Dental implant system

Abstract

A dental implant system includes a dental implant, an abutment adapted to be inserted in an axial hole of the dental implant, and a locking screw adapted to be inserted in an axial through-hole of the abutment and to be screwed into the axial hole of the dental implant. The axial through-hole defined in the abutment includes a frustoconical portion configured to come into contact with a correspondingly frustoconical portion of the locking screw, wherein the median circumference of the frustoconical contact surface between the abutment and the tightening screw is configured to be disposed under the crest/connection line.

Claims

1. A dental implant system (1) comprising: a dental implant (2) adapted to be constrained to a patient's jawbone; an abutment (3) adapted to be inserted in an axial hole (21) defined in said dental implant (2); and a locking screw (4) adapted to be inserted into an axial through-hole (31) defined in said abutment (3) and to be screwed in said axial hole (21) defined in said dental implant (2) so as to obtain a coupling between said abutment (3) and said dental implant (2), wherein said axial through-hole (31) defined in said abutment (3) comprises an upwardly widening frustoconical portion (37), shaped to come into contact with a first mating frustoconical portion (41) of said locking screw (4), and wherein a middle circumference (38) of a frustoconical contact surface (371) between said abutment (3) and said locking screw (4) is disposed substantially below a crest/connection line (C) of the patient.

2. The dental implant system (1) according to claim 1, wherein said abutment (3) comprises an external surface (3a) that has at least partially a frustoconical shape (33, 35) and is adapted to be fitted in said axial hole (21) defined said implant (2), said external surface having an angle of inclination (B1) that is different from an angle of inclination (C1) of said frustoconical portion (37) of said axial through-hole (31).

3. The dental implant system (1) according to claim 2, wherein said axial hole (21) defined in said dental implant (2) is blind and comprises, in descending order from an opening (22) where the abutment (3) is introduced, an upperly widening frustoconical first portion (23), a connecting second portion (24), an upperly widening frustoconical third portion (25), and a threaded fourth portion (26) shaped to receive said locking screw (4), and wherein said frustoconical first and third portions (23, 25) have a same angle of inclination (A1).

4. The dental implant system (1) according to claim 3, wherein said frustoconical first and third portions (23, 25) lie on a same imaginary conical surface (A), thus defining a continuous conical surface except for said connecting second portion (24).

5. The dental implant system (1) according to claim 3, wherein said abutment (3) comprises an insertion portion (31) configured to be inserted into said axial hole (21) of the dental implant (2) and having a shape that matches a shape of said axial hole (21), wherein said insertion portion (31) in turn comprises externally, in descending order starting from a side (32) configured to coincide with said opening (22) of said hole (21) defined in the dental implant (2), an upperly widening frustoconical first portion (33), a connecting second portion (34), and an upperly widening frustoconical third portion (35), said third portion (35) of said insertion portion (31) being in proximity to an end (36) of said abutment (3), and wherein said frustoconical first and third portions (33, 35) have a same angle of inclination (B1).

6. The dental implant system (1) according to claim 5, wherein said frustoconical first and third portions (33, 35) of said insertion portion (31) define a single and continuous imaginary conical surface (B) except for said connecting second portion (34) of said insertion portion (31).

7. The dental implant system (1) according to claim 5, wherein the angle of inclination (B1) of said frustoconical first and third portions (33, 35) of an external surface (3a) of said abutment (3) is different from the angle of inclination (C1) of said frustoconical portion (37) of said axial through-hole (31) defined in the abutment (3).

8. The dental implant system (1) according to claim 5, wherein the angle of inclination (B1) of said frustoconical first and third portions (33, 35) of an external surface (3a) of said abutment (3) is larger than the angle of inclination (C1) of said frustoconical portion (37) of said axial through-hole (31) defined in the abutment (3).

9. The dental implant system (1) according to claim 1, wherein said locking screw (4) comprises, in descending order, said frustoconical first portion (41), a connecting second portion, a frustoconical third portion, and a threaded fourth portion (42) adapted to be screwed into said blind hole (21) defined in said dental implant (2), and wherein a surface of said frustoconical third portion of said locking screw (4) has a same inclination and lies on a same imaginary conical surface as said frustoconical first portion (41).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Features of a dental implant system according to the invention will detailed in greater depth in the following description with reference to the enclosed drawing figures, which are intended to be exemplary and not limiting.

[0034] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 depict respectively a side view of a dental implant system according to the invention, a cross-section of the implant only, and a cross-section, in which a wedge-shaped locking screw is shown.

[0035] FIGS. 4 and 5 depict a side view and a cross-section view of an implant according to the invention.

[0036] FIGS. 6 and 7 depict a side view and a cross-section view of an abutment according to the invention.

[0037] FIGS. 8 and 9 depict a side view and a cross-section view of a locking screw according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0038] A dental implant system 1 according to the invention includes a dental implant 2 configured for engaging in the jawbone of a patient, an abutment 3 configured for inserting in an axial hole 21 of the dental implant 2, and a locking screw 4 configured for inserting into an axial through-hole 31 of the abutment 3 and for screwing in the axial hole 21 of the dental implant 2, so as to achieve a coupling of the abutment 3 with the dental implant 2.

[0039] The implant 2 includes an outer portion 25 that is threaded and is adapted for screwing into the jawbone of the patient, and an axial hole 21 that receives the abutment 3.

[0040] The axial hole 21 of the dental implant 2 includes, in descending order, that is, from the opening 22 of abutment insertion, an upperly widening frustoconical first portion 23, a connecting second portion 24, an upperly widening frustoconical third portion 25, and a threaded fourth portion 26, into which the locking screw 4 is engaged.

[0041] The two frustoconical portions 23 and 25 of the implant 2 preferably have the same angle of inclination A1 and preferably lie on the same imaginary conical surface A, providing for a continuous conicity except for the connecting second portion 24.

[0042] The abutment 3 includes, in turn, an elongated body having an insertion portion 39, which is configured for inserting into the blind hole 21 of the implant 2 and has a shape that mates with the blind hole 21. The elongated body of the abutment 3 further defines the blind through-hole 31.

[0043] The insertion portion 39 includes, on its outer surface 3a, starting from the area 32 that mates with the opening 22 in the blind hole 21 of the implant 2, an upperly widening frustoconical first portion 33, a connecting second portion 34, and an upperly widening frustoconical third portion 35 that is adjacent to the lower end 36 of the abutment 3.

[0044] In one embodiment, the two frustoconical portions 33 and 35 have the same angle of inclination B1 and preferably define a single, continuous imaginary conical surface B except for the same connecting portion 34.

[0045] The angle of inclination B1 of the frustoconical portions 33 and 35 of the outer surface 3a substantially corresponds to the angle of inclination A1 of the frustoconical portions 23 and 25 of the blind axial hole 21 of the implant 2.

[0046] The through-hole 31 of the abutment 3 includes a frustoconical portion 37 that is upperly wider and that is shaped to contact the correspondingly frustoconical first portion 41 of the locking screw 4, wherein the median circumference 38 of the frustoconical contact surface 371 between the abutment 3 and the locking screw 4 is substantially below the crest connection line C, as shown in FIG. 3 and as previously described.

[0047] In one embodiment, the angle of incidence B1 of the frustoconical portions 33 and 35 of the outer surface 3a of the abutment 3 is different, and in particular larger, than the angle of inclination C1 of the frustoconical portion 37 of the axial through-hole 31 of the abutment 3.

[0048] The locking screw 4 includes, in descending order, the frustoconical first portion 41 and the threaded portion 42 configured to screw into the blind hole 21 of the implant 2.

[0049] In one embodiment, not shown in the figures, the locking screw 4 includes also a connecting second portion adjacent to the frustoconical first portion 41, and a frustoconical third portion, which has a surface with the same inclination and lies on the same conical surface as the first frustoconical portion 41.

[0050] While the invention has been described in connection with the above described embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the scope of the invention. Further, the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art and the scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.

[0051] Therefore, with reference to the preceding description and the enclosed drawings, the following claims are set forth.