Dental implant with a sacrificial coronal portion

Abstract

A dental implant is described and includes a threaded coronal portion having a top hollow part with a cavity and an opening in a top portion of the hollow part, wherein the top hollow part is defined by sacrificial walls of the coronal portion, wherein a width of the cavity and the opening allows insertion of a cutting element of a dental saw into the cavity.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting the height of a dental implant installed in a jawbone, comprising the steps of: determining the height of an exposed part of a coronal portion of the dental implant; inserting a dental saw into the coronal portion of the implant, through an opening at a top portion of the coronal portion; and sawing off the exposed part by a dental cutting tool; wherein the sawing is done from inside of the coronal portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) By way of example, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures of drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of a dental implant of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a dental implant of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a dental cutting tool and a dental implant of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a dental cutting tool and a dental implant of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the invention may be used without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and elements are not described here in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the invention. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the devices and methods of the present invention, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention.

(7) FIG. 1 is a side view of a dental implant 10, according to an embodiment of the invention. The dental implant 10 includes a threaded coronal portion 11, which is engaged with a cortical bone when the implant 10 is positioned inside a jawbone of a patient. The top hollow part 18 of the coronal portion 11 includes a cavity 13 and an opening 14. The opening 14 is situated at the top of the hollow part 18 of the coronal portion 11 and has a size that allows insertion of various dental tools and/or devices into the cavity 13.

(8) Once the implant 10 is installed in a jawbone, bone resorption may occur after some time. If bone resorption occurs, it exposes a top part of the coronal portion 11 of the implant 10. Having an exposed implant is highly undesirable for esthetic reasons, and due to the deposition of plaque on the exposed surface. Therefore, it would be highly desirable to remove the exposed portion of the implant 10.

(9) The removal of the exposed part of the coronal portion 11 of the implant 10 is done by a cutting tool (a saw) 20, which is inserted, through the opening 14, into the cavity 13 of the top hollow part 18 of the coronal portion 11. Once positioned at the desired depth inside the top hollow part 18, the cutting tool 20 cuts through the walls 12 of the coronal portion 11 and saws off the exposed part of the coronal portion 11.

(10) The cavity 13 has a size and shape that permits insertion (through the opening 14) of the cutting tool 20 inside the coronal portion 11, while maintaining a desired orientation of a cutting element 21 of the cutting tool 20 inside the cavity 13. Preferably, the width of the cavity 13 and the opening 14 is larger than the width d of the cutting element 21.

(11) The dental implant 10 of the present invention may be a monolithic implant (i.e., implant produced as one single piece) or it can be a modular implant.

(12) In another embodiment of the present invention, the implant 10 may comprise a screw 15 positioned inside a threaded bore 17 of the implant 10 and configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the implant 10. The top of the screw serves as the bottom 16 of the cavity 13. Thus, the movement of the screw 15 effectively regulates the depth of the cavity 13.

(13) The implant 10 can be manufactured from a commercially pure titanium, a titanium alloy, another biocompatible metal, or metal alloy, or ceramic, to promote osseointegration of the implant with the bone tissue of the boundary walls of the borehole.

(14) Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims are construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.