Dental implant abutment

• US 8,371,851 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ivoclar Vivadent AG
• Original Assignee: Ivoclar Vivadent AG
• Inventors: Smith, Jeffrey, Ganley, Robert, Brodkin, Dmitri, Ospelt, Armin, Foser, Hans Peter, Specht, Tobias
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Cris L
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORAN, EDWARD JOHN
• Application Number:
  US12/027,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20080274440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 433172-175, 433/199.1, 433/201.1, 433/202.1, 433/203.1, 700 97- 98, 700/118, 264 16- 20, 428/542.8
• US Class Current: 433/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0015 using electrical discharge machining [EDM], e.g. spark erosion
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/083 Porcelain or ceramic teeth A61C13/081 takes precedence; preparations A61K6/80
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0012 characterised by the material or composition, e.g. ceramics, surface layer, metal alloy use of specific materials A61K6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0013 with a surface layer, coating
• 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 8/0063 with an internal sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0068 with an additional screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0069 tapered or conical connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0074 with external threads
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0089 Implanting tools or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/802 comprising ceramics
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/818 comprising zirconium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/84 comprising metals or alloys

Abstract

A dental implant abutment for attaching a dental prosthesis within a patient'"'"'s mouth. The abutment is a single unit structure fabricated of a ceramic material, multicolored throughout to match the color of the dental prosthesis, the surrounding dentition and the surrounding gingival tissue.

Claims

1. A dental implant abutment comprising:

a monolithic single unit structure having a basal end for anchoring to an implant and a coronal end for supporting a dental prosthesis, wherein the basal end and coronal end meet at a cervical line;

wherein the monolithic single unit structure is fabricated of a ceramic material;

wherein the monolithic single unit structure is multicolored throughout and anatomically shaped and shaded to match the color and contour of the dental prosthesis, the surrounding dentition and the surrounding gingival tissue;

wherein the basal end comprises a collar having a lower side and an upper side, the upper side of the collar forming the cervical line, the collar further comprising a core and an outer layer of material overlaying the core, wherein the core is a dentin color and wherein the outer layer is a gingival color, and wherein the cervical line may be lowered by removing the outer layer of material;

wherein the ceramic material has a flexural strength exceeding 1000 MPa.

2. The dental implant abutment of claim 1 wherein the multicolored single unit structure varies in shade, translucency, opacity, opalescence, and fluorescence from the basal end to the coronal end.

3. The dental implant abutment of claim 2 wherein the basal end is gingival pink-colored, the coronal end is incisal-colored and the area in between the basal and coronal ends is dentin colored.

4. The dental implant abutment of claim 3 wherein the dentin-colored area includes a cervical-colored area where the basal end meets the coronal end.

5. The implant abutment of claim 2 wherein the shade is measured by CIE L*, a*, and b* color coordinates and wherein the CIE L*, a*, and b* color coordinates are within the CIE L*, a*, and b* color space region associated with tooth colors and translucencies.

6. The dental implant abutment of claim 5 wherein value L* ranges from about 27 to about 96, value a* ranges from about −

17 to about +28, value b* ranges from about −

29 to about +52 and the contrast ratio (CR) ranges from about 5 to about 99%.

7. The dental implant abutment of claim 1 wherein the ceramic material comprises zirconia, alumina, a composite thereof or a mixture thereof.

8. The dental implant of claim 7 wherein the composite comprises functionally graded composites.

9. The dental implant of claim 7 wherein the composite or mixture comprises zirconia-toughened alumina or alumina-toughened zirconia.

10. The dental implant abutment of claim 1 wherein the ceramic material has a flexural strength exceeding 1500 MPa.

11. The dental implant abutment of claim 1 wherein the ceramic material has a flexural strength exceeding 2000 MPa.

12. The dental implant abutment of claim 1 wherein the outer layer of material has a thickness in the range from about 0.25 to about 1.00 mm.

13. The dental implant abutment of claim 1 wherein the location of the cervical line changes after the abutment is prepared for placement on an implant.

14. The dental implant abutment of claim 13 wherein the abutment is prepared using hand-held instruments and procedures, partially automated instruments and procedures, or fully automated instruments and procedures.

15. A dental implant restoration system comprising:

an implant;

an abutment fixed to an implant; and

a dental prosthesis disposed atop the abutment;

wherein the abutment comprises a monolithic, single-unit structure having a basal end for anchoring to an implant and a coronal end for supporting a dental prosthesis, wherein the basal end and coronal end meet at a cervical line;

wherein the monolithic single-unit structure is fabricated of a ceramic material;

wherein the monolithic single-unit structure is multicolored throughout and anatomically shaped and shaded to match the color and contour of the dental prosthesis, the surrounding dentition and the surrounding gingival tissue;

wherein the basal end comprises a collar having a lower side and an upper side, the upper side of the collar forming the cervical line, the collar further comprising a core and an outer layer of material overlaying the core, wherein the core is a dentin color and wherein the outer layer is a gingival color, and wherein the cervical line may be lowered by removing the outer layer of material;

wherein the ceramic material has a flexural strength exceeding 1000 MPa.

16. The dental implant restoration system of claim 15 wherein the abutment is attached to the implant externally by a screw or internally by a bore contained in the abutment.

17. The dental implant restoration system of claim 15 wherein the implant comprises a male connection component and the abutment comprises a female connection component to connect to one another.

18. The dental implant restoration system of claim 15 wherein the implant comprises a female connection component and the abutment comprises a male connection component to connect to one another.

19. The dental implant restoration system of claim 15 wherein the basal end is gingival pink-colored, the coronal end is incisal-colored and the area in between the basal and coronal ends is dentin colored.

20. The dental implant restoration system of claim 15 wherein the ceramic material has a flexural strength exceeding 1500 MPa.

21. The dental implant restoration system of claim 15 wherein the ceramic material has a flexural strength exceeding 2000 MPa.

22. The dental implant restoration system of claim 15 wherein the outer layer of material has a thickness in the range from about 0.25 to about 1.00 mm.

23. The dental implant restoration system of claim 15 wherein the location of the cervical line changes after the abutment is prepared for placement on an implant.

24. The implant restoration system of claim 23 wherein the abutment is prepared using hand-held instruments and procedures, partially automated instruments and procedures, or fully automated instruments and procedures.

25. The dental implant restoration system of claim 15 wherein the dental prosthesis comprises dental ceramic, porcelain, composite or hybrid material.

26. The dental implant restoration system of claim 25 wherein the dental ceramic, porcelain, composite or hybrid material is fabricated using hand-held instruments and procedures, partially automated instruments and procedures, or fully automated instruments and procedures.

27. The dental implant restoration system of claim 26 wherein the partially or fully automated instruments and procedures comprises CAD/CAM, Rapid-Prototyping, plasma or flame deposition, electroforming, spraying or dipping.

37. The dental implant restoration system of claim 15 wherein the dental prosthesis is disposed atop the abutment by pressing or layering a veneering material directly onto the abutment.

28. A dental implant restoration system comprising:

an implant; and

an anatomically shaped and shaded abutment fixed to the implant;

wherein the anatomically shaped and shaded abutment comprises a near net-shape monolithic, single-unit structure having a basal end for anchoring to an implant and a coronal end approximating the shape of a dental prosthesis, wherein the basal end and coronal end meet at a cervical line;

wherein the monolithic single-unit structure is fabricated of a ceramic material;

wherein the monolithic single-unit structure is multicolored throughout to match the color of the dental prosthesis, the surrounding dentition and the surrounding gingival tissue;

wherein the basal end comprises a collar having a lower side and an upper side, the upper side of the collar forming the cervical line, the collar further comprising a core and an outer layer of material overlaying the core, wherein the core is a dentin color and wherein the outer layer is a gingival color, and wherein the cervical line may be lowered by removing the outer layer of material;

wherein the ceramic material has a flexural strength exceeding 1000 MPa.

29. The dental implant restoration system of claim 28 wherein the outer layer of material has a thickness in the range from about 0.25 to about 1.00 mm.

30. The dental implant restoration system of claim 28 wherein the location of the cervical line changes after the abutment is prepared for placement on an implant.

31. The implant restoration system of claim 30 wherein the abutment is prepared and/or finished using hand-held instruments and procedures, partially automated instruments and procedures, or fully automated instruments and procedures.

32. The dental implant restoration system of claim 28 further comprising an aesthetic layer.

33. The dental implant restoration system of claim 31 wherein the finishing the abutment comprises cutting-back and layering.

34. The dental implant restoration system of claim 31 wherein finishing the abutment comprises staining and glazing.

35. The dental implant restoration system of claim 28 wherein the abutment requires no aesthetic layer prior to placement onto the dental implant in the patient'"'"'s mouth.

36. The dental implant restoration system of claim 28 wherein the ceramic material comprises zirconia, alumina, lithium disilicate, a composite thereof or a mixture thereof.

38. The dental implant restoration system of claim 32 wherein the aesthetic layer is a veneering material comprising dental ceramic, porcelain, composite or hybrid material.

39. The dental implant restoration system of claim 38 wherein the dental ceramic, porcelain, composite or hybrid material is fabricated using hand-held instruments and procedures, partially automated instruments and procedures, or fully automated instruments and procedures.

40. The dental implant restoration system of claim 39 wherein the partially or fully automated instruments and procedures comprises CAD/CAM, Rapid-Prototyping, plasma or flame deposition, electroforming, spraying or dipping.