ROOT ASSEMBLY WITH POSITION RECOGNITION

Abstract

A root assembly includes an implant body and a positioning device connected to the implant body. The implant body has a positioning hole formed through one end thereof and an engaging portion opposite to the positioning hole. The positioning hole has an end edge. The positioning device has a positioning seat where an artificial tooth is attached and a positioning unit extending through and out of the positioning seat. A first recognition portion is formed on the positioning seat. The location of the first recognition portion of the positioning seat corresponding to the end edge of the positioning hole can recognize that the positioning device is exactly positioned on the implant body, thereby preventing the positioning device from loosening.

Claims

1. A root assembly with position recognition comprising: an implant body including a positioning hole formed through one end thereof and an engaging portion opposite to said positioning hole, said positioning hole having an end edge and being partitioned into an engagement area away from said end edge and a positioning area formed between said engagement area and said end edge; and a positioning device connected to said implant body and including a positioning seat to which an artificial tooth is connected and a positioning unit extending through and out of said positioning seat, said positioning unit having a threaded section disposed on one end thereof, said threaded section of said positioning unit being capable of threadedly engaging said engagement area of said positioning hole to allow said positioning seat to be positioned on said positioning area of said positioning hole; wherein a first recognition portion is formed on said positioning seat, said first recognition portion meeting said end edge of said positioning hole when said positioning seat is positioned on said positioning area of said positioning hole to recognize a firm engagement between said positioning seat and said implant body.

2. The root assembly according to claim 1, wherein said positioning unit has a second recognition portion formed near said threaded section, said second recognition portion being situated at a place corresponding to said first recognition portion and said end edge of said positioning hole to recognize an engagement between said positioning unit and said positioning seat.

3. The root assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one recess is formed on said positioning seat.

4. The root assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first recognition portion is in a form of an annular groove.

5. The root assembly according to claim 2, wherein said first recognition portion and said second recognition portion are in a form of an annular groove.

6. The root assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first recognition portion is formed by engraved lines.

7. The root assembly according to claim 2, wherein said first recognition portion and said second recognition portion are formed by engraved lines.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a conventional structure;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the conventional structure in use;

[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing a first preferred embodiment of this invention;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the first preferred embodiment of this invention in use;

[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another variation of the first preferred embodiment; and

[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a second preferred embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a root assembly 3 with position recognition of a first preferred embodiment comprises an implant body 31 and a positioning device 32 connected to the implant body 31. The implant body 31 has a positioning hole 312 formed through one end thereof and an engaging portion 311 disposed on another end thereof opposite to the positioning hole 312. The positioning hole 312 has an end edge formed on the one end and is partitioned into an engagement area 314 away from the end edge and a positioning area 313 formed between the engagement area 314 and the end edge.

[0019] The positioning device 32 includes a positioning seat 321 to which an artificial tooth 4 is connected and a positioning unit 322 extending through and out of the positioning seat 321. A first recognition portion 3211 is formed on the positioning seat 321 and adapted to meet the end edge of the positioning hole 312 in order to recognize that the positioning seat 321 is really positioned or fixed on the implant body 31. Furthermore, the positioning unit 322 has a threaded section 3221 disposed on one end thereof. The positioning unit 322, preferably, can also have a second recognition portion 3222 formed near the threaded section 3221. Likewise, the second recognition portion 3222 can be situated at a place corresponding to the first recognition portion 3211 and the end edge of the positioning hole 312, thereby functioning as a mark to recognize that the positioning unit 322 is really engaged with the positioning seat 321.

[0020] Please be noted that the first recognition portion 3211 and the second recognition portion 3222 can be, but not limited to, in a form of an annular groove shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, engraved lines shown in FIG. 5 or other suitable designs. Both of the first recognition portion 3211 and the second recognition portion 3222 allow the dentist to recognize the movement or positioning state of the positioning device 32 easily and exactly during the implanting treatment.

[0021] The operation of this invention is described with the aid of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The engaging portion 311 of the implant body 31 is implanted into a pre-drilled hole of an alveolar bone (not shown) to complete a first stage of the implanting treatment. A second stage of the treatment is carried out by extending the threaded section 3221 of the positioning unit 322 through and out of the positioning seat 321. The entry of the positioning unit 322 into the positioning seat 321 allows both of the recognition portions 3211, 3222 to meet each other. In other words, the second recognition portion 3222 is fixedly situated at a place corresponding to the first recognition portion 3211, and this allows the positioning seat 321 to be driven and moved by the positioning unit 322. Then, the threaded section 3221 out of the positioning seat 321 enters the positioning hole 312 of the implant body 31 and gradually engages the engagement area 314. During the gradual engagement between the threaded section 3221 and the engagement area 314, the positioning seat 321 gradually enters the positioning area 313. Because the first recognition portion 3211 is annularly formed on the positioning seat 321, the dentist can visually know the movement of the positioning seat 321 and recognize whether the first recognition portion 3211 meets the end edge of the positioning hole 312. Accordingly, the problem that the positioning seat 321 and the positioning hole 312 unduly rub against each other can be solved. The movement of the positioning device 32 stops when the first recognition portion 3211 meets the end edge of the positioning hole 312. After the visual recognition is done, a further image capturing method can be used to determine whether the locations of the recognition portions 3222, 3211 fitly meet the end edge of the positioning hole 312 and then make a final precise determination. Thus, it is certain that the positioning seat 321 is fully positioned on the implant body 31 to prevent an undue tight screwing action and a loose combination problem. Finally, a crown impression is executed, and then an artificial tooth 4 is well made and attached to the positioning seat 321 to complete the entire implanting treatment.

[0022] Accordingly, the first recognition portion 3211 and the second recognition portion 3222 function as a mark of recognizing and determining the position quickly in an implanting operation, thereby preventing the positioning device 32 and the implant body 31 from unduly rubbing against each other because of an over tight screwing operation between the positioning seat 321 and the positioning hole 312. The recognition portions 3211, 3222 also prevents the artificial tooth 4 from loosening because of the incomplete positioning problem or the slanting state of the positioning device 32. Therefore, the structure of this invention increases the convenience and accuracy of the implanting operation.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 6, a root assembly 3 of a second preferred embodiment has an implant body 31 and a positioning device 32. Other detailed elements and concatenation of correlated elements of the second preferred embodiment are identical to those of the first preferred embodiment and herein are omitted. The second preferred embodiment is characterized in that at least one recess 3212 is formed on the positioning seat 321. Accordingly, when the artificial tooth 4 coated with a dental adhesive (not shown) is to be attached to the positioning seat 321, the recess 3212 can receive the residual adhesive to adhere the artificial tooth 4 to the positioning device 32 more stably. This arrangement precludes the occurrence of an occlusal interference of the artificial tooth 4.

[0024] To sum up, this invention takes advantage of a first recognition portion of the positioning seat corresponding to the end edge of the positioning hole of the implant body to allow users to recognize the position visually and quickly. The second recognition portion formed on the positioning unit also assists an image capturing system in recognizing, correcting and positioning more precisely, thereby preventing an undue tight screw-in operation between the positioning device and the implant body and preventing an incomplete combination and a slanting state of the positioning device. Thus, the mounting of the artificial tooth can be unaffected, and the convenience and accuracy of the implanting operation can be largely increased.

[0025] While the embodiments of this invention are shown and described, it is understood that further variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this invention.