Dental attachment assembly

• US 6,299,447 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1999
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zest IP Holdings LLC (Zest Anchors LLC)
• Original Assignee: Zest Anchors LLC
• Inventors: Mullaly, Scott, Zuest, Paul T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, John J.
• Application Number:
  US09/465,860
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 433/181, 433/172, 433/173, 433/174, 433/182, 433/191, 433/193, 433/194, 433/177, 433/178
• US Class Current: 433/172
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/2656 Snap attachments
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0025 with multiple threads
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0048 Connecting the upper structure to the implant, e.g. bridging bars A61C8/0028 takes precedence
• 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 8/0056 diverging in the apical direction of the implant or abutment
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0059 with additional friction enhancing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0069 tapered or conical connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0071 with a self-locking taper, e.g. morse taper

Abstract

A dental attachment assembly has an abutment member for attachment to a tooth root, implant, or adjacent tooth, and a retention member for engagement in a dental appliance. The retention and abutment members are designed for releasable snap engagement to secure the members together. A skirt projects from the upper end of the retention member and snap engages over an outer locating surface of the abutment member as the members are secured together, acting to align the retention member with the abutment members.

Claims

1. A dental attachment assembly, comprising:

an abutment member for attachment to a tooth root, implant, or adjacent tooth, the abutment member having an upper end, and an outer locating surface portion projecting downwardly from the upper end;

a retention member for attachment to a dental appliance for releasably securing the dental appliance to the abutment member, the retention member having an inner end and a skirt projecting from the inner end for engagement over the outer locating surface portion of the abutment member;

the skirt and outer locating surface portion of the abutment member having mateable snap engaging formations for releasable snap engagement of the skirt over the abutment member and the skirt and outer locating surface portion comprising means for aligning the retention member with the abutment member as the retention member is moved into contact and engagement with the abutment member; and

the abutment member having a socket projecting inwardly from the upper end, and the retention member having a male retention head projecting from the upper end for releasable snap engagement in the socket, the skirt surrounding the retention head.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retention head and shirt each have a lower end, and the lower end of the skirt extends downwardly beyond the lower end of the retention head, whereby the lower end of the skirt will contact the abutment member before the lower end of the retention head reaches the socket on attachment of the retention head to the abutment member, whereby the skirt contacting the abutment member aligns the retention head with the socket.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer locating surface portion of the abutment member has a pair of diametrically opposed notches for engagement with an insertion tool for engaging the abutment member with an implant.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment member comprises means for attachment to a non-hexed implant, and the abutment member has a minimum height of 1.5 mm.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment member comprises means for attachment to a hexed implant, and the abutment member has a minimum height of 2.25 mm.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer locating surface portion of the abutment member is convex and the skirt has an inner surface with concave portion matching said convex outer surface portion of said abutment member, said convex outer surface portion and concave portion comprising means for releasable snap engagement of the skirt over the outer locating surface portion of the head.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment member has a weep hole connecting the socket to the outside of the female member for allowing saliva to escape.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment member has a head portion at the upper end and a shaft depending downwardly from the head portion.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the shaft is at a predetermined angle to the head portion.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 9, including a plurality of abutment members for selective engagement with a tooth root or implant, including a first abutment member having a shaft aligned with said head portion, a second, angled abutment member having a shaft at an angle of 10°

to said head portion, and a third, angled abutment member having a shaft at an angle of 20°

to said head portion.

11. The assembly as claim 1, further comprising a fixation screw for securing the abutment member to an implant, the abutment member having a through bore having a reduced diameter portion, the fixation screw having a head for engagement with the reduced diameter portion and a shaft for engagement in an implant bore.

12. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the abutment member has an angled upper portion, the outer locating surface portion being provided on said angled upper portion for securing to a retention member at a predetermined angle to an implant on which the abutment member is secured.

13. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer locator surface portion comprises a convex bulge, and the inner surface of the skirt has a concave portion for snap-engagement over the convex bulge.

14. The assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the convex bulge and concave portion each extend around the circumference of the respective head and skirt.

15. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head has a flat lower end face for attachment to a root or bar.

16. A dental attachment assembly, comprising:

an abutment member for attachment to a tooth root, implant, or adjacent tooth, the abutment member having an upper end, and an outer locating surface portion projecting downwardly from the upper end;

a retention member for attachment to a dental appliance for releasably securing the dental appliance to the abutment member, the retention member having an inner end and a skirt projecting from the inner end for engagement over the outer locating surface portion of the abutment member;

the skirt and outer locating surface portion of the abutment member having mateable snap engaging formations for releasable snap engagement of the skirt over the abutment member and the skirt and outer locating surface portion comprising means for aligning the retention member with the abutment member as the retention member is moved into contact and engagement with the abutment member;

the abutment member comprising a head portion having said upper end and a lower end, and a distal extension projecting from said head portion for attaching the abutment member to an abutment tooth, the skirt of the male member having a slot for fitting over said distal extension; and

said abutment member having a through bore extending from the upper end to said lower end, and the male member having a retention head projecting from its upper end for releasable snap engagement in said through bore.

17. The assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the outer locating surface portion of said head portion is convex.

18. The assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said skirt has a lower end extending beyond said retention head for contacting said abutment member before said retention head reaches the upper end of said abutment member.

19. A method of anchoring a dental appliance in a patient'"'"'s mouth, comprising the steps of:

securing an abutment member at a predetermined position in a patient'"'"'s mouth with a head facing outwardly and a predetermined portion of the head projecting above the gum line, the predetermined portion having an outer locating surface;

attaching one end of a retention member in a dental appliance whereby a skirt on the retention member faces away from the appliance and towards the abutment member when the appliance is placed in the patient'"'"'s mouth;

positioning the dental appliance in the mouth and moving the skirt in a first direction towards the abutment member until a lower end of the skirt engages the outer locating surface of the head to align the retention member with the head;

urging the retention member downwardly into snap engagement with the head;

wherein the dental appliance comprises a full denture, and a plurality of spaced abutment members are secured at predetermined locations in a patient'"'"'s upper or lower jaw, and a corresponding number of retention members are secured at corresponding locations in the denture for alignment with the abutment members when the denture is placed in the mouth, the denture being placed in the mouth above the abutment members and moved towards the abutment members until the locator skirts of the respective retention members engage the outer locating surfaces of the respective abutment member heads, and the denture being urged further onto the jaw beyond this position by biting down on the denture, whereby any misaligned retention member is moved laterally into alignment with the respective abutment member by engagement and travel of the locator skirt over the respective outer locating surface; and

each abutment member having a socket and each retention member having a central male retention head for releasable snap engagement in the socket, and the skirt and outer locating surfaces of each retention member and abutment member have snap engageable mating formations, each skirt and retention head having an outer end, and the outer end of the skirt projecting beyond the outer end of the retention head, and the steps of securing each retention member to the respective abutment member further comprise moving the denture towards the abutment members until a first position is reached in which the lower end of each skirt contacts the outer locating surface of the respective abutment member, moving the denture in the same direction beyond the first position so that the skirt moves into alignment with the socket and starts to snap engage over the outer locating surface at a second position prior to entry of the retention head into the socket, and moving the denture beyond the second position by biting down on the denture until each skirt is fully snap engaged over the outer locating surface and each retention head is snap engaged in the respective socket.

20. A dental attachment assembly, comprising:

an abutment member having an upper end and a flat lower end face for attachment to a tooth root or a bar, the abutment member having an outer, generally cylindrical surface and a socket projecting inwardly from the upper end;

a male member having an upper end for engagement in a recess in a dental appliance, a retention head projecting from the upper end for releasable snap engagement in the socket, and a skirt projecting from the upper end and surrounding the retention head along at least part of the length of the retention head; and

the outer surface of the abutment member and the inner surface of the skirt having mateable snap-engaging formations whereby the skirt can be releasably snap-engaged over the head to provide a second snap engagement between the abutment and male members.