METHOD FOR PRODUCING A COMPUTER MODEL FOR AN ABUTMENT AND FOR PRODUCING AN ABUTMENT

Abstract

A method produces a three-dimensional computer model of an abutment for a tooth implant by a computer, and the abutment has a base, a connecting structure, a platform surface of coronal appearance, and a screw channel. The method includes: providing a three-dimensional representation of a jaw of the patient to be read by the computer, choosing a definition of a preparation margin depending upon the patient's individual gum line, defining a three-dimensional geometry of the abutment above the preparation margin by an operator of the computer or by an algorithm, defining an emergence profile of the abutment by an operator of the computer or by an algorithm, and providing the three-dimensional computer model by the computer. A plate-like design of the platform surface is provided below the preparation margin for the three-dimensional geometry of the platform.

Claims

1. A method of producing a three-dimensional computer model of a patient-individual abutment specific for a patient for a dental implant by means of a computer, wherein the abutment has at least a base, a connecting structure for connecting the abutment to a pin-shaped dental implant, a coronally looking platform surface of a platform of the abutment for supporting a prosthetic fitting and a screw passage for fixing the abutment to a pin-shaped dental implant, including at least the following steps: providing a three-dimensional representation readable by the computer of a jaw of the patient at least in that region of the jaw, where the abutment is to be placed, selecting a definition of a preparation limit in dependence on a gingiva configuration which is individual for the patient, where the abutment is to be placed, by an operator of the computer or by an algorithm, defining a three-dimensional geometry of the abutment above the preparation limit by an operator of the computer or by an algorithm, defining an emergence profile of the abutment by an operator of the computer or by an algorithm, and providing the three-dimensional computer model by the computer, wherein below the preparation limit for the three-dimensional geometry of the platform is a plate-like configuration of the coronally looking platform surface provided and a material thickness of the platform of the abutment is selected by an operator of the computer starting from the defined emergence profile within a predetermined range saved in an electronic memory.

2. A method of producing a three-dimensional computer model of a patient-individual abutment specific for a patient for a dental implant by means of a computer, wherein the three-dimensional start computer model represents an abutment which has a base, a connecting structure for connecting the abutment to a pin-shaped dental implant, a coronally looking platform surface of a platform of the abutment for supporting a prosthetic fitting and a screw passage for fixing the abutment to a pin-shaped dental implant, comprising at least the following steps: providing a three-dimensional start computer model of the patient-individual abutment, wherein the three-dimensional start computer model is of such a form that a region extending radially between the screw passage of the abutment and the emergence profile of the abutment is represented as filled with material, carrying out a transformation by means of the computer in order to obtain from the three-dimensional start computer model a three-dimensional computer model in which below the preparation limit for the three-dimensional geometry of the platform is a plate-like configuration of the coronally looking platform surface provided and which has a material thickness of the platform of the abutment, that is selected by an operator of the computer starting from the defined emergence profile within a predetermined range saved in an electronic memory.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein further a material thickness of a wall of the screw passage is selected within a predetermined region saved in an electronic memory by an operator of the computer.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein a material thickness of the base of the abutment is selected within a predetermined range saved in an electronic memory by an operator of the computer.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein a transition radius within a predetermined region saved in an electronic memory is selected: for the transition between the coronally looking platform surface and the base of the abutment, and/or for the transition between the base of the abutment and a wall of the screw passage.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the respective range for the possible selection of the material thickness and/or for the transition radius respectively is selected in dependence on a material to be used for the abutment and/or in dependence on the defined three-dimensional geometry of the abutment above the preparation limit.

7. A method of producing a patient-individual abutment for a dental implant using a three-dimensional computer model produced in accordance with the method as set forth in claim 1, preferably by an additive production method.

8. A computer program product including commands which when the program is executed by a computer cause it to carry out the method as set forth in claim 1.

9. A computer-readable storage medium including commands which when the program is executed by a computer cause it to carry out the method as set forth in claim 1.

10. A computer-readable data carrier on which the computer program product as set forth in claim 8 is saved.

11. A data carrier signal which transmits the computer program product as set forth in claim 8.

12. A computer configured to execute the computer program product as set forth in claim 8.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the Figures in which:

[0036] FIGS. 1a, b are schematic views of two variants of an arrangement for carrying out the method according to the invention,

[0037] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a production method of an abutment using the result of the method shown in FIG. 1a or 1b,

[0038] FIGS. 3a-d are various views and a sectional view of an embodiment of an abutment to be produced by the invention,

[0039] FIG. 4 is a sectional view as in FIG. 3d with dimensioning of the material thickness,

[0040] FIGS. 5a-d are various views and a sectional view of an embodiment of a three-dimensional start computer model of a patient-individual abutment which is transformed during the method according to the invention,

[0041] FIG. 6 is a sectional view through an embodiment of an abutment to be produced by the invention, wherein one can see how, in the second variant of the invention, the transformation is effected starting from a three-dimensional start computer model, and

[0042] FIGS. 7a-d are views of a computer-readable three-dimensional illustration of a jaw of a patient with a computer model of an abutment and without the abutment respectively, a gingiva mask and an abutment produced with the method according to the invention with a prosthetic fitting in the form of a crown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] FIG. 1a schematically shows an arrangement for operating a method for the production of a three-dimensional computer model 1 of a patient-individual abutment 2 specific for a patient, for a dental implant 12 by means of a computer 3, wherein the abutment 2 (see FIGS. 3a-d) has: [0044] a base 4, [0045] a connecting structure 5 for connecting the abutment 2 to a pin-shaped dental implant 12 (see FIG. 7b), [0046] a coronally looking platform surface 6 of a platform of the abutment 2 for supporting a prosthetic fitting, and [0047] a screw passage 7 for fixing the abutment 2 to a pin-shaped dental implant 12.

[0048] A central notional axis Z of the connecting structure 5 of the abutment 2 can be seen here.

[0049] The procedure involves providing a three-dimensional representation 10, readable by the computer 3, of a jaw of the patient at least in that region of the jaw where the abutment 2 is to be placed. This three-dimensional representation can be produced in known manner either based on dental imprint of the jaw of the patient, that is digitized, or directly in digital form (for example using an intraoral scanner and/or a laboratory scanner).

[0050] In known manner selecting of a definition of a preparation limit in dependence on a gingiva configuration which is specific for the patient takes place where the abutment 2 is to be placed, by an operator of the computer 3 or by an algorithm.

[0051] A definition of a three-dimensional geometry of the abutment 2 above the preparation limit is implemented by an operator of the computer 3 or by an algorithm. The definition of the three-dimensional geometry of the abutment 2 can include: [0052] Defining a position of the screw passage 7 extending in the abutment 2 for fixing the abutment 2 to a pin-shaped dental implant 12. Usually, the position is defined relative to an orientation of the pin-shaped dental implant 12. [0053] Defining a width of a coronally looking platform surface 6 of the abutment 2. [0054] Defining a height of the abutment 2. [0055] Defining a width of a central raised portion on the abutment 2, that holds the screw passage.

[0056] A definition of the emergence profile E of the abutment is effected by an operator of the computer 3 or by an algorithm.

[0057] According to the invention, beneath the preparation limit for the three-dimensional geometry of the platform is a plate-like configuration of the coronally looking platform surface 6 provided.

[0058] An operator of the computer 3, based on the defined emergence profile E, within predetermined regions saved in an electronic memory 8 (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 6) selects: [0059] a material thickness d.sub.1 of the platform of the abutment 2, [0060] a material thickness d.sub.2 of the base of the abutment 2 and/or [0061] a material thickness d.sub.3 of a wall of the screw passage 7 and/or [0062] a transition radius R.sub.1 for the transition between the coronally looking platform surface 6 and the base 4 of the abutment 2, and [0063] a transition radius R.sub.2 for the transition between the base of the abutment 2 and a wall of the screw passage 7.

[0064] The three-dimensional computer model 1 is provided by the computer 3, for example for the production of a patient-individual abutment 2 for a dental implant 12 using a three-dimensional computer model 1 produced in accordance with the above-described method, preferably by an additive production method.

[0065] The embodiment of FIG. 1b differs from the previously discussed embodiment only in that, in accordance with the second variant of the invention, firstly a three-dimensional start computer model 9 of a patient-individual abutment 2 is produced in dependence on the provided three-dimensional representation of the jaw, the definition of the emergence profile E and the three-dimensional geometry of the abutment 2 above the preparation limit, wherein the three-dimensional start computer model 9 is of such a form that a region extending radially between the screw passage 10 of the abutment and the emergence profile E of the abutment 2 is represented as filled with material (see FIG. 5a-d). Starting from this three-dimensional start computer model 9 (which in itself represents a functional abutment) the computer 3 carries out a transformation by an algorithm (the algorithm for example computes a certain necessary material thickness depending on the computed loading peaks depending on the respective angle of the screw passage) in order to obtain from the three-dimensional start computer model 9 the three-dimensional computer model 1 in respect of which there is a plate-like configuration of the coronally looking platform surface 6 beneath the preparation limit for the three-dimensional geometry of the platform and which has the material thickness d.sub.1 of the platform of the abutment 2 and the further discussed parameters, said material thickness being selected by an operator of the computer 3 based on the defined emergence profile E. FIG. 6 exemplifies what region (dotted region) that is shown as filled with material is to be removed in the transformation operation.

[0066] FIG. 7a shows a view of a three-dimensional representation 10 readable by the computer 3 of a jaw of a patient with a three-dimensional computer model 1 of a patient-individual abutment 2.

[0067] In FIG. 7b the abutment 2 shown in FIG. 7a has been removed, which allows a view of the upper region of a pin-shaped dental implant 12. The abutment 2 is inserted with its connecting structure 5 into that upper region of the pin-shaped dental implant 12. FIG. 7c shows a gingiva mask (which however is not provided in FIGS. 7a and 7b).

[0068] FIG. 7d shows an abutment 2 produced in accordance with the method of the invention, with a prosthetic fitting in the form of a crown.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0069] 1 three-dimensional computer model of a patient-individual abutment [0070] 2 abutment [0071] 3 computer [0072] 4 base of the abutment [0073] 5 connecting structure [0074] 6 coronally looking platform surface [0075] 7 screw passage [0076] 8 electronic memory [0077] 9 three-dimensional start computer model of a patient-individual abutment [0078] 10 three-dimensional representation of a jaw of the patient [0079] 11 production installation [0080] 12 dental implant [0081] E emergence profile of the abutment [0082] Z central notional axis of the connecting structure of the abutment [0083] d.sub.1 material thickness of the platform of the abutment [0084] d.sub.2 material thickness of the base of the abutment [0085] d.sub.3 material thickness of a wall of the screw passage of the abutment [0086] R.sub.1 transition radius of a transition between the coronally looking platform surface and the base of the abutment [0087] R.sub.2 transition radius of a transition between the base of the abutment and a wall of the screw passage