Structure enabling continuous angular adjustment for fixing a single dental device into an implant

Abstract

Structure enabling continuous angular adjustment for fixing a single dental device to an implant. The structure is formed from a ringwise tiltable threaded shank and a fixing unit for fixing the threaded shank to the implant. The fixing element is formed from an insertion piece and an intermediate piece. The lower end of threaded shank is placed between the end of the insertion piece and the upper end of the intermediate piece. A fixing nut is mounted on the threaded shank. The intermediate piece and the insertion piece are secured to each other by a joining element. The joining element is provided with lower corners and upper corners. A coupling body is installed on the joining element. A mould or the frame is fixed to the coupling body by the fixing nut.

Claims

1. A fixing device for securing a dental device to a dental implant, the fixing device comprising: an intermediate piece having an intermediate piece central hole, at an intermediate piece first end, a coupling surface configured to engage with a screwing tool, a socket adjacent to said intermediate piece first end, and a threaded outer surface at an intermediate piece second end opposite to the intermediate piece first end; a shank having a threaded outer surface at a shank first end, a ball-like element at a shank second end opposite to the shank first end; an insertion piece having at an insertion piece first end for supporting the ball-like element of the shank, an insertion piece second end opposite to said first end of the insertion piece for engagement with a dental implant, and an outer conical coupling surface adjacent to the insertion piece first end; and a joining piece having a joining piece central hole for receiving the intermediate piece and the insertion piece, a first outer coupling surface located at a joining piece first end, where the first outer coupling surface at least in part has a cross-section adapted for a form-fitting engagement with a dental device in a specific rotational position, a threaded inner surface within said joining piece central hole and located at the joining piece first end, a second outer coupling surface located at a joining piece second end opposite to said joining piece first end having a cross-section adapted for a form-fitting engagement with a dental implant in a specific rotational position, and an inner conical seat; wherein in an assembled state of the fixing device the socket of the intermediate piece and the insertion piece first end holds the ball-like element of the shank in a manner that a longitudinal axis of the shank is capable of tilting with respect to a longitudinal axis of the intermediate piece at any angle within a range of 0-25, the intermediate piece is secured to the joining piece so that the threaded outer surface of the intermediate piece engages with the threaded inner surface of the joining piece, the insertion piece is secured to the joining piece by a taper fit between the outer conical coupling surface of the insertion piece and the inner conical seat of the joining piece.

2. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the second coupling surface of the joining piece has a hexagonal cross-section.

3. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein both the first and second outer coupling surfaces of the joining piece are defined by a plurality of corners, wherein the first outer coupling surface has the same number of corners as the second outer coupling surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1-3 show a possible embodiment of the joining element, namely:

(2) FIG. 1 is the side view of the joining element;

(3) FIG. 2 is the sectional side view of the joining element;

(4) FIG. 3 is the perspective view of the joining element.

(5) FIGS. 4-6 show a possible embodiment of the intermediate piece, namely:

(6) FIG. 4 is the side view of the intermediate piece;

(7) FIG. 5 is the sectional side view of the intermediate piece;

(8) FIG. 6 is the perspective view of the intermediate piece.

(9) FIG. 7 is the side view of the insertion piece;

(10) FIG. 8 shows the insertion piece as viewed from above;

(11) FIG. 9 shows the threaded shank of FIG. 10 as viewed from above;

(12) FIG. 10 is the side view of the threaded shank;

(13) FIG. 11 shows the side view of the threaded shank of FIG. 10 in a slightly rotated position;

(14) FIG. 12 is the side view of the fixing nut;

(15) FIG. 13 is the sectional side view of the fixing nut of FIG. 12;

(16) FIG. 14 is the side view of the structure;

(17) FIG. 15 is the sectional side view of the structure of FIG. 14;

(18) FIGS. 16-37 show possible embodiments of the coupling body, namely:

(19) FIG. 16 is the side view of a coupling body having parallel surfaces and not having corners;

(20) FIG. 17 is the sectional side view of the coupling body of FIG. 16;

(21) FIG. 18 is the side view of a coupling body having an angle between the surfaces, where the coupling body does not have corners;

(22) FIG. 19 is the sectional side view of the coupling body of FIG. 18;

(23) FIG. 20 is the side view of a coupling body having an angle between the surfaces and provided with corners;

(24) FIG. 21 is the sectional side view of the coupling body of FIG. 20;

(25) FIG. 22 is the perspective view of the coupling body of FIG. 20;

(26) FIG. 23 is the side view of a coupling body having parallel surfaces and provided with corners;

(27) FIG. 24 is the sectional side view of the coupling body of FIG. 23;

(28) FIG. 25 is the perspective view of the coupling body of FIG. 23;

(29) FIG. 26 is the side view of a coupling body having parallel surfaces, the upper being a segment of a sphere, where the coupling body does not have corners;

(30) FIG. 27 is the sectional side view of the coupling body of FIG. 26;

(31) FIG. 28 is the perspective view of the coupling body of FIG. 26;

(32) FIG. 29 is the side view of a coupling body having parallel surfaces and corners;

(33) FIG. 30 is the sectional side view of the coupling body of FIG. 29;

(34) FIG. 31 is the perspective view of the coupling body of FIG. 29;

(35) FIG. 32 is the side view of the coupling body having an angle between the surfaces, the lower surface is flat, the upper surface is a segment of a sphere, and it does not have corners;

(36) FIG. 33 is the sectional side view of the coupling body of FIG. 32;

(37) FIG. 34 is the perspective view of the coupling body of FIG. 32;

(38) FIG. 35 is the side view of a coupling body having an angle between the surfaces and provided with corners;

(39) FIG. 36 is the sectional side view of the coupling body of FIG. 35;

(40) FIG. 37 is the perspective view of the coupling body of FIG. 35;

(41) FIGS. 38-47 show possible embodiments of the mould, namely:

(42) FIG. 38 is the bottom view of the mould shown in FIG. 39;

(43) FIG. 39 shows a kind of mould viewed from the side;

(44) FIG. 40 is the sectional view of the mould shown in FIG. 39;

(45) FIG. 41 is the side view of another kind of mould;

(46) FIG. 42 is the sectional view of the mould shown in FIG. 41;

(47) FIG. 43 is the side view of another kind of mould;

(48) FIG. 44 is the sectional view of the mould of FIG. 43;

(49) FIG. 45 is the bottom view of the mould shown in FIG. 46, provided with matching surface;

(50) FIG. 46 is the side view of another kind of mould provided with a matching surface;

(51) FIG. 47 is the sectional view of the mould shown in FIG. 46;

(52) FIG. 48 is the side view of the implant and a mould together with the structure in a straight assembly;

(53) FIG. 49 is the sectional side view of the assembly shown in FIG. 48;

(54) FIG. 50 is the side view of the implant and another kind of mould together with the structure in a straight assembly;

(55) FIG. 51 is the sectional side view of the assembly shown in FIG. 50;

(56) FIG. 52 is the side view of a mould as assembled and tilted by means of the structure at angle , wherein swiveling is prevented by the corners and the surfaces;

(57) FIG. 53 is the sectional side view of the assembly shown in FIG. 52;

(58) FIG. 54 is the side view of another kind of mould as assembled and tilted by means of the structure at angle , in this assembly prevention of swiveling is omitted in order to make building of the structure into a bridge possible;

(59) FIG. 55 is the sectional view of the assembly shown in FIG. 54;

(60) FIG. 56 is the side view of another kind of mould as assembled and tilted by means of the structure at angle , wherein swiveling is prevented by the corners and the surfaces;

(61) FIG. 57 is the sectional side view of the assembly shown in FIG. 56;

(62) FIG. 58 is the side view of another kind of mould as assembled and tilted by means of the structure at angle , in this assembly prevention of swiveling is omitted in order to make building of the structure into a bridge possible;

(63) FIG. 59 is the sectional side view of the assembly shown in FIG. 58.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(64) In the description the terms prevention of swiveling or swivelability are used in relation to the coupling body and/or the mould, and they do not by any means refer to the joining element which must not swivel in the implant.

(65) In the present invention, a structure 1 enabling continuous angle adjustment for fixing a single dental device into an implant is provided. The structure 1 is formed from a ringwise tiltable threaded shank 4 projecting from the implant 2 and a dental device fixing unit 3 comprising a fixing element 5 for fixing the threaded shank 4 to the implant 2. The fixing element 5 consists of an insertion piece 6 and an intermediate piece 7 provided with a bore-hole 14 in which the threaded shank 4 is led through in order to secure the insertion piece 6 to the implant 2. The end 9 of the insertion piece 6 and the lower end 8 of the threaded shank 4 are attached to each other in a swivelable manner. The lower end 8 of the threaded shank 4 is positioned between the end 9 of the insertion piece 6 and the upper end 13 of the intermediate piece 7. A fixing nut 26 is installed on the threaded shank 4 by means of which the frame of the dental device and/or the mould 21 used for making the frame can be fixed. The intermediate piece 7 and the insertion piece 6 are fixed to each other by means of a joining element 10 placed in the implant 2. On the leg portion of the joining element 10 facing the implant 2 lower corners 11 while on its portion opposite the implant 2 i.e. at its end facing the intermediate piece 7 upper corners 12 are formed. The upper corners 12 are formed in a plane parallel to the plane of the lower corners 11 and the number of the upper corners 12 equals to the number of the lower corners 11. A coupling body 15 provided with a bore-hole having a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the threaded shank 4 is placed on the joining element 10. The mould 21 or frame is fixed to the coupling body 15 by means of the fixing nut 26. The intermediate piece 7 is secured into the joining element 10 in a central hole 55 thereof through a threaded joint. Preferably, a portion of the outer superficies of the insertion piece 6 is conical so that it can fit in the conical seat 16 provided in the inner superficies of the joining element 10.

(66) It is advantageous, principally when a single tooth is to be replacedbut also in case of making a bridgeif the coupling body 15 is installed on the joining element 10 and/or the intermediate piece 7 in form fitting manner. To this end coupling body 15 is provided with corners 17 so that swiveling of it is prevented (FIGS. 20, 29 and 35). On mould 21 and on the frame a surface 22 matching to corners 17 is formed (FIGS. 40 and 47). Further, coupling body 15 is provided with inner corners 24 matching to the upper corners 12 of joining element 10. The surface 22 of mould 21 facing to the fixing unit 3 fits to the upper surface 19 of coupling body 15. In this manner it is ensured that the direction of the additional superstructures relative to the joining element 10 is determined, fixed. That is, coupling body 15 is forced to have a determined position relative to joining element 10, and mould 21 is forced to have a determined position relative to coupling body 15.

(67) Usually it is sufficient if mould 21 is tilted by 5-5 degrees. Therefore the lower surface 18 and the upper surface 19 of coupling body 15 are formed as flat surfaces and the included angle between them is 0-25 (FIG. 19).

(68) In order to make further slight adjustment of mould 21 possible the lower surface 18 of the coupling body 15 is flat, the upper surface 19 of it is a segment of a sphere 25 (FIGS. 26-28 and 32-34). Also, in this case mould 21 can be tilted as required. That is, the included angle between the plane of the lower surface 18 and the base plane of the segment of the sphere 25 is 0-25.

(69) Preferably, a medical silicone ring 20 is placed between lower end 8 and end 9 in order to ensure the required position of the fixing element 5 during assembly (FIG. 15). After assembling silicone ring 20 has no function.

(70) Advantageously, channels 23 are formed on the outer superficies of the coupling body 15 in order to ensure better fixing of mould 21. Channels 23 are filled with some adhesive.

(71) With the present invention an improved fixing unit 3 of the one described in patent application HU 229980 and WO 2014106761 is provided. In the aforementioned documents the fixing unit 3 comprising threaded shank 4 (FIGS. 9-11) is installed in joining element 10 (FIGS. 1-3). Coupling body 15 is not shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The advantage of the present invention is that incidental swivelling of fixing unit 3 after placing it into implant 2 is prevented by the structure 1 according to the present invention. It is very important when a single tooth must be replaced. To this, intermediate piece 7 (FIGS. 4-6) of the fixing element 5 of fixing unit 3 is provided with outer threads 51 at its lower end, and also with a coupling surface 50 configured to engage with a screwing tool at its opposite end (like the intermediate piece of WO 2014106761), and a portion 54 of the superficies of insertion piece 6 (FIGS. 7-8) is made cone-shaped. In the upper portion of the joining element 10 internal threads 56 matching to threaded portion 51 of the intermediate piece 7 are formed and under this threaded portion 56 a conical seat 16 is provided (FIG. 2). The threaded part 52 of shank 4 is lead out of fixing unit 3 through the bore-hole 14 of intermediate piece 7. The lower end 8 of the threaded shank 4 is installed between the upper end 13 of intermediate piece 7 and end 9 of insertion piece 6. Preferably, a medical silicone ring 20 is placed between the lower end 8 and end 9 in order to ensure the required position of the fixing element 5 during assembly. After assembling silicone ring 20 has no function. If it is important to prevent structure 1 from swivelling in implant 2 then lower corners 11 are formed on a portion of the outer superficies of joining element 10 in order to ensure matching between implant 2 and structure 1 in a form fitting manner (FIGS. 1-3). The lower corners can be shaped optionally, they can have the form of a hexagon or they can be formed as studs or grooves, etc. Further, by inserting a coupling body 15, mould 21 is secured to threaded shank 4 by means of fixing nut 26. For fixing the mould 21 (FIGS. 38-47) suitable coupling bodies 15 (FIGS. 16-37) are used installed on joining element 10. Swivelling of coupling bodies 15 is prevented by means of inner corners 24 matching to the upper corners 12 of joining element 10 and formed within coupling body 15. Structure 1 is fixed to mould 21 or to the frame formed with the mould (the latter is not shown in the Figures) by means of fixing nut 26 (FIGS. 12, 13). Swivelling of mould 21 is prevented by corners 17 provided on the outer surface of coupling body 15 (FIGS. 20-22 and 35-36) and by surface 22 formed on the inner surface of mould 21 (FIGS. 40, 47). Naturally, swivelling may be prevented in any other known manner.

(72) In order to ensure that the bore-hole is not seen when the dental device is fixed, the threaded shank must be tilted in such a manner that the bore-hole of the fixing nut 26 faces the oral cavity. To properly adjust the angle of inclination of mould 21 the correct angle may be ensured by the coupling body 15. To this the lower surface 18 and upper surface 19 of the coupling body 15 are flat and the included angle between the two planes is 0-25 (FIG. 19).

(73) In order to make further slight adjustment of mould 21 possible the lower surface 18 of the coupling body 15 is flat, the upper surface 19 of it is a segment of a sphere 25 (FIGS. 26-28 and 32-34). Naturally, in this case also, mould 21 can be tilted as required. That is, the included angle between the plane of the lower surface 18 and the base plane of the segment of the sphere 25 is 0-25.

(74) If needed, some adhesive may be applied in the channels 23 formed on the outer superficies of the coupling body 15 in order to glue mould 21 and coupling body 15 together.

(75) FIGS. 48-51 show the assembly of structure 1 and mould 21 placed in implant 2. In the Figures they are shown in straight position. However, in FIGS. 52-59 they can be seen in tilted position. In these Figures implant 2 is not shown. In FIGS. 53 and 57 solutions of the present invention for prevention of swiveling are shown while the solutions shown in FIGS. 55 and 59 do not comprise prevention of swiveling. Naturally, in each case the joining element 10 according to the invention is used and the respective coupling body is shown. In both solutions joining element 10 must ensure that fixing element 5 after installing it in implant 2 does not swivel. That is, prevention of swiveling or swivelability is used in relation to the superstructures built on fixing unit 3 and does not relate to the fixing element 5 installed in implant 2.

(76) The advantage of the fixing unit according to the invention is that by making the threaded shank tiltable the dental devices can be fixed in the mouth so that their angle deviation relative to the direction of the implant can be compensated. The bore-holes of the screws are not perceptible to the eye as they are provided on a hidden surface of the dental device. The fixing unit according to the invention can be used with new implants as well as with implants installed earlier. Further, it can be used when a single tooth must be replaced or even in case of a fourteen-unit (full) bridge. The fixing unit cannot get unscrewed. It can be used to fix a dental device or crown comprising a curved bore-hole (described in an earlier patent application of the present inventors). The fixing unit of the present invention is a universal, continuously adjustable superstructure which ensures fixing without the possibility of swiveling. It can be used not only in case of bridges where prevention of swiveling is not reasoned but also for replacing a single, screwable unit.