dental prosthesis comprising a screw and an integral cast metal portion removably connected to said implant anchor by said screw, said cast metal portion being shaped to generally represent contours of a tooth of said patient to be replaced by said prosthesis, said cast metal portion having a base with an annular bottom surface, said cast metal portion having an access aperture passing therethrough from an upper position above said base downward toward said base, and a screw disposed inside and at a bottom of said aperture removably connecting said cast metal portion to said implant anchor so that said annular bottom surface of said base extends downward below said top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva and directly interfaces with said implant anchor below to said screw so that said screw is capable of being selectively (a) loosened in order to remove said cast metal portion from said implant, and (b) tightened in order to removably connected said cast metal portion to said implant.
A combination retrievable dental prosthesis and implant anchor comprising an implant anchor adapted to be embedded in a patient's dental bone structure and to be disposed below a top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva, an integral cast metal portion removably connected to said implant anchor, said cast metal portion being shaped to generally represent contours of a tooth of said patient to be replaced by said prosthesis, said cast metal portion having a base, an access aperture passing therethrough from an upper position above said base downward toward said base, and a connector disposed inside and at a bottom of said aperture removably connecting said cast metal portion to said implant anchor so that said base extends downward below said top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva and directly interfaces with said implant anchor below said top surface of said gingiva, said aperture providing access to said connector so that said connector is capable of being selectively (a) loosened in order to remove said cast metal portion form said implant, and (b) tightened in order to removably connect said cast metal portion to said implant.
A cylinder apparatus used for fabricating a cast metal dental prosthesis comprising an elongated cylindrically-shaped member having a first bore passing longitudinally therethrough, said first bore having a frustro-conically-shaped surface at the bottom thereof, said member having a cylindrically-shaped recess at a bottom thereof and a second bore therein having a smaller diameter than said first bore connecting said first bore to said recess, said member having an annular collar at said bottom thereof and a portion extending downward from said collar, said collar having an annular ledge at a top thereof, said member being made out of a material capable of being used for lost-wax casting procedures.
Milling apparatus used for deburring a cast metal dental prosthesis comprising:
A method of fabricating a cast metal dental prosthesis comprising the steps of:
A combination retrievable dental prosthesis and implant anchor comprising an implant anchor adapted to be embedded in a patient's dental bone structure and to be disposed below a top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva, an integral cast metal portion removably connected to said implant anchor, said cast metal portion being shaped to generally represent contours of a tooth of said patient to be replaced by said prosthesis, said cast metal portion having a base with an annular bottom surface and means at said base for engaging said implant anchor and interlocking therewith in order to prevent rotation of said base metal portion with respect to said implant anchor, said cast metal portion having an access aperture passing therethrough from an upper position above said base downward toward said base, and a screw disposed inside and at a bottom of said aperture removably connecting said cast metal portion to said implant anchor so that said annular bottom surface of said base extends downward below said top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva and directly interfaces with said implant anchor below said top surface of said gingiva, said aperture providing access to said screw so that said screw is capable of being selectively (a) loosened in order to remove said cast metal portion from said implant, and (b) tightened in order to removably connect said cast metal portion to said implant anchor.
A method of installing a dental prosthesis in a patient's jawbone, said jawbone having a predrilled bore therein, said dental prosthesis having an aperture therein and a base, said method comprising the steps of:
A retrievable dental prosthesis adapted to be removably connected by a connector to an implant anchor, said implant anchor adapted to be embedded in a patient's dental bone structure and to be disposed below a top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva, said dental prosthesis comprising an integral portion removably connected to said implant anchor, said integral portion being shaped to generally represent contours of a tooth of said patient to be replaced by said prosthesis, said integral portion having a base and an access aperture passing therethrough from an upper position above said base downward toward said base, said connector being disposed inside said aperture removably connecting said integral portion to said implant anchor so that said base extends downward below said top surface of said patient's overlying gingiva and directly interfaces with said implant anchor below said top surface of said gingiva, said aperture providing access to said connector so that said connector is capable of being selectively (a) loosened in order to remove said integral portion from said implant, and (b) tightened in order to removably connect said integral portion to said implant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.