Gingival contoured abutment

• US 5,417,568 A
• Filed: 02/25/1994
• Issued: 05/23/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graziano D. Giglio
• Original Assignee: Graziano D. Giglio
• Inventors: Giglio, Graziano D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Application Number:
  US08/201,530
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 433/172, 433/173, 433/174, 433/175, 433/176
• US Class Current: 433/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/005 Connecting devices for joining an upper structure with an implant member, e.g. spacers
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/006 with polygonal positional means, e.g. hexagonal or octagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0077 with shape following the gingival surface or the bone surface

Abstract

An abutment for an implant of a dental prosthesis is contoured to follow the gingival margin.

Claims

1. A dental prosthesis comprising a fixture for insertion in an accommodating hole in the edentulous area of the alveolar bone of a patient as a substitute for a missing natural tooth root, an abutment coupled with the fixture, the abutment having a scalloped contour adapted to follow the gingival margin of the patient, the scalloped contour of the abutment facing in a direction away from said fixture and having a first scallop contour portion adapted to interproximally correspond to the mesial and distal contour of adjacent gingiva, said first contour portion being raised relative to a second scallop contour portion which is adapted to correspond to the facial and lingual contour of adjacent gingiva, and means for coupling a dental restoration to the abutment whereby the contoured abutment cooperates in preventing collapse of the papilla onto the abutment while maintaining papillary integrity.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the abutment has an internal Hex a flat side of which is aligned with the second contour portion of the scalloped contour.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the abutment has an internal Hex a corner of which is aligned with the second contour portion of the scalloped contour.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein the coupling means includes a cylinder coupled with the abutment and which is adapted to correspond to the restoration.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the coupling means includes a post integral with the abutment for cementing to the restoration.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first contour portion is a raised ridge.