ARTIFICIAL TOOTH ELEMENT

Abstract

An artificial tooth element which is insertable into a cavity of a prosthesis base and has an outer part and an inner part. The outer part is the part of the artificial tooth element which is visible in the inserted state. Consequently, the inner part is the part of the artificial tooth element which is not visible in the inserted state. The inner part has a surface which has, at least partially, in particular completely, a defined surface roughness.

Claims

1. An artificial tooth element or direct insertion into a cavity of a prosthesis base, comprising an outer part visible in the inserted state, and an inner part not visible in the inserted state, wherein the inner part comprises a defined surface roughness at least in part.

2. The artificial tooth element according to claim 1, wherein the inner part has a defined surface roughness in the region of a bonding surface.

3. The artificial tooth element according to claim 1, the inner part has a defined surface roughness across the entire surface.

4. The artificial tooth element according to claim 1, wherein the surface roughness has an arithmetic average roughness value R.sub.a of >0 to 30 μm.

5. A prosthesis with a prosthesis base having a plurality of cavities in each of which an artificial tooth element according to claim 1 is inserted.

6. The prosthesis according to claim 5, the cavities have an inner surface which at least in part has a defined surface roughness.

7. The prosthesis according to claim 6, wherein the inner surface has a defined surface roughness in the region of a bonding surface.

8. The prosthesis according to claim 6, wherein the entire inner surface has a defined surface roughness.

9. The prosthesis according to 5, wherein the surface roughness of the inner side has an arithmetic average roughness value R.sub.a of >0 to 30 μm.

10. The prosthesis according to claim 5, wherein the cavities are free from undercuts with respect to a direction of insertion in which the tooth element is inserted into the prosthesis base.

11. The prosthesis according to claim 5, wherein the cavities are formed complementary to the inner parts of the respective artificial tooth element so that a gap of in particular constant width is formed between the cavities and the inner part of the associated tooth elements.

12. The prosthesis according to claim 5, wherein the cavities are formed asymmetrically, and/or all cavities have different shapes so that an unambiguous association between an artificial tooth element and a cavity exists.

13. The prosthesis according to claim 5, wherein the cavities are formed such that an inserted artificial tooth element has a defined tooth height.

14. The prosthesis according to claim 5, wherein the cavities have a minimum inner radius that is equal to or greater than the minimum outer radius of the inner part of the artificial tooth element to be inserted into the cavity.

15. The artificial tooth element according to claim 4, wherein the surface roughness has an arithmetic average roughness value R.sub.a of >0 to 10 μm.

16. The artificial tooth element according to claim 15, wherein the surface roughness has an arithmetic average roughness value R.sub.a of about 0.5 to about 5 μm.

17. The artificial tooth element according to claim 16, wherein the surface roughness has an arithmetic average roughness value R.sub.a of about 1 to about 4 μm.

18. The artificial tooth element according to claim 17, wherein the surface roughness has an arithmetic average roughness value R.sub.a of about 2 to 3 about μm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In the Figures:

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective side view of an artificial tooth element of the present disclosure,

[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective rear view of an artificial tooth element of the present disclosure,

[0035] FIG. 3 is a schematic top plan view on a cavity in a prosthesis base,

[0036] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a tooth element inserted into the cavity base, and

[0037] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a prosthesis base with some artificial tooth elements inserted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0038] The virtual gingiva line 10 is illustrated in the example of a tooth element shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tooth element being an incisor. The artificial tooth element illustrated as an example has an inner part 12 and an outer part 14. The outer part 12 is separated from the inner part 14 by the virtual gingiva line 10. When the artificial tooth element has been inserted into the prosthesis base, the outer part 12 is arranged or visible outside the prosthesis base. In the inserted state, the inner part 14 is arranged inside the prosthesis base and as such is invisible. A surface 11 defined by the inner part 14, which extends to the virtual gingiva line 10, has the defined surface roughness of the present disclosure.

[0039] The virtual gingiva line is in the undercut-free region. The undercut-free region is defined by a line 16. Here, the line 16 defines the border of the undercut-free region in the direction of placement or insertion. In FIG. 1, no undercut exists below the line 16 with respect to the direction of insertion (arrows 17) into the prosthesis base. Above the line 16, an undercut is made.

[0040] The line 16, which is arranged within the outer part 12 with respect to the virtual gingiva line 10 and is spaced from the virtual gingiva line 10, can further define a border of the surface 11 having a defined roughness. In a preferred development, the surface 11 having a defined roughness thus not only includes the surface in the region of the inner part 14, but also extends into the outer part towards or up to the line 16.

[0041] A prosthesis base 20 (FIG. 3) includes a cavity 22. The same is defined by a cavity edge 24. An inner surface 25 of the cavity 22 preferably extends up to the cavity edge 24. The inner surface 25 has the defines surface roughness of the present disclosure.

[0042] Since it is particularly preferred that the inner part 14 of the tooth element has no undercuts in a direction of insertion 26 (FIG. 4) of the tooth elements into the cavities 22, a simple mounting or fastening, i.e. in particular insertion and gluing, into the cavities 22 is possible. Here, the cavities 22 also have no undercuts in the corresponding direction of insertion. The direction of insertion 26 extends substantially perpendicularly to the prosthesis base. With the prosthesis arranged in the oral cavity of a patient, the direction of insertion would extend substantially perpendicularly.

[0043] The cavity 22 is formed to be complementary to the inner part, so that an exact positional definition of the tooth element in the cavity 22 is given. By a complementary design of the inner part 14 and the cavity 22, it is further possible to form—if necessary—a bonding gap 28 (FIG. 4) having a constant width across its entire surface. As such, the volume of the bonding gap and thus the required amount of adhesive are known exactly.

[0044] In FIG. 4, in which the tooth element and also the prosthesis base 22 are illustrated in section, the virtual gingiva line 10 is illustrated in addition. Here, with respect to the sectional surface of the tooth element, the part of the virtual gingiva line 10 shown as a solid line extends in front of the drawing plane and the part illustrated in broken lines extend behind the drawing plane.

[0045] For a complete manufacture of a prosthesis, a plurality of cavities is provided in the prosthesis bas 20 (FIG. 5). For example, first, a defined amount of adhesive is placed in the individual cavities, and the corresponding tooth elements are thereafter inserted into the cavities 22 in the direction of insertion. With inserted tooth elements, the cavity edge 24 and the virtual gingiva line 10 preferably overlap. Due to the defined surface roughness of the surface 11 of the inner part 14 of the tooth element, as well as due to the defined roughness of the surface 25 of the cavity 22, it is possible to make a stable and very strong bond.