Impression cap

• US 20020106610A1
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nobel Biocare Services AG (Envista Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nobel Biocare AB (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Hurson, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,769,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0001 Impression means for implants, e.g. impression coping
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/005 Connecting devices for joining an upper structure with an implant member, e.g. spacers
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0054 having a cylindrical implant connecting part
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/006 with polygonal positional means, e.g. hexagonal or octagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0066 with positioning means A61C8/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0068 with an additional screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/008 Healing caps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/00 Impression cups, i.e. impression trays; Impression methods computer-assisted sizing A61C13/0004; instruments for determining occlusion A61C19/05

Abstract

An impression cap for taking dental impressions in a patient'"'"'s mouth comprises a distal end that includes a top surface and a proximal end that defines an opening. The impression cap also includes an inner surface that defines an internal cavity. The proximal end of the impression cap is configured to engage a corresponding shoulder of a prosthetic abutment in a snap fit. The impression cap further comprises an injection port configured to receive a tip of an injection syringe for injecting impression material under into the inner cavity and a plurality vent holes configured to allow air and excess impression material to escape from the inner cavity. Methods of using the impression cap and a dental kit including the impression cap are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An impression cap for taking dental impressions in a patient'"'"'s mouth, the impression cap comprising a distal end that includes a top surface, a proximal end that defines an opening, and an inner surface that defines an internal cavity, the proximal end of the impression cap configured to engage a corresponding shoulder of a prosthetic abutment, the impression cap further comprising an injection port configured to receive a tip of an injection syringe for injecting impression material into the inner cavity and a plurality vent holes configured to allow air and excess impression material to escape from the inner cavity.

2. An impression cap as in claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the impression cap is configured to engage the shoulder of the abutment in a snap fit.

3. An impression cap as in claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the impression cap includes an internal notch formed on the inner surface, the proximal notch sized and dimensioned so as to engage the corresponding shoulder of the prosthetic abutment in a snap fit.

4. An impression cap as in claim 1, further comprising one or more embedment features for facilitating the gripping and retention of the impression cap within impression material.

5. An impression cap as in claim 4, wherein the one or more embedment features comprises a shelf, which defines an interference surface that lies generally traverse to a longitudinal axis of the impression cap.

6. An impression cap as in claim 5, wherein the shelf is positioned at the distal end of the impression cap.

7. An impression cap as in claim 5, wherein the shelf includes one or more through holes.

8. An impression cap as in claim 1, wherein the vent holes comprise three sets of three vent holes that are arranged vertically, each set of vent holes being spaced approximately 120 degrees apart around the perimeter of the impression cap.

9. An impression cap as in claim 1, wherein the vent holes comprise four sets of three vent holes that are arranged vertically, each set of vent holes being spaced approximately 90 degrees apart around the perimeter of the impression cap.

10. An impression cap as in claim 1, wherein the vent holes have a diameter of about 0.2 inches.

11. An impression cap as in claim 1, wherein the vent holes have a conical shape with a small end and a large end, the small end being located on the inner surface.

12. An impression coping as in claim 1, wherein the inner surface comprises a generally cylindrical portion and a generally conical roof.

13. An impression coping as in claim 1, wherein the inner surface comprises a generally cylindrical portion and a generally spherical roof.

14. An impression coping as in claim 1, wherein the inner surface comprises a generally cylindrical portion and a generally flat roof.

15. An impression coping as in claim 1, wherein the injection port is positioned on the top surface of the impression coping.

16. An impression coping as in claim 1, wherein the injection port has a diameter of about 0.6 inches.

17. An impression coping as in claim 1, wherein the injection port has a diameter that is approximately equal to a gap between the inner surface and an upper portion of the prosthetic abutment.

18. An impression coping as in claim 1, wherein the impression cap has a non-round cross-section.

20. A dental kit as in claim 19, further including a block out plug configured to fit within the abutment above the coupling screw.

21. A dental kit as in claim 19, further comprising a first package and a second package, the first package including the abutment, the coupling screw, the healing cap and the healing cap screw, the second package including the impression cap and the syringe tip.

22. A dental kit as in claim 21, wherein the second package also includes a block out plug configured to fit within the abutment above the coupling screw.

23. A dental kit as in claim 19, wherein the abutment includes an interlock region, which include three lobes positioned 120 degrees apart from each other.

24. A dental kit as in claim 19, wherein the healing cap includes a tissue retention flange that is configured to extend below a shoulder of the abutment when the healing cap is coupled to the abutment.

25. A dental kit as in claim 19, wherein the coupling screw includes a head portion that includes a threaded portion and the healing cap screw also includes a threaded portion configured to the threaded portion of the coupling screw.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of positioning the impression cap onto the prosthetic abutment include snapping the impression cap onto a shoulder of the abutment.

28. The method as in claim 26, further including the steps of taking an impression of the patient'"'"'s mouth by placing an impression tray filed with a second impression material over the impression cap and removing the impression tray and the impression cap from the patient'"'"'s mouth.

29. The method as in claim 25, further including the step of inserting a block out plug into a space within the prosthetic abutment above a coupling screw.

30. The method as in claim 25, further including modifying the shape of the prosthetic abutment.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of injecting the first impression material into the impression cap includes inserting a tip of a syringe filled with the first impression material into the injection port of the impression cap.

19. A dental kit for replacing a missing tooth with a dental prosthesis comprising:

an abutment configured to mate with a dental implant;

a coupling screw configured to extend through an inner bore of the abutment so as to couple the abutment to the dental implant;

a healing cap with an internal cavity configured to fit over the abutment;

a healing cap screw configured to couple the healing cap to the abutment;

an impression cap configured fit over the abutment cap, the impression cap including an injection port and a plurality of bleed holes; and

a syringe tip configured to mate with the injection port of the impression cap.

26. A method for taking a dental impression in a patient'"'"'s mouth comprising the following steps:

providing an impression cap with an injection port and a plurality of vent holes;

positioning an impression cap onto a prosthetic abutment; and

injecting a first impression material into the impression cap through the injection port until the first impression material is extruded through at least one of the vent holes.

32. A method for taking a dental impression in a patient'"'"'s mouth comprising the steps of:

providing a first set and a second set of components, the first set including an abutment configured to mate with a dental implant in a patient'"'"'s mouth, a coupling screw configured to extend through an inner bore of the abutment so as to couple the abutment to the dental implant, a healing cap with an internal cavity configured to fit over the abutment, and a healing cap screw configured to couple the healing cap to the abutment, the second set including an impression cap configured fit over the abutment cap and having an injection port and a plurality of bleed holes and a syringe tip configured to mate with the injection port of the impression cap,

coupling the abutment to the dental implant with the coupling screw;

coupling the healing cap to the abutment with the healing cap screw; and

providing the patient with the second set of components.

33. The method of claim 32, further including the step of providing a bock out plug in the second set.

34. The method of claim 32, further including the step of providing a package that includes the first and second set of components.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of providing a package includes providing a first part that contains the first set of components and a second part that contains the second step of components.