Supra Structure Abutment Holder As Well As Process For Providing A Bonding Gap

Abstract

The invention concerns a supra structure abutment holder for holding an arrangement of supra structure 16 and abutment 14, with a clamping device 12 for the arrangement, and is characterized in that clamping device 12 is adjustable in its height relative to an auxiliary device 26, in particular via threads.

Claims

1. Supra structure abutment holder comprising clamping device (12), and an auxiliary device (26), wherein the clamping device (12) is adjustable in height, relative to the auxiliary device (26).

2. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 16, wherein the threads are self-retaining and are formed as fine-pitch threads and/or the adjustment of the relative position between auxiliary device (26) and clamping device (12) is provided via a fine grating.

3. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 1, wherein a supra structure (16) and an abutment (14) are clamped between the auxiliary device (26) and the clamping device (12), wherein the supra structure (16) and the abutment (14) are held in positive-fit engagement with each other.

4. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device (26) is provided to be flexible, or is provided with a surface which is flexible and facing towards the supra structure, and is elastically deformed by incisal or occlusal surfaces of the supra structure (16).

5. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 4, wherein the auxiliary device (26) is deformed as a result of pressure applied by the supra structure abutment holder such that it partially accommodates the supra structure and is elastically deformed.

6. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device (26) is provided with at least one depression for accommodating an occlusal protrusion of the supra structure (16).

7. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 1, wherein the clamping device (12) is provided with a recess (52), for accommodating the abutment (14), which is adapted to the length and/or the thickness of the lower portion of the abutment (14) or an abutment socket.

8. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 17, wherein the blind hole has a diameter which corresponds to the diameter of a largest diameter of the abutment (14) or the abutment socket, and wherein at least one spacer ring is provided to compensate for a difference in diameter between the abutment (14) or the abutment socket and the blind hole.

9. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device (26) is provided with a flat block (30), and is provided, on one side, with depressions for accommodating the occlusal surfaces of molars and/or, on the other side, at least one depression for accommodating the incisal faces of incisors and/or cuspids.

10. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 1, wherein the supra structure abutment holder is provided with at least one tractive element (28) which extends between the auxiliary device (26) and the clamping device (12).

11. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 1, wherein via the adjustment of the clamping device (12), the force applied to a bonding gap (18) between supra structure (16) and abutment (14) is adjusted due to the elastic deformation of the auxiliary device (26) or at least one component of the auxiliary device (26).

12. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 11, wherein the adjustment concerns the relative altitude of the auxiliary device (26) and the clamping device (12) with respect to each other.

13. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement made up of supra structure (16) and abutment (14) is accessible from a side while clamped between the auxiliary device (26) and the clamping device (12), and a bonding gap (18) is visible.

14. Process for providing a bonding gap between a supra structure (16) and an abutment (14), wherein the abutment (14) is accommodated with an upper portion inside the supra structure (16), and wherein a clamping device (12) for guaranteeing a uniform bonding gap (18) exerts some force between the supra structure (16) and the abutment (14), wherein opposite of the clamping device (12), an auxiliary device (26) is provided which accommodates a portion of the supra structure (16), and wherein, opposite of the auxiliary device (26), the clamping device (12) may be adjusted in a height relative to the auxiliary device (26).

15. Process according to claim 14, wherein the auxiliary device is produced from a block or a disc according to CAD data of a restoration and/or CAD data of the clamping device (12), by a removing or applying process.

16. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 1 wherein the clamping device (12) is adjustable in height via threads.

17. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 7, wherein the recess (52) comprises a blind hole and wherein the abutment socket comprises an implant analog.

18. Supra structure abutment holder according to claim 9, wherein the flat block (30) is a pancake cylinder.

19. Process according to claim 14, wherein the supra structure (16) comprises an occlusal and/or incisel surface, wherein the auxiliary device (26) accommodates the supra structure in an elastic fashion, and wherein the clamping device (12) is adjustable in height relative to the auxiliary device (26) via fine-pitch threads.

Description

[0046] Further advantages, aspects, and features result from the subsequent description of one exemplary embodiment of the invention with the help of the drawings, which show:

[0047] FIG. 1 a schematically depicted embodiment of the supra structure abutment holder in accordance with the invention;

[0048] FIG. 2 an arrangement with a partially depicted abutment and a clamping device of a further embodiment of the supra structure abutment holder in accordance with the invention in a top view and a side view; and

[0049] FIG. 3 a block diagram for the production of the supra structure abutment holder in accordance with the invention and the bonding process.

[0050] The embodiment of the supra structure abutment holder 10 in accordance with the invention, which is depicted in FIG. 1, is provided with a clamping device 12. An abutment 14 has been inserted into clamping device 12, which has been done with positive fit at a portion of the abutment which is close to an implant.

[0051] Clamping device 12 is provided with an abutment interface receptacle 13 which has in particular the shape of a blind hole and is provided with the geometry of an anti-turn locking device for abutment 14.

[0052] This makes it possible to use the supra structure abutment holder 10 in accordance with the invention merely for the pre-determined abutment system or implant system, respectively, but not for other different abutment systems or implant systems, respectively.

[0053] Clamping device 12 is additionally provided with an interface 11 for abutment 14, via which interface abutment 14 is connected to clamping device 13. The base surface 11a of interface 11 may be in the shape of a hexagon.

[0054] A supra structure 16 is positioned onto abutment 14 in a basically known fashion.

[0055] Abutment and supra structure should be bonded to each other by means of connecting a suitable adhesive. For this purpose, a bonding gap 18 is formed which, starting from an abutment collar 20, extends along an abutment neck 22 up to an abutment face 24, and is filled with a basically known dental cement or dental adhesive. As the dental adhesive, use of Vivaglas CEM PL or of Multilink Hybrid Abutment, both from the present Applicant, have turned out to be particularly favourable.

[0056] Other dental cements, however, are not excluded from use in accordance with the invention.

[0057] In the not cured state, the dental cement is viscous, wherein the viscosity is different, depending on the dental cement, but also depending on the environmental conditions, such as temperature.

[0058] In accordance with the invention, supra structure abutment holder 10 is provided, besides the clamping device, with an auxiliary device 26 as well. In the exemplary embodiment depicted, the auxiliary device 26 consists of a tractive element 28 and a disc 30. Tractive element 28 overlaps the disc, such that the disc is able to exert pressure in the direction of the supra structure, which is finally in the direction towards clamping device 12.

[0059] In accordance with the invention, a height adjustment device 32 is provided between clamping device 12 and auxiliary device 26, in the embodiment depicted between clamping device 12 and tractive element 28. The height adjustment device 32 may, for example, be shaped as a fine-pitched thread, wherein it is also possible, however, to provide any other adjustable positive connection, for example a fine grating.

[0060] In accordance with the invention, the adjustment is done in such a fashion that an altitude between the undersurface of disc 30 and the upper surface of clamping device 12 is pre-determined. The altitude corresponds to the desired thickness of bonding gap 18, or, to be more precise, of axial bonding gaps 40 and 42. For determining the pre-determined altitude, the geometry of disc 30 and the maximum axial travel range of height adjustment device 32 must be taken into account.

[0061] Axial bonding gap 40 extends at abutment face 24, and axial bonding gap 42 extends at abutment collar 20.

[0062] Opposite of this extends a radial bonding gap 44 at abutment neck 22.

[0063] In disc 30 as a part of auxiliary device 26, depressions 50 are formed in accordance with the invention. Preferably, a double depression 51 is formed at the undersurface of disc 30, on the one hand for the vestibular cusps, and on the other hand for the oral cusps of molars, and at the upper side of disc 30 a single depression 50 for incisors or cuspids. Depending on the supra structure 16 to be bonded, disc 30 is left in the position depicted in the Figure, or is turned around.

[0064] Disc 30 may also be referred to as a block, and the outer shape of the disc 30 is not restricted to the embodiment depicted according to the Figure; both a round and an angular embodiment of block 30 are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0065] In an advantageous embodiment, auxiliary device 26 has two parts and in particular in the area of flat cylindrical block 30 and/or tractive element 28 it is elastic or flexible. As a result of the flexibility, the desired bonding pressure may be adjusted in addition, corresponding to the force acting onto the bonding gap between supra structure 16 and abutment 14.

[0066] In an advantageous embodiment, tractive element 28 should be provided with a transparent envelope or sleeve, or with braces or struts, in particular with 2 braces or struts, preferably with 3 braces or struts, which mount disc 30 in a tripodised fashion. This allows the free visibility of axial bonding gap 42 towards the gingival end of supra structure 16.

[0067] In the exemplary embodiment depicted, clamping device 12 is provided with a fine-pitch thread at its radial outer surface, which thread is in engagement with the corresponding female fine-pitch thread of auxiliary device 26.

[0068] For the height adjustment, clamping device 12 may be rotated correspondingly relative to auxiliary device 26. For this purpose, a hexagonal recess 52 is formed centrally inside clamping device 12. The hexagonal recess 52 is suited for the engagement of an Allen key in a basically known fashion.

[0069] The height adjustment can now preferably be done in such a fashion that clamping device 12 is tightened until the adhesive is visible at all sides of abutment collar 20. In this state, an automatic centring and homogenization of the bonding gap has already been performed, and the adhesive may then be cured in a basically known fashion, whether this be with the help of light, with the help of heat, or also by its being self-curing.

[0070] In an advantageous embodiment, in order to block the leakage of adhesive at abutment neck 22, a packing body should be inserted into abutment neck 22 as an adhesion-assisting element. The packing body should be removed before inserting the abutment screw.

[0071] It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment depicted. For instance, it is possible without any problem to kinematically exchange the positions of clamping device 12 and auxiliary device 26, i.e. provide auxiliary device 26 close to abutment 14, and clamping device 12 close to supra structure 16. In accordance with the invention, the important thing is in any case the adjustability in height between clamping device and auxiliary device.

[0072] In the embodiment which is depicted according to FIG. 2, abutment 14 is clamped with the help of a clamp chuck 31 of clamping device 12. For this purpose, three clamping jaws 32 are provided. By means of screwing in clamping jaws 32, abutment 14 is kept clamped in a basically known fashion.

[0073] In an embodiment which is not depicted, an implant analog is provided as the abutment receptacle, which is also provided with a blind hole for accommodating abutment 14. An anti-turn locking device which extends axially at the inner surface of the blind hole may be provided as well.

[0074] According to FIG. 3, digital data of the relevant tooth are first obtained with the help of a scanning process 45. Subsequently, based on this, CAD data concerning the dental restoration 48 to be produced and an individual disc of the auxiliary device (i.e. of bond aid inlet 47) are generated with the help of a CAD software 46.

[0075] These CAD data serve both as a production order for a subsequent additive or subtractive production process 49 and as a pre-condition for calculating the force which is to be exerted onto bonding gap 18 between supra structure 16 and abutment 14 and which is to be adjusted, or the height adjustment value, which is performed with the help of a simulation software.

[0076] Subsequently, bonding process 51 is performed with disc 47 as well as tractive element 28 with the help of clamping device 12 in accordance with the invention and auxiliary device 26 in accordance with the invention. This finally leads to a successful finishing of the arrangement of supra structure and abutment.