Abutment Tool Set, And Device For Producing Dental Replacements

Abstract

Device for producing tooth replacements, which device has a milling cutter (36) for shaping the front face of the tube portion (16), which milling cutter (36) has at least one abutment face which is intended to bear at least indirectly on a surface of the abutment (10), in particular on the collar (14) of the abutment, and via which milling cutter (36) the length or height of the tube portion (16) of the abutment (10) can be fixed, in particular the tube portion can be shaped. Tool set consisting of a milling cutter (36) and of a sleeve (42), wherein at least one abutment face (76) is formed on the milling cutter and extends towards the sleeve (42), and wherein the sleeve (42) has a supporting face (78), in particular for supporting on an abutment (10).

Claims

1. A device for producing tooth replacements comprising an implant and an abutment (10) on which or to which a dental structure made of a dental material, which is produced by means of constructing methods or removing methods, is attached, wherein the abutment (10) is mounted to the implant by means of a releasable connection, wherein the abutment (10) comprises an implant connection (12) and a tube portion (16), between which a collar (14) extends and protrudes to the outside of the abutment, a milling cutter (36) for shaping a front face of the tube portion (16), wherein the milling cutter (36) has at least one abutment face which is intended to bear at least indirectly on a surface of the abutment (10), and wherein the length or height of the tube portion (16) of the abutment (10) is determined via the milling cutter (36), and wherein the milling cutter (36) forms a recess (40) at a front face, said recess (40) comprising a straight cutting edge perpendicular to the rotational axis which leads to a fillet cutting edge which leads to a straight cutting edge parallel to the rotational axis for shaping.

2. The device for producing dental replacements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the milling cutter (36) comprises a sleeve (42) as a height stop element which limits the milling motion when milling the tube-shaped portion (16) of the abutment (10), said sleeve (42) forming a stop with respect to a collar (14) of the abutment.

3. The device for producing dental replacements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the milling cutter (36) forms a bell-shaped recess (40) whose front face comprises a fillet (84) which is intended to shape the front face of the tube portion (16).

4. The device for producing dental replacements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the milling cutter (36) comprises a bell-shaped recess (40), wherein a sleeve (42) surrounds the recess (40) and is fabricated of plastic.

5. The device for producing dental replacements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve (42) comprises at least one chip removal recess (50) which is adjacent to a front face of a bell-shaped recess (40) of the milling cutter (36).

6. The device for producing dental replacements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment face (76) is configured on a front face of the milling cutter (36) and is intended for abutting on a base (94) of the sleeve (42).

7. The abutment tool set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the milling cutter (36) is configured as a multi-point milling cutter.

8. The abutment tool set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tube portion (16) comprises marks in accordance with target heights of the tube portion (16).

9. The device for producing tooth replacements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dental material comprises ceramic.

10. The device for producing tooth replacements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the constructing methods comprise constructing by a Rapid Prototyping device.

11. The device for producing tooth replacements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the removing methods comprise milling by a computer assisted milling (CAM) machine.

12. The device for producing tooth replacements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the releasable connection comprises a screwed connection.

13. The device for producing tooth replacements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface of the abutment in which the milling cutter (36) has at least one abutment face which is intended to bear at least indirectly on a surface of the abutment (1) comprises the collar (14) of the abutment.

14. The device for producing tooth replacements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tube portion (16) of the abutment (10) is shaped by the milling cutter (36).

15. The abutment tool set as claimed in claim 7, wherein the multi-point milling cutter is a three-point milling cutter.

16. The abutment tool set as claimed in claim 8, wherein the marks comprise three marks in accordance with target heights S, M and L of the tube portion (16).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] Further advantageous details and features may be taken from the following description of several exemplary embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view through an abutment of an inventive device for producing dental replacements;

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view through the abutment of FIG. 1;

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view through an abutment tool set of an inventive device for producing dental replacements, additionally illustrating the abutment and the implant screw;

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the abutment tool set, in an illustration according to FIG. 3;

[0056] FIG. 5 shows a further illustration of a further embodiment of an inventive abutment tool set, also in the illustration according to FIG. 4;

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a further illustration of a further embodiment of an inventive abutment tool set in the illustration also according to FIG. 5;

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a further illustration of a further embodiment of an inventive abutment tool set in the illustration also according to FIG. 6;

[0059] FIG. 8 shows an enlarged schematic illustration of a detail of FIG. 7;

[0060] FIG. 9 shows a particularly preferable embodiment of an inventive abutment tool set; and

[0061] FIG. 10 shows a modified embodiment of an inventive abutment tool set.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] The abutment 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises an implant connection area 12 which extends in the cervical direction and ends at a collar 14. The collar transitions into a tube portion 16 via internal radii, said tube portion being intended to receive and hold the suprastructure.

[0063] The tube portion 16 comprises a groove 18 as an anti-rotation mechanism extending radially towards the inside. When using the abutment for an individual restoration such as a crown the groove 18 prevents unintentional rotation and thus serves as an anti-rotation mechanism. A corresponding flange which fits into the groove 18 is configured in the suprastructure accordingly in that case.

[0064] When the abutment is used for an abutment tooth of a bridge, the groove 18 maintains the shape illustrated herein. However, there is no flange which would engage the groove 18, on the inner side of the suprastructure. In this way, the anti-rotation mechanism of the bridge can be ensured by orienting it properly to the other abutment tooth without risking torsional stress.

[0065] The tube portion 16 ends in the area of its front face 22. At the same time, the inlet opening of the tube portion 16 forms a channel 24 for the implant screw not illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0066] From FIG. 2 a basic sectional illustration of the abutment 10 is apparent. Standard heights L, M and S are marked to which the tube portion 16 of the abutment can be shortened. As can be seen, the groove 18 extends also below the standard height S such that the anti-rotation mechanism is also ensured when the abutment 10 is shortened to the height S.

[0067] As can be seen from FIG. 2, the transition between the front face 22 and the external surface 25 of the tube portion 16 is rounded with a radius 26. The size of this radius 26 can be adapted to the requirements to a large extent; it typically amounts to between 0.05 mm and 1.0 mm, and preferably to about 0.2 mm. This external radius 26 surprisingly improves the durability of the suprastructure considerably; obviously, the external radius 26 greatly equalizes the maximum local introduction of forces into the suprastructure.

[0068] As can be seen, the collar 14 comprises a circularly circumferential bearing area 32 which extends vertically relative to an axis 30 of the abutment. Via a fillet radius 34 the bearing surface 32 transitions into the external surface 25 of the tube portion 16.

[0069] According to the inventionas can be seen from FIG. 3it is provided to affect the shortening of the tube portion 16 of the abutment 10 by means of an abutment tool set 11 with a milling cutter 36 illustrated in FIG. 3. The basic cross-sectional shape of the milling cutter 36 is configured like an annular bit. It comprises a shank 38 whose external diameter is suitable for being driven by any desired mechanical tool available in the dental practice or generally in the dental field. For this purpose, the shank diameter amounts to, for instance, 2.35 mm or 3 mm at the clamping or actuation area.

[0070] The bell-shaped element 40 of the milling cutter 36 comprises a cylindrical portion or a sleeve 42 whose internal diameter fits the external surface 25 of the tube portion 16 of the abutment 10 in a minimum clearance fit. The cylindrical portion extends at the bottom up to the bearing surface 32 of the collar 14 which serves as a dimensioning reference.

[0071] The milling cutter 36 illustrated herein is intended to shorten the abutment 10 to the height L. For this purpose, at the outer areas of its front face 46 it comprises a fillet 48 which is provided with cutting edges and in this respect with teeth. When turning the milling cutter 36 via the shank 38 the abutment 10 is shortened in a machining process thereat, for as long as the cylindrical portion contacts the bearing surface 32. For the milling operation, the front face 46 may comprise staggered or single-edged teeth, for a grinding operation it can be equipped with diamonds.

[0072] As can be seen from FIG. 3 chip removal recesses 50 are distributed evenly around the circumference of the milling cutter 36, namely just under the front face 46 at the cylindrical sleeve 42.

[0073] As can also be seen from FIG. 3 an implant screw 52 extends through the abutment 10 towards the bottom; it serves to be anchored in the associated implant in a way known per se.

[0074] It is to be understood that for the three heights L, M and S of the tube portion 16 three correspondingly sized sleeves 42 are provided. Their configuration at the fillet 48 with an internal radius ensures that the external radius 26 (see FIG. 2) is maintained even if the tube portion 16 is shortened.

[0075] A further configuration of the abutment tool set 11 is apparent from FIG. 4. Here, just like in the further Figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same parts. The abutment tool set 11 according to FIG. 4 comprises a stop pin 60 which is intended to rest on the implant screw 52. The stop pin 60 extends from an internal cylinder 62 of the abutment tool set 11 to the implant screw 52 such that the height stop of the abutment tool set 11 is additionally limited by the implant screw 52.

[0076] In a further advantageous embodiment (not illustrated herein) it is provided that the bell-shaped element 40 of the abutment tool set 11 comprises marks at the cylindrical portion 42. While the maximum length of the bell-shaped element 40 corresponds to the height L in this case, a mark is provided which corresponds to the height M and a further mark is provided which corresponds to the height S. If necessary, the dentist or dental technician can now shorten the cylindrical portion to M or even to S and can then affect the desired shortening of the tube portion 16 of the abutment 10 either to L, to M or to S, without any additional stock-keeping.

[0077] According to the invention it is completely uncritical that the manual shortening process of the bell-shaped element 40 might not be carried out in optimum quality as the fillet 48 which determines the shape always remains untouched by the shortening process such that the abutment 10 can also be produced in perfect quality according to the invention.

[0078] A modified embodiment of the abutment tool set 11 is apparent from FIG. 5. Instead of the bell-shaped element 40 it comprises an internal element 66 which is intended for insertion into the tube portion 16. The internal element 66 is connected to the shank 38 via a connection pin 68, and the abutment tool set 11 equally comprises the fillet 48 for providing the shape of the external radius of the tube portion 16.

[0079] The shape of the internal element 66 equally ensures a height stop, however, not on the bearing surface 32 but on the implant screw 52.

[0080] From FIG. 6 another embodiment of an inventive abutment tool set 11 is apparent. Instead of the internal element an external element 70 is provided thereat which extends subsequently to the shortened bell-shaped element 40 towards the bottom and which rests on the bearing surface 32 of the collar 14. Here, too, a fillet 48 is provided in the same manner to provide for the external radius 26 of the tube portion 16.

[0081] From FIG. 7 a further embodiment of an inventive abutment tool set 11 is apparent. Again, the external/bottom side of the bell-shaped element 40 ends on the bearing surface 32 of the collar 14. It comprises a spherical configuration corresponding to the radius 34 of the transition between the tube portion 16 and the collar 14.

[0082] FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of the part Y of FIG. 7. The external radius 26 is clearly shown which is produced by the fillet 48 of the milling cutter 36 at the tube portion 16.

[0083] The cylindrical portion 42 of the bell-shaped element 40 of the abutment tool set 11 comprises a small amount of play 72 with respect to the external surface 25 of the tube portion 16 such that no or at most minimum friction is produced during the machining process.

[0084] In FIG. 9 a preferred embodiment of the inventive abutment tool set 11 is illustrated. The abutment tool set 11 is a two-piece tool set in this embodiment and consists of a milling cutter 36 and of a sleeve 42 which receives and guides the milling cutter. For this purpose, the milling cutter 36 at least partially reaches into the sleeve 42. The sleeve 42 is U-shaped in cross-section. It comprises a guide hole 82 whose internal diameter fits the external diameter of the tube portion 16 of the abutment and which is guided at the external surface 25 of the tube portion 16. In this respect, the base 80 of the sleeve 42 comprises the guide hole 82 centrally. The base 80 also forms a supporting face 78 which is configured to be supported on the collar 14 of the abutment 10.

[0085] Furthermore, the milling cutter 36 comprises a step between a work portion 88 and a transition area 90. The transition area 90 has a larger diameter than the work portion 88, and the transition forms an abutment face 76. This abutment face rests on the sleeve 42 when the milling operation of the milling cutter is finished.

[0086] Thus, the height of the sleeve 42 determines the exact target height of the tube portion 16 of the abutment 10.

[0087] The shank 38 of the milling cutter 36 consists of a clamping and actuation area 96 besides the transition area 90. This clamping and actuation area has a smaller diameter than the transition area 90 and is either intended to be clamped into a dental milling machine or to be actuated manually.

[0088] The enlarged detailed view of the milling cutter 36 shows that the milling cutter comprises cutting edges 84 which extend towards the bottom beyond the fillet 86. In this respect, this part of the milling cutter 36 also forms a bell-shaped element 40 in turn.

[0089] FIG. 10 illustrates a modified embodiment of an inventive tool set. In this embodiment, the abutment face 76 is shifted to the bottom. At the same time, the abutment face 76 is the front face of the milling cutter 36 and surrounds the tube-shaped portion 16. Upon contact with the base 92 of the sleeve 42, the target height is reached, wherein the milling cutter 36 is configured in a bell-shaped manner and can comprise a three-point milling cutter for shortening the tube-shaped portion 16 at specific positions, as has already been described in connection with FIG. 9.

[0090] In order to keep friction with respect to the sleeve 42 low the milling cutter 36 is guided in the sleeve 42 with clearance.

[0091] While the inventive abutment tool set is preferably configured as a manual milling cutter it is possible alternatively to realize the tool set as a mechanical tool in the course of the CAM production.