DENTAL TOOLS SYSTEM AND METHOD
20190357998 ยท 2019-11-28
Inventors
Cpc classification
A61C3/04
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61C9/004
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61C13/0004
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61C8/009
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A61C8/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61C9/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
A dental tools system with a plurality of guide tabs; a mold and a plurality of tissue punch heads. The mold has a plurality of mold holes, each mold hole having a top portion and a bottom portion. Each guide tab fits in the top portion of one of the mold holes and each tissue punch head fits in the top portion of one of the mold holes. A method of placing dental implants is also described.
Claims
1. A mold comprising: a plurality of mold holes, each mold hole comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the mold comprises a mold base, which comprises the bottom portions of the mold holes; a mold superstructure, which comprises the top portions of the mold holes, each top portion having a cross section which decreases in a direction towards the mold base, and wherein the mold base and the mold superstructure may be engaged in more than one operation position so that some top portions match with bottom portions in each operation position.
2. The mold according to claim 1, wherein the mold base comprises first positioning means and the mold superstructure comprises second positioning means suitable for interacting with the first positioning means in a stable position to keep constant the relative position of the mold base and the mold superstructure.
3. The mold according to claim 2, wherein the first positioning means and the second positioning means have more than one stable position.
4. The mold according to claim 3, wherein the mold superstructure comprises a first frame and a first insert, the first insert comprising the top portions of the mold holes and being inserted inside the first frame, and wherein the mold base comprises a second frame and a second insert, the second insert comprising the bottom portions of the mold holes and being inserted inside the second frame.
5. The mold according to claim 3, wherein the mold superstructure comprises a first frame and a first insert, the first insert comprising the top portions of the mold holes and being inserted inside the first frame; and the mold base comprises a second frame with insert holes, each insert hole comprising a seat; and the mold base further comprises a plurality of individual fitting inserts, each one of these individual fitting inserts being adapted to fit in at least one of the insert holes of the second frame, each individual fitting insert comprising a body and one of the bottom portions, and a wing, wherein each individual fitting insert is adapted to fit in the seat of one of the insert holes in such a way that the shape of the seat prevents the individual fitting insert from rotating once the individual fitting insert is fitted into the seat.
6. The mold according to claim 5, wherein each individual fitting insert is secured to the second frame by means of a retention screw.
7. The mold according to claim 5, wherein the wing of at least one individual fitting insert comprises one shoulder cavity adapted to receive at least part of a shoulder of a healing abutment.
8. The mold according to claim 5, wherein the second positioning means are located in the first frame, and wherein one of the first and second positioning means comprises a concavity and the other of the first and second positioning means comprises at least one of a ball with spring, a convexity, or a plate.
9. The mold according to claim 5, wherein some bottom portions are oriented in a different direction from some top portions.
10. The mold according to claim 5, wherein each individual fitting insert and its bottom portion are one piece.
11. The mold according to claim 5, wherein the top portions have an inferior zone with a cross section which varies in size and/or shape in the direction towards the mold base, in such a way that the shape of the inferior zone of the top portion is different from the shape of the rest of the top portion.
12. The mold according to claim 5, wherein some of the top portions have at least one cross section which comprises a straight portion and a curved portion.
13. The mold according to claim 5, wherein the top portions have a regular surface, as that which may be expressed by a polynomic, exponential or logarithmic mathematical formula, or a combination thereof, with a mean roughness Ra lower than 10 m.
14. The mold according to claim 5, further comprising detachable inserts suitable for modifying the final profile of some top and/or bottom portions.
15. The mold according to claim 5, wherein the mold base comprises the bottom portions of the mold hole, the bottom portions being suitable for housing a prosthetic connection of a healing abutment or an impression post, and wherein the housing is achieved by means of snap on coupling and/or couple threading with or without the use of a retention screw.
16. A method of fabricating a custom healing abutment and/or impression post, the method comprising: providing the mold according to claim 5; identifying a suitable top portion of a mold hole from the mold holes with the use of a guide tab or a virtual guide tab; placing an abutment core into the suitable mold hole; pouring a biocompatible and curable material into the open space of the suitable mold hole so that at least part of the open space is filled; removing the custom healing abutment after the biocompatible and curable material is cured and set; and coupling the healing abutment with an implant in order to establish and maintain a gingival emergence profile.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: replacing the custom healing abutment with a custom impression post having a same shape and size custom body; generating an impression; introducing a silicon mask around the custom impression post present in the impression; pouring stone into the impression and generating a working cast; and fabricating an implant crown comprising an emergence profile similar to the gingival emergence profile.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0074] To complete the description and in order to provide for a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the invention, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the invention, but just as an example of how the invention can be carried out. The drawings comprise the following figures:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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[0092] Each guide tab 2 fits in the top portion 41 of one of the mold holes 4; and each tissue punch head 5 fits in the top portion 41 of one of the mold holes 4. Each first tube 81 fits in the top portion 41 of one of the mold holes 4, and each second tube 82 fits in a first tube 81, and comprises a central through hole.
[0093] The top portion 41 of each mold hole 4 is suitable for housing at least part of the shoulder and pillar of a healing abutment or of an impression post, and for manufacturing the custom body of a healing abutment or of an impression post. The bottom portion of each mold hole is in turn suitable for housing the prosthetic connection of a healing abutment or the prosthetic connection of an impression post which are to be manufactured by these mold holes.
[0094] There are at least three different shapes of guide tabs, mold holes and tissue punch heads, each shape with at least three different sizes, each shape having a cross section which comprises at least one straight portion and one curved portion.
[0095] In the embodiment shown in this figure, there are three different shapes: triangular, square and rectangular. There are three available sizes for each shape: small, medium and large. These shapes and sizes try to correspond with the mean, high and low standard deviations of the dimensions available for the root trunks of different teeth incisors, canines, premolars and molars. This solution represents a compromise between providing standard shapes which may be also used in some other elements of the system and providing accurate shapes for creating emergence gingival profiles which adapt to the shapes of the different teeth.
[0096] This system is thus useful for performing several steps of a dental piece replacement. It provides the dentist with tools for creating the dental healing abutments and impression posts in a simple and accurate way, being able to adapt to a great amount of different patient situations.
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[0098] This guide tab 2 comprises a first lateral coupling recess 21 and a second lateral coupling recess 22, which is greater than the first lateral coupling recess 21. This guide tab 2 also comprises a central bore 23, suitable for letting a drilling tool pass through the guide tab 2. The central bore 23 is communicated with the second lateral coupling recess 22, but not with the first lateral coupling recess 21, because the second lateral coupling recess 22 is deeper than the first lateral coupling recess 21.
[0099] The first lateral coupling recess 21 is useful to introduce a first connecting pin of a handle 9, such as in
[0100] In other embodiments, the guide tab 2 has its first and second lateral coupling recesses substantially of the same shape, and further comprises a magnet, in at least one of these lateral recesses. In other embodiments, the magnet is comprised in the handle, and the guide tab is made of a ferromagnetic material. This ensures easy and quick engagement with a metallic handle. This guide tab also comprises the central bore, which is suitable for letting a drilling tool pass through the guide tab. As the engagement between the handle and the magnetic means does not require a great inner space from the lateral coupling recess, both first and second lateral coupling recesses are blind, none of them being in communication with the central bore. However, in some other embodiments, one of the lateral coupling recesses is not blind, and is in communication with the central bore, allowing a deeper introduction of the pin of the handle.
[0101] The guide tab comprises orientation marks 24, which are parallel and are suitable for helping the positioning of further dental tools.
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[0105] The mold base 32 and the mold superstructure 31 may be engaged in more than one operation position so that some top portions 41 match with different bottom portions 42 in each operation position.
[0106] The bottom portions 42 are intended to house the prosthetic connections of healing abutments and impression posts cores. The top portions 41 are in turn intended to house at least part of the shoulders and pillars of the healing abutments and impression posts cores, and to form the custom body of said healing abutments or impression posts. This housing can be achieved by means of snap on coupling and/or couple threading with, or without the use of a retention screw.
[0107] The top portions 41 have a cross section which varies in size and/or shape in the direction towards the mold base, but all cross sections are oriented according to parallel planes, which are perpendicular to the top straight direction. Some of the top portions have a cross section which comprises a straight portion and a curved portion. In particular embodiments, as shown in these figures, these cross sections are square with round edges, triangular with round edges or rectangular with round edges.
[0108] The mold base comprises first positioning means 61 and the mold superstructure comprises second positioning means 62 suitable for interacting with the first positioning means 61 in a stable position to keep constant the relative position of the mold base and the mold superstructure.
[0109] In some particular embodiments, these first and second positioning means are a vertical protrusion and a vertical groove, a ring and a seat, protrusions and notches, etc. First positioning means may be in the mold base and second positioning means may be in the mold superstructure or vice versa.
[0110] The first positioning means and the second positioning means have more than one stable position, so that the mold base and the mold superstructure may be securely attached in more than one position. This enables more combinations of top and bottom portions, thus enabling the existence of a wider range of holes. In some of the embodiments of the dental tools system, the base comprises a through opening so that if an object is introduced by this opening, it reaches the superstructure, and is able to separate it from the base by pushing.
[0111] In some embodiments, as shown in
[0112] The top portions have a regular surface, as that which may be expressed by a three-dimensional polynomic, exponential or logarithmic mathematical formula, or a combination thereof, with a mean roughness Ra lower than 10 m.
[0113] In some embodiments of the system, detachable inserts may be placed on the mold holes, to modify the final profile of some top and/or bottom portions. These detachable inserts may be made of silicone or any other imprintable substance, able to keep the shape by pressure. Due to the presence of these inserts, the molds may be able to produce dental healing abutments and impression posts in a wider range of shapes. These inserts can also be made out of metal, or plastic, or ceramic, or other suitable material.
[0114] A system according to the invention may be used when a patient needs the placement of an implant. When the dentist identifies the missing piece, he utilizes the set of guide tabs to find the guide tab which better suits the gap left by the missing piece. Once this guide tab is selected, the dentist will create a dental healing abutment, by placing an abutment core 7 in the mold hole which corresponds to the selected guide tab and pouring a biocompatible and curable material 74 on it, as shown in
[0115] When it is required, an impression post is created in the same mold hole that was used to manufacture the dental healing abutment. An impression post core is introduced instead, and biocompatible material is poured in the mold hole. The impression post core comprises a prosthetic connection, a shoulder and a pillar. The same as in the case of the healing abutment, the shoulder usually fits the inferior zone of the top portion of the mold hole, so that the biocompatible material remains in the top portion of the mold hole, partially covering the pillar.
[0116] If customized dental healing abutments and/or impression posts are to be manufactured with this mold, the inserts may be placed in a mold hole before the core is introduced. These inserts are shaped by pressure or by any other means so that when they are located in the mold hole, the resulting profile is adequate for the patient's needs.
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[0119] In this figure, the mold base comprises a second frame 321 and a second insert 322. The second insert 322 comprises the bottom portions 42 of the mold holes and is inserted inside the second frame 321. The second frame 321 comprises first position means and the second insert 322 comprises second position means suitable for interacting with the first positioning means in a stable position to keep constant the relative position of the second frame 321 and the second insert 322. These means also allow the reproducible and reversible coupling of the second frame with the second insert. However, in different embodiments, the second frame 321 and the second insert 322 may be a single piece.
[0120] A cover 33 is also comprised in this mold 3, to avoid that the ball with a spring may exit the mold 3.
[0121] In the embodiment shown in this figure, the second positioning means are located in the first frame 311, and comprise a plurality of concavities 62. The first positioning means 61 are located in the second frame 321. In this figure, these first positioning means comprise a ball with spring. In different embodiments, this ball with a spring may be replaced just by a convex protrusion. In other embodiments, such as the one shown in
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[0125] The mold superstructure 31 comprises a first frame 311 and a first insert 312, the first insert 312 comprising the top portions 41 of the mold holes and being inserted inside the first frame 311.
[0126] The mold base 32 comprises in turn a second frame 321 with insert holes 323, each insert hole 323 comprising a seat 324. Further, it comprises a plurality of individual fitting inserts 131, each one of these individual fitting inserts 131 being adapted to fit in at least one of the insert holes 323 of the second frame 321. These individual fitting inserts 131 have an exterior shape, which is intended to fit inside one of the insert holes 323 of the mold base 32, and an interior shape, which is intended to act as a bottom portion 42. In this embodiment, all the insert holes 323 have the same shape, so the exterior shape of each insert is suitable for fitting in all the insert holes 323. This feature ensures versatility and easiness of use.
[0127] Each individual fitting insert 131 comprises a body 132 and a wing 133. The body 132 comprises one of the bottom portions 42, and the wing 133 is adapted to fit in the seat 324 of one of the insert holes 323, in such a way that the shape of the seat 324 prevents the individual fitting insert 131 from rotating once the individual fitting insert is fitted into the seat.
[0128] As may be seen in this figure, each individual fitting insert 131 is secured to the second frame 321 by means of a retention screw 134. The retention screw 134 fits with a lower threaded portion 136 of the individual fitting insert 131.
[0129] A healing abutment 140 is attached to the individual fitting insert 131 by means of an abutment screw 141, which couples to an upper threaded portion 137 of the individual fitting insert 131.
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ADDITIONAL EXAMPLE 1
[0132] In a first example, a molar is missing and needs to be replaced by an implant. The dentist will utilize the handle 9 with a guide tab 2 that has a shape that corresponds to the shape of root trunk of a molar, that shape being square or rectangular. Based on the shape and size of the edentulous space of this particular patient he will select a guide tab that is of appropriate size and shape, e.g. the guide tab of the guide that corresponds to the square shape and medium size will be used initially for evaluation. If the guide tab does not fit properly in the edentulous space then he can switch to the smaller or larger size and even to the rectangular shape tab until he determines the appropriate tab of guide that best fits the shape and size of the edentulous space. For this example, a medium size square guide tab 2 is proper
[0133] Then, he proceeds with marking of the initiation point of the osteotomy through the central bore of the guide tab by using a drilling tool 92 through the aforementioned central bore of the guide tab 2 (
[0134] Following, or at a later stage when the osseointegration process is completed, the dentist installs into the same mold hole rectangular, medium size an impression post core 7 with the same shape and size prosthetic connection and shoulder as per the healing abutment core that was used before, and follows the same steps as per the custom healing abutment fabrication
ADDITIONAL EXAMPLE 2
[0135] In a second example a patient is missing a lower canine anterior tooth and wants to have this missing tooth replaced with an implant. The dentist will utilize a guide tab 2 with triangular shape to evaluate the edentulous space
[0136] Following, the dentist couples the second accessory tube 82 to the first tube 81 and proceeds with the implant osteotomy by a drilling tool
ADDITIONAL EXAMPLE 3
[0137] In a third example, shown in
[0138] In this text, the term comprises and its derivations such as comprising, etc. should not be understood in an excluding sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements, steps, etc.
[0139] The invention is obviously not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but also encompasses any variations that may be considered by any person skilled in the art for example, as regards the choice of materials, dimensions, components, configuration, etc., within the general scope of the invention as defined in the claims.