Dental implant attachment system in screw-retained configuration for implant-supported and implant-retained removable dentures and method of use

Abstract

A dental implant attachment system for implant-supported and implant-retained type removable dentures and a method of use is described. The dental attachment system comprises a female component embedded in the body of a denture on a fitting surface for lock up and a male component usually connected to a dental implant and use mechanism of the snap on coupling engageable formation movement with non-static friction by pressing female component onto the male component. The male and female components have a semi-elliptical parabolic or dome shape with a tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers and antirotating thorns. The novel use of geometrical shapes for the mating surfaces of dental attachment system components prevents distortion and improves the mating movement with non-static friction.

Claims

1. A dental implant attachment system for implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures comprising: an abutment, male component of the attachment system for connection to a dental implant, having a collar of the male component which projects a level of gum soft tissue of a patient when the male component of the attachment system is engaged through a twisting movement and locked into the dental implant; and an attachment housing, a female component of the attachment system, embedded in a body of a denture on a fitting surface for locking, and the abutment, male component of the attachment system connected to the dental implant with a use mechanism.

2. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 1, wherein the male and female components of the dental attachment system have a semi-elliptical parabolic shape.

3. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 1, wherein specific geometrical shapes of mating surfaces of the female and male components have mating and snap-on coupling engageable formation movement with non-static friction when the female component is pressed onto the male component.

4. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 1, wherein the male component has an inverted U shape lockers located on an upper end.

5. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 4, wherein the inverted U shape lockers have two U shape lockers located on outer surfaces of a dental attachment male portion.

6. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 1, wherein the male component has a spiral-shaped releasing auxiliary hydraulic pressure grooves on a mating surface.

7. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 1, wherein the male component has a reverse trapezoid shape collar.

8. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 1, wherein the female component has a shape-matching element embedded in the fitting surface of the removable overdenture, deepening in an outer surface of the male component of implant attachment in a desired position.

9. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 1, wherein the female component has antirotating thorns located on an external surface.

10. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 9, wherein the antirotating thorns provide stability and prevention spinning and rotating movements of a female portion by increasing tightness to the denture.

11. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 1, wherein the female component includes with a tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers as a part of a female portion of the locking mechanism, located in an outer surface of the female portion and functioning as one of elements of a mechanical system of the locking mechanism and aid coupling and uncoupling of female and male components and fixation of two parts of the attachment system as an operation portion.

12. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 1 where the use mechanism is a snap-on engagement.

13. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 1 where the use mechanism is a mating movement with friction.

14. A dental implant attachment system for implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures comprising: an abutment, male component of the attachment system for connection to a root of a tooth, having a collar of the male component which projects a level of gum soft tissue of a patient when the male component of the attachment system is engaged through a twisting movement and locked into the root of the tooth; and an attachment housing, a female component of the attachment system, embedded in a body of a denture on a fitting surface for locking, and the abutment, male component of the attachment system connected to the root of the tooth with a use mechanism.

15. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 14, wherein the male and female components of the dental attachment system have a semi-elliptical parabolic shape.

16. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 14, wherein the male component has tunnel lockers.

17. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 14, wherein the male component has a spiral-shaped releasing auxiliary hydraulic pressure grooves.

18. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 14, wherein the male component has a reverse trapezoid shape collar.

19. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 14 where the use mechanism is a snap-on engagement.

20. The dental implant attachment system for the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures of claim 14 where the use mechanism is a mating movement with friction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred shape of a female and male component shown partially of the dental implant attachment system for dentures with two arched or tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers for dentures according to another embodiment of the invention, the second arched or tunnel shape locker doesn't show, in screw-retained configuration.

[0051] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a preferred shape of a female and male component, partially shown, of the dental implant attachment system for dentures, with two arched or tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers for dentures according to another embodiment of the invention, the second arched or tunnel shape or inverted U shape locker does not show, in screw-retained configuration.

[0052] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a preferred shape of a female component of the dental implant attachment system for fully and partial removable implant-retained, or implant-supported overdentures with two arched or tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers, according to another embodiment of the invention, in screw-retained configuration.

[0053] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred shape of a female and male component, partially shown, of the dental implant attachment system for fully and partial removable implant-retained, or implant-supported overdentures with three arched or tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers, the second and third arched or tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers, partially shown, in screw-retained configuration.

[0054] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a preferred shape of a female and male component shown partially of the dental implant attachment system for fully and partial removable implant-retained, or implant-supported overdentures with three arched or tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers, according to another embodiment of the invention, the second and third arched or tunnel shape lockers shown partially, in screw-retained configuration.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a preferred shape of a female component of the dental implant attachment system for fully and partial removable implant-retained, or implant-supported overdentures with three arched or tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers for dentures according to another embodiment of the invention, in screw-retained configuration.

[0056] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a preferred shape of a female and male component shown partially of the dental implant attachment system for fully and partial removable implant-retained or implant-supported overdentures with four arched or tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers, according to another embodiment of the invention, the second and third arched or tunnel shape lockers shown partially and fourth one is not shown, in screw-retained configuration.

[0057] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a preferred shape of a female and male component shown partially of the dental implant attachment system for fully and partial removable implant-retained or implant-supported overdentures with four arched or tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers, according to another embodiment of the invention, the second and third arched or tunnel shape lockers shown partially and fourth one is not shown, in screw-retained configuration.

[0058] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a preferred shape of a female component of the dental implant attachment system for fully and partial removable implant-retained, or implant-supported overdentures with four arched or tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers, according to another embodiment of the invention, in screw-retained configuration.

[0059] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a preferred shape of a female component and male component, shown separated from the dental implant attachment system for fully and partial removable implant-retained, or implant-supported overdentures in screw-retained configuration.

[0060] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the method of the insertion of the dental implant attachment system for fully and partial removable implant-retained, or implant-supported overdentures.

[0061] FIG. 12 is a perspective and exploded image of the prior art such as a conventional dental implant attachment system with a round house.

[0062] FIG. 13 is a perspective and exploded image of the moment's (M) application process to the implant attachment house, with blocking rotation of the house is the reaction moment (MR) created by the adhesive properties of the acrylic for competitor's physical model.

[0063] FIG. 14 is a perspective and exploded image of competitor's stress preview with an interface of high stress area between the acrylic of removable denture and the implant attachment system house or female component, where the adhesion properties are expected to be low, which leads to failure allowing the house to freely rotate in the acrylic.

[0064] FIG. 15 is a perspective and exploded image of the proposed current invention with innovative geometry of the attachment house along with arched or tunnel shape lockers and antirotating thorns.

[0065] FIG. 16 is a perspective and exploded image of the proposed current invention when a moment (M) is applied to the innovative female component or house and the house will not be able to rotate around its own axis, because of the reaction force (FR) created by the improved geometry of female component of proposal physical model.

[0066] FIG. 17 is a perspective and exploded image of the proposed current invention with innovative geometry of the attachment house with possibility confirmation of the adhesive properties as nonexistent rotation blocking by the acrylic.

[0067] FIG. 18 is a perspective and exploded image of the proposed current invention with innovative geometry of the attachment house proposal shown prevent rotation with no adhesion between house and denture, because of the reaction force from the acrylic created by the enhanced geometry of the house.

DRAWINGSREFERENCE NUMERALS

[0068] 10 Dental implant attachment system for implant-supported or implant-retained removable dentures [0069] 11 Male portion of the attachment system [0070] 12 Collar of the male portion [0071] 13 Threaded core of dental implant attachment [0072] 14 Threads [0073] 15 Arched or tunnel shape locker, part of the male portion [0074] 16 External surface of the male portion [0075] 17 Releasing auxiliary hydraulic pressure grooves. [0076] 22 Female portion of attachment system or attachment housing [0077] 23 External surface of the female portion [0078] 24 Antirotating thorns [0079] 25 Arched or tunnel shape locker part of the female portion

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0080] An embodiment of a dental implant attachment system 10 for implant-supported and implant-retained full and partially removable overdentures in the screw-retained configuration of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1-11.

[0081] The dental implant attachment system 10 is made of a comparatively durable material such as stainless steel, titanium, or any other precious alloys.

[0082] Referring specifically to FIGS. 1-10, a dental implant attachment system 10 comprises denture attachment as a female portion 22 embedded in the fitting or internal surface of the implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures for lock up and an attachment abutment as male portion 11 usually connected to dental implant and use mating and snap engageable formation movement with non-static friction.

[0083] In a preferred embodiment of the current inventions, the female portion of attachment system 22, has preferably an elliptical cone shape or dome shape in nature, and contains antirotating thorns 24, located on the entire external surface 23 of female component 22.

[0084] In FIGS. 1-10 antirotating thorns 24 provide stability and prevention of the spinning and rotating movements of the female portion or attachment housing 22 by increasing tightness to the denture (See FIGS. 1-10).

[0085] According to another aspect of the current invention, a female portion of the attachment system 22 includes the arched or tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers 25 as a part of the female portion of the locking mechanism, located in the outer surface of female portion 23 and functioning as one of elements of a mechanical system of the locking mechanism and aid the coupling and uncoupling of the female and male components and fixation of the two-part of the attachment system as an operation portion (See FIGS. 1-10).

[0086] Moreover, antirotating thorns 24 and arched or tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers 25 of the female portion of the attachment system using as major anti-rotation elements to prevent circular loose movements of a female portion of the attachment system 22 in the internal fitting surface of removable denture and improve stability as well (See FIGS. 1-11).

[0087] As shown in FIGS. 1-11 a male portion of attachment system 11 is preferable including mating surface 16 as an elliptical cone shape or dome shape in nature to prevent distortion of dental attachment parts during initial insertion or snapping movement of full and partial removable implant-retained, or implant-supported overdentures.

[0088] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 releasing auxiliary spiral shape hydraulic pressure grooves 17 are located on the mating surface of male component 16 and are used to descries hydrolytic pressure by metering the flow of saliva fluid out of surfaces of attachment system parts.

[0089] FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 illustrated that the male portion of attachment system 11 has a reverse trapezoid shape collar of the male portion 12 and downwardly proceed to the threaded core of the male portion 12 of dental implant attachment 13 with a specially limited number of threads 14.

[0090] In addition, the reverse trapezoid shape collar of the male portion 12 can be of different sizes and heights depending on gum height around the dental implants. The collar projects a level on the soft tissue of the gum. The gum may hold a teeth with roots of the teeth serving as an attachment mechanism.

[0091] The female 22 and male 11 components of the attachment system 10 for a dental implant attachment system for implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures have tunnel-shaped lockers 25 as a retention part which has at one end inverted U shape rod protrude toward and can be located on two, three or four outer surfaces of these components (See FIGS. 1-11).

[0092] The wider the size of the alveolar ridge of the jaw the greater the number of tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers, or in other words the number of lockers 25 is directly proportional to the size of the alveolar ridge (See FIGS. 1-11).

[0093] To determine the appropriate position and number of tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers 25 in the male portion of the attachment system, it's required to obtain the volume of the patient's bone. (See FIGS. 1-10).

[0094] The anchorage section includes the threaded core of dental implant attachment 13 with threads 14 having and corresponding to sufficient and specific separation of its threads and a certain number of threads to permit the male component 11 of the attachment system to reach a position where arched or tunnel shape lockers 25 as a part of the male portion 11 will be in mesial-distal position depending on the width of bone size in the case with two lockers.

[0095] By selecting the thread count or thread pitch on threaded core 13 and thread gaps within 1 inch of the screw are used to determine the appropriate position and number of tunnel shape or inverted U shape lockers 25 in the male portion (See FIGS. 1-11).

[0096] This number will help determine whether a screw will thread into a certain bolt properly to determine the size and thread count of any screw.

[0097] The specific position of the male portion of attachment system 11 depending on bone size will be with variation with two, three, or four U shape lockers (See FIGS. 3, 6, 9).

[0098] The implant-supported and implant-retained full and partial removable overdentures can be removed frequently for cleaning maintenance by simply snapping female component 22 out of male component 11 and can then be re-engagement (See FIGS. 10-11).

[0099] The current invention could, however, be embodied in several different forms and should not be seen as limited to the embodiments set forth herein rather, these inventions are provided so that this disclosure will be complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0100] The following explanation directs to embodiments of the present invention applicable to dental implant attachments.

[0101] Moreover, it will be welcomed that the current invention is not limited to this application but may be applied to in other medical fields such as auricular, ocular, and nasal reconstructions in plastic and reconstructive surgery, etc.

Dental Implant Attachment System Efficiency and Impact Changes in Geometry of Comparative Examples

[0102] The numerous previous designs were subject to investigation and tested for dental attachment system efficiency. Analysis of a dental implant attachment system is investigated for this invention.

[0103] The analysis was performed with the intent to support the innovative ideas of how to improve the geometry of the attachment system of the dental implant could avoid its rotation around its axis on the base of the acrylic implant overdenture denture.

[0104] The following two designs have been selected: the conventional dental attachment system with a round attachment housing and the current invention with an attachment housing along with tunnel or inverted U shape lockers and antirotating thorns.

[0105] As a preliminary study, a simplified case has been analyzed to investigate the possibility of improving a traditional design of the housing attachment. Simplifications include: [0106] * Moment or External Forces (M) [0107] * Reaction Moment (M.sub.R) [0108] * Reaction Forces (F.sub.R)

[0109] However, this report can be viewed as a comparative study-and the result relative to each other showing strong benefits of choosing the current inventions with a dental attachment system for removable prosthesis along with a tunnel or inverted U shape lockers and antirotating thorns.

[0110] This short report intends to support the idea of how improving the geometry of the dental implant attachment system female component could avoid its rotation around its own axis on the acrylic denture.

[0111] In this case, we are testing a conventional dental implant attachment system with a round housing to be inserted into the base of the acrylic denture. See FIG. 12.

[0112] When a moment (M) is applied to the implant attachment housing, the only thing blocking the rotation of the housing is the reaction moment (M.sub.R) created by the adhesive properties of the acrylic (see FIG. 13).

[0113] After simulating this case, it is possible to confirm that the high stress area (see FIG. 14) is the interface between the acrylic of removable denture and the implant attachment system housing or female component, where the adhesion properties are expected to be low, which leads to failure allowing the housing to freely rotate in the acrylic.

[0114] In the other case, the current inventions with the attachment housing along with arched or tunnel shape lockers and antirotating thorns avoid the rotation. Thus, it is proposed to improve the geometry of the housing in the present innovations, as seen in FIG. 15.

[0115] When a moment (M) is applied to the female component or the housing, in this case, even if we assume the adhesive properties of the acrylic are low, the housing will not be able to rotate around its own axis, because of the reaction force (F.sub.R) created by the improved geometry as seen in FIG. 16.

[0116] After simulating this case, it is possible to confirm that even when setting the adhesive properties as nonexistent there is still rotation blocking by the acrylic (see FIG. 17).

[0117] In the conclusion, from experience, the bonding (in the case of conventional dental attachment with a round attachment housing) between the acrylic and the metallic housing is broken quickly after installation, allowing the housing to rotate freely in the denture.

[0118] The proposal shows, that the current invention would prevent rotation even when there is no adhesion between housing and denture, because of the reaction force from the acrylic created by the enhanced geometry of the housing (see FIG. 18).