Combination distraction dental implant and method of use

A method for the distraction of bone comprising the steps of:

• providing a three component distraction device including a hollow coronal component, an apical component and a connecting component or a first expansion component;
• placing the combination distraction device in a predetermined site where bone regeneration is required;
• allowing the combination distraction device to become integrated into the bone;
• ensuring that osseous incorporation of the combination distraction device into the bone has been accomplished;
• performing a corticotomy in the buccal bone at the level of the contiguous surfaces of two of the three components of the combination distraction device to form a distraction gap;
• educating the patient as to the care and activation of the three component combination distraction device;
• after allowing for a period of initial healing, maneuvering the connecting component thereby separating the coronal component and the apical component to widen the distraction gap in the bone.

An in-situ, combination distraction and dental implant system comprising:

• a) an apical member having a top surface;
• b) a coronal member comprising internal threads and a bottom surface, said bottom surface of said coronal member facing said top surface of said apical member;
• and
• c) a rod-like connecting and distraction member, comprising a first set of external threads matingly engageable with said internal threads of said coronal member and rotation enabling means for facilitating mechanical incremental rotation of said connecting and distraction member with respect to said coronal member,
• said system further comprising vertical movement limit means for preventing relative vertical movement beyond a predetermined point of said connecting and distraction member with respect to said apical member as said connecting and distraction member is rotated with respect to said coronal member, such that incremental rotation of said connecting and distraction member causes said coronal member to vertically separate from said apical member and create a correspondingly-sized vertical gap between said top and said bottom surfaces for distraction osteogenesis.