METHODS FOR TAKING AN IMPRESSION OR SCANNING WITHOUT REQUIRING REMOVAL OF A TEMPORARY HEALING ABUTMENT

• US 20170007372A1
• Filed: 09/20/2016
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Esthetic Implant Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Esthetic Implant Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Blaisdell, Mark H., Liston, Todd C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,507,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3966 Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/51 for dentistry
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/20 Methods or devices for soldering, casting, moulding or melting A61C13/04, A61C13/081 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/77 Methods or devices for making crowns
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0001 Impression means for implants, e.g. impression coping
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/008 Healing caps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/0046 Data acquisition means or methods

Abstract

Methods of taking an impression or scan of a patient'"'"'s oral cavity without requiring removal of a healing cap coupled within the implant in the subgingival void. The method may include providing an anatomical healing cap received within the subgingival void of a given tooth position, where the anatomical healing cap is coupled into an implant in the void. A scanning body or an impression post is inserted into an open end (e.g., the hollow core) of the anatomical healing cap, in-situ, with the anatomical healing cap positioned in the subgingival void, and the implant thereunder (or thereover for a maxillary tooth position). The scanning body or impression post is used as a reference in making the impression or scan. Because this is done without requiring removal of the healing cap, further collapse of the gingival tissue surrounding the void is prevented.

Claims

1. A method of taking an impression or scan of a patient'"'"'s oral cavity, the method comprising:

providing an anatomical healing cap received within a subgingival void of a given tooth position, the anatomical healing cap being coupled into an implant disposed adjacent the anatomical healing cap; and

inserting a scanning body or an impression post into an open end of the anatomical healing cap with the anatomical healing cap positioned in the subgingival void, such that insertion of the scanning body or impression post occurs without requiring removal of the anatomical healing cap.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the anatomical healing cap and the scanning body or impression post are keyed to one another.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the anatomical healing cap comprises one or more vertical grooves formed into an interior surface of a hollow core about which the anatomical healing cap is formed.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein an exterior surface of the scanning body or impression post inserted into the anatomical healing cap includes one or more vertical protrusions which mate with the one or more vertical grooves of the anatomical healing cap.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the one or more vertical grooves comprise a plurality of vertical grooves which are of different lengths relative to one another; and

the one or more vertical protrusions comprise a plurality of vertical protrusions which are of different lengths relative to one another.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the anatomical healing cap comprises one or more vertical protrusions formed on an interior surface of a hollow core about which the anatomical healing cap is formed.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein an exterior surface of the scanning body or impression post inserted into the anatomical healing cap includes one or more vertical grooves which mate with the one or more vertical protrusions of the anatomical healing cap.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein:

the one or more vertical grooves comprise a plurality of vertical grooves which are of different lengths relative to one another; and

the one or more vertical protrusions comprise a plurality of vertical grooves which are of different lengths relative to one another.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the anatomical healing cap comprises one or more radiopaque markers.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein inserting the scanning body or the impression post into the anatomical healing cap comprises inserting the scanning body into the anatomical healing cap, the method further comprising taking a scan of the patient'"'"'s oral cavity.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the scan of the patient'"'"'s oral cavity is taken using CT scan.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the scan of the patient'"'"'s oral cavity is taken using x-ray.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, the method further comprising applying a radiopaque powder around a gingival cuff surrounding the anatomical healing cap so that the powdered surface better shows up on the scan.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein inserting the scanning body or the impression post into the anatomical healing cap comprises inserting the impression post into the anatomical healing cap, the method further comprising taking an impression of the impression post, the anatomical healing cap, and surrounding surfaces.