Support for sustaining and/or forming a dental prosthesis

• US 6,726,480 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2000
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Straumann Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Straumann Holding AG
• Inventors: Sutter, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/424,515
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 433/172, 433/173, 433/174, 433/175, 433/176
• US Class Current: 433/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0001 Impression means for implants, e.g. impression coping
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0022 Self-screwing 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 8/006 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 8/0069 tapered or conical connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/008 Healing caps or the like

Abstract

A support for sustaining and/or forming a dental prosthesis, comprises an axle, an anchoring part which can be anchored in a bone or a master model, and a head part which protrudes out of said bone or master mode. The head part has intermediate spaces distributed around the axis, i.e., several first intermediate spaces forming a divided circle, and a second, wider and/or deeper intermediate space. A cap can be fixed to the support. The cap has at least one projecting part for engaging in an intermediate space and, optionally, can be configured for fixing in several different rotational positions or a single rotational position, the support allowing exact positioning. The cap can also be produced without a projecting part of the type mentioned. The same support can be used to form different types of dental prostheses.

Claims

1. A support for holding or forming a dental prosthesis, said support having an axis and comprising:

an anchoring part for anchoring the support in a bone or a master model;

a head part having a peripheral surface and a face;

several projections and interstices on said head part; and

an annular shoulder surface disposed between said anchoring part and said head part and forming an angle with said axis,

said head part projecting from said bone or master model when the support is in use;

said projections and interstices alternating around said axis;

said interstices including several first interstices each having the same dimensions; and

said interstices including a second interstice having a larger dimension in at least one direction than said first interstices.

2. A support according to claim 1, wherein each of said interstices forms a depression relative to a straight line that lies in a plane perpendicular to said axis and contacts said head part on sides of said interstices that face away from each other.

3. A support according to claim 1, wherein said interstices are groove-shaped.

4. A support according to claim 1, wherein said interstices are at least partially delimited by surface sections;

said surface sections being approximately parallel to a plane running through said axis and through the center of said interstices or forming an angle of at most 60°

with said plane.

5. A support according to claim 4, wherein said angle is at most 45°

.

6. A support according to claim 1, wherein each interstice has a bottom and expands away from said bottom of said interstice in cross-section.

7. A support according to claim 1, wherein each interstice has two flat, lateral surfaces or is at least partially concavely curved in cross-section.

8. A support according to claim 1, wherein each interstice forms an arc of a circle in cross-section that is at most 18°

.

9. A support according to claim 1, wherein said second interstice has a greater width or depth than said first interstices;

said width being measured tangentially to a circle abutting said projections.

10. A support according to claim 1, wherein said head part comprises:

a free end forming said face;

a section generally parallel to said axis; and

a generally conical section tapering away from said section generally parallel to said axis and toward said free end,

wherein said interstices are at least partially located in said generally conical section.

11. A support according to claim 1, wherein

said head part has a free end facing away from said anchoring part;

and

each of said interstices is disposed at said peripheral surface and has a bottom parallel to said axis and extending to said free end.

12. A support according to claim 1, wherein

said interstices are disposed at said face and are separated from each other by projections;

and

said projections have tops disposed in said face and said interstices are open at the ends facing away from each other.

13. A support according to claim 1, wherein said anchoring part comprises:

an implant; and

a secondary part separate from said implant and comprising said projections and said interstices,

wherein said implant has a blind hole with an internal thread;

said secondary part consists of a one-piece body and has a section projecting into said blind hole; and

said secondary part is removably screwed to said implant.

14. A support according to claim 1, wherein said interstices define a division of a circle with n parts;

and n is at least six.

15. A support according to claim 14, wherein n is at least eight.

16. A support according to claim 14, wherein n is at least twelve.

17. A support according to claim 1, wherein said projections each have a top lying in a plane perpendicular to said axis;

and said interstices each have a bottom lying in said plane perpendicular to said axis.

18. A support according to claim 1, wherein the support comprises a one-piece body which extends from a first free end to a second free end;

said anchoring part forming said first free end of the support, and said face of the head forming said second free end of the support.

19. A support for holding or forming a dental prosthesis, said support having an axis and comprising:

an anchoring part for anchoring the support in a bone or master model;

a head part having a peripheral surface and a face;

several projections and interstices on said head part; and

an annular shoulder surface disposed between said anchoring part and said head part and forming an angle with said support axis,

said projections and interstices alternating around said axis;

said head part projecting from said bone or master model when the support is in use;

at least said head part being formed of a one-piece body; and

said head part one-piece body having a hole which is coaxial with said support axis and which has an opening surrounded by said face, and an internal thread.

20. A support for holding or forming a dental prosthesis, said support having an axis and comprising:

an anchoring part for insertion into a bone or into a master model;

a head part having a plurality of interstices; and

an annular shoulder surface disposed between said anchoring part and said head part and forming an angle with said axis;

said head part projecting from said bone or master model when the support is in use and comprising a generally conical section and a section generally parallel to said axis and several positioning surfaces;

said generally conical section tapering away from said anchoring part to a tapered end;

said positioning surfaces being distributed around and extending along said axis and being rotationally asymmetrical with said axis and being located in said generally conical section and having areas in said generally conical section generally parallel to said axis;

at least one central cross-sectional area extending to said tapered end; and

said interstices comprising several first interstices with the same dimensions and a second interstice that has a larger dimension than said first interstices in at least one direction.

21. A support according to claim 20, wherein said positioning surfaces are flat or formed by groove-shaped interstices.

22. A support according to claim 20, wherein

said shoulder surface is conical, and said angle formed with said axis is larger than an angle between the support axis and said generally conical section of said head part; or

said shoulder surface is perpendicular to said axis and forms an annular channel together with a centering surface extending away from said shoulder surface to said head part.

23. A support according to claim 22, wherein said centering surface tapers conically toward said head part.

24. A support according to claim 22, wherein

said shoulder surface defines a conical or a flat surface and has an outer edge;

and

said generally conical section defines a conical surface that intersects said conical or flat surface defined by said shoulder surface in an area enclosed by said outer edge of said shoulder surface at a distance from said outer edge of said shoulder surface.

25. A support according to claim 22, wherein

said head part has a free end that faces away from said anchoring part;

said free end of said head part being spaced a distance from an inner edge of said conical shoulder surface or said centering surface; and

said distance being at most 2 mm.

26. A support according to claim 25, wherein said distance is at least 1.2 mm.

27. A support according to claim 20, wherein said generally conical section of said head part forms an angle of 15°

to 25°

with said axis.

28. A support for holding or forming a dental prosthesis, said support having an axis and comprising:

an anchoring part for anchoring the support in a bone and comprising a self-cutting external thread and at least one enlongated hole or at least one enlongated groove,

said self-cutting external thread having at least one rib running along a helix;

said hole or groove forming a chip surface of at least turn of said at least one rib of said external thread;

said chip surface forming an acute chip angle at the top of said rib with a straight line running through said axis; and

said chip surface being inclined in a view radial to said axis toward the same side of said axis as said rib and forming an acute lead angle with said axis in a view radial thereto.

29. A support according to claim 28 , wherein each of said ribs disposed between said hole or groove and an end of the support intended to project out of said bone has a section that surrounds said axis uninterruptedly at least once.

30. A support for holding or forming a dental prosthesis, said support having an axis and comprising:

an anchoring part for anchoring the support in a bone; and

an external thread on said anchoring part,

said external thread comprising at least one rib;

each said at least one rib having a turn forming a helix, a top, a foot, and two flanks;

corresponding points of two adjacent turns of said at least one rib being spaced apart a distance s;

each said at least one rib having an axial dimension a at its mid-height;

said axial dimension a being a maximum of 30% of said distance s; and

said flanks of said at least one rib having a straight flank section in axial section that forms an angle of 15°

to 25°

with a radial straight line.

31. A support according to claim 30, further comprising:

a channel with a cylindrical bottom surface disposed between mutually adjacent of said turns; and

arcuate sections forming the top of said at least one rib and continuously connecting flank sections of said rib that are straight in axial section, and arcuate sections continuously connecting said flank sections with said cylindrical bottom surface in axial section.

32. A support according to claim 31, wherein said arcuate sections have, in axial section, a radius of curvature of at least 0.1 mm.

33. A support for holding or forming a dental prosthesis, said support having an axis and comprising:

an anchoring part for anchoring the support in a bone; and

an external thread on said anchoring part,

said external thread comprising at least one rib;

each said at least one rib having a turn forming a helix, a top, a foot, and two flanks;

corresponding points of two adjacent turns of said at least one rib being spaced apart a distance s;

each said at least one rib having an axial dimension a at its mid-height;

said axial dimension a being between 10% and 25% of said distance s; and

said flanks of said at least one rib having a straight flank section in axial section that forms an angle of 18°

to 22°

with a radial straight line.

34. A support for holding or forming a dental prosthesis, said support having an axis and comprising:

a first end forming an anchoring part for insertion into a bone or master model when said support is in use;

a second end, and

a blind hole coaxial with the support axis, said blind hole having an internal thread, a bottom, a cylindrical hole section between said bottom and said internal thread; and

an opening at said second end of said support; and

an annular groove in said blind hole between said internal thread and said cylindrical hole section,

wherein said second end of said anchoring part projects from said bone or master model when the support is in use;

said cylindrical hole section having a diameter that is at most equal to a core diameter of said internal thread;

said internal thread having an inner end proximate said bottom;

said blind hole opening into said second end of said support; and

said annular groove being at least partially concavely curved in axial section and forming a transition between said inner end of said internal thread and said cylindrical hole section.

35. A support according to claim 34, further comprising:

an essentially cylindrical section; and

a section expanding away from said essentially cylindrical section and away from said first end of said support;

wherein said inner end of said internal thread is disposed inside said section expanding away; and

said groove is partially delimited by a surface that is approximately parallel to an outer surface of said section expanding away in axial section.

36. A support for holding or forming a dental prosthesis, said support having an axis and comprising:

an anchoring part for anchoring the support in a bone or a master model when the support is in use;

a head part; and

an annular shoulder surface disposed between said anchoring part and said head part and forming an angle with said axis,

said head part projecting from said bone or master model when the support is in use;

said anchoring part comprising a generally cylindrical section and a section generally expanding away from said generally cylindrical section to said shoulder surface;

said generally expanding section of said anchoring part having depressions at a distance from each other along said axis;

each of said depressions comprising, in axial section, a bottom, a first surface, and a second surface;

said first surface of each said depression being inclined away from said axis from said bottom of said depression to said shoulder surface;

said second surface of each said depression being disposed on a side of said bottom that faces away from said shoulder surface and being directed outwardly away from said bottom and from said axis; and

forming a larger angle with said axis than does said first surface of said depression.

37. A support according to claim 36, wherein said depressions are formed by channels surrounding said axis, and

wherein said first surfaces and said second surfaces of said depressions are continuously connected with each other at a base and at ends facing away from said base by sections that are arcuate in axial section.

38. A device for holding or forming a dental prosthesis, comprising:

(a) a support having an axis and comprising;

an anchoring part for anchoring the support in a bone or a master model when the support is in use;

a head part having a peripheral surface and a face;

a plurality of projections and interstices disposed on said head part and alternating around said axis; and

an annular shoulder surface disposed between said anchoring part and said head part forming an angle with said axis; and

(b) an element attachable to the support and having at least two element projections,

said head part projecting from said bone or master model when the support is in use;

said interstices comprising several first interstices with the same dimensions and a second interstice that has a larger dimension than said first interstices in at least one direction;

said element projections having the same shapes and being distributed such that said element is positionable relative to said axis in various rotational positions; and

said element having a supporting surface for abutting said shoulder surface and surrounding said head part in cross section when said head part is resting on said shoulder surface.

39. A device according to claim 38, wherein

said element rests on said shoulder surface in a gap-free manner when it said element is connected to the support; and

said element is supported by said head part at a generally conical section of said head part at least pointwise with minimum play.

40. A device according to claim 38, wherein said element is securable against rotations about said axis.

41. A device according to claim 38, wherein said element forms at least one part of a unit selected from the group consisting of a superstructure element, an impression element, and a healing element;

or

said element is capable of being fired and is used to manufacture a superstructure element.

42. A device for holding or forming a dental prosthesis, comprising:

(a) a support having an axis and comprising;

an anchoring part for anchoring the support in a bone or a master model when the support is in use;

a head part comprising a peripheral surface and a face;

a plurality of projections and interstices disposed on said head part and alternating around said axis; and

an annular shoulder surface disposed between said anchoring part and said head part and forming an angle with said axis; and

(b) an element attachable to said support comprising a supporting surface intended for abutting said shoulder surface,

said head part projecting from said bone or master model when the support is in use;

said interstices comprising several first interstices with the same dimensions and a second interstice that has a larger dimension than said first interstices in at least one direction;

said element having an element projection dimensioned to engage said second interstice and not to engage said first interstices;

said element surrounding said head part in cross section when said head part is resting on said shoulder surface; and

said element being positionable in only one rotational position relative to said support axis.

43. A device according to claim 42, wherein said element has additional element projections that each engage one of said first interstices when said element abuts said shoulder surface.

44. A device for holding or forming a dental prosthesis, comprising:

(a) a support having an axis and comprising;

an anchoring part for anchoring the support in a bone or a master model when the support is in use;

a head part comprising a peripheral surface and a face;

a plurality of projections and interstices disposed on said head part and alternating around said axis; and

an annular shoulder surface disposed between said anchoring part and said head part and forming an angle with said axis; and

(b) an element attachable to the support comprising a supporting surface for abutting said shoulder surface and surrounding said head part in cross section when said head part is resting on said shoulder surface;

said head part projecting from said bone or master model when the support is in use;

said interstices comprising several first interstices with the same dimensions and a second interstice that has a larger dimension than said first interstices in at least one direction;

said element not engaging said interstices when said element is abutting said shoulder surface; and

said element being positionable in any rotational position relative to said support axis.

45. A device for holding or forming a dental prosthesis, comprising a support having a support axis and a cap attachable to the support,

said support comprising an anchoring part for anchoring the support in a bone or master model when the support is in use, a head part having a peripheral surface and a face, and an annular shoulder surface disposed between said anchoring part and said head part and forming an angle with said support axis,

said head part projecting from said bone or master model when the support is in use,

said head part having a plurality of projections and interstices disposed alternatively around said support axis,

wherein the interstices of the head part comprise a plurality of first interstices having the same dimensions and a second interstice that has a larger dimension than said first interstices in at least one direction,

said cap having a supporting surface for abutting said shoulder surface and surrounding said support axis, said supporting surface being coaxial to said support axis when said cap is resting on said shoulder surface,

said cap further having a first external surface section and second external surface section, said first external surface section being generally rotationally symmetrical with the support axis and said second external surface section being approximately coaxial with a cap axis that forms an angle with the support axis,

said cap further having positioning projections that engage the interstices of the head part and secure the cap against rotation about the support axis relative to the support when the cap rests on the shoulder surface of the support.

46. A device according to claim 45, wherein the interstices of the head part and the positioning projections of the cap are configured such that the cap is positionable on the support in various rotational positions relative to said support axis when the cap rests on the shoulder surface of the support.

47. A device according to claim 45, wherein the cap has an interior space which is formed by a through-hole and which is generally rotationally symmetrical with the support axis when the cap rests on the shoulder surface of the support.

48. A device according to claim 47, further comprising a screw for attaching the cap to the support, wherein the support has a hole which is coaxial with said support axis, said hole having an internal thread and opening into said face of the head part, said screw comprising a screw head and a threaded part, and wherein, when the cap is attached to the support, the cap rests on the shoulder surface of the support, the screw head is arranged in the interior space of the cap and the threaded part is screwed into the internal thread of the support.