DENTAL PROSTHESIS SYSTEM

Abstract

A ceramic dental prosthesis including an implant for osseointegration in a jaw bone with a receiving opening and an abutment having a through-hole for receiving a bolt. The bolt is produced from a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic and connects the abutment and the implant. The dental prosthesis system includes an anti-rotation feature formed by a first interlocking means arranged on a proximal end of the abutment and a second interlocking means arranged on a distal end of the implant. The first interlocking means engages in the second interlocking means, wherein the first and second interlocking means are arranged at a distance from one another such that the abutment can be tilted relative to the implant. The bolt runs in the through-hole of the abutment and the receiving opening. An interference fit is provided between the bolt and the receiving opening of the implant.

Claims

1. A dental prosthesis system (1) made of ceramic, comprising: an implant (3) designed for osseointegration in a jaw bone and having a receiving opening (31), an abutment (2) having a through-bore (21), a bolt comprising a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic and being configured to connect the abutment (2) and the implant (3), and an anti-rotation arrangement, the anti-rotation arrangement comprising a first form-fit means (7) arranged at a proximal end of the abutment (2) and second form-fit means (8) arranged at a distal end of the implant (3), wherein when the first form-fit means (7) engages in the second form-fit means (8), the first and second form-fit means (8, 7) are arranged at a distance from each other, such that the abutment, without an inserted bolt (4), is tiltable relative to the implant, and, with the bolt (4) inserted, the bolt extends in the through-bore (21) of the abutment (2) and the receiving opening (31) of the implant (3), and an interference fit is provided between the bolt (4) and the receiving opening (31) of the implant (3).

2. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the proximal end of the abutment (2) and the distal end of the implant (3) has one of two bearing surfaces (63, 54, 23, 34), the first and second form-fit means (8, 7) are arranged at a corresponding one of the bearing surfaces (63, 54, 23, 34), and the bearing surfaces (63, 54, 23, 34) touch each other when the first form-fit means (7) engages in the second form-fit means (8).

3. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the two bearing surfaces (63, 54, 23, 34) has a flat cone design, inclined at a uniform angle (W2, W3).

4. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the two bearing surfaces (63, 54, 23, 34) has a rounded configuration in a contact region, wherein each radius of the two bearing surfaces (63, 54, 23, 34) has a same value.

5. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bolt (4) has at least a first cylinder portion (43) and, in a proximal direction, a second cylinder portion (44) adjoining the first cylinder portion, wherein a diameter of the first cylinder portion (43) is greater than a diameter of the receiving opening of the implant, such that the interference fit results between the first cylinder portion (43) and the receiving opening (31) of the implant (3).

6. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 5, wherein at a transition between the first and the second cylinder portion (44), a circumferential shoulder (42) is provided which bears on a circumferential projection (22) arranged in the receiving opening (31) of the implant, wherein the interference fit results between the shoulder (42) and the circumferential projection (22).

7. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in 5, wherein the second cylinder portion (44) has, on a lateral surface, an outer thread (48) which corresponds to an inner thread (33) arranged in the receiving opening (31), wherein a root diameter of the outer thread (48) is smaller than or the same as a root diameter of the inner thread (33).

8. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second cylinder portion (44) is adjoined by a further, third cylinder portion (45), wherein a diameter of the third cylinder portion is smaller than or the same as the diameter of the receiving opening (31) of the implant (3).

9. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first form-fit means (7) comprises a plurality of tabs (71) which project from the bearing surface (23, 63) of the abutment (2, 6) and corresponding to the second form-fit means (8) including a plurality of grooves (81) arranged on the bearing surface (54) of the implant (3).

10. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first form-fit means (7) comprises a plurality of grooves (81) arranged on the bearing surface (23, 63) of the abutment (2, 6) and corresponding to the second form-fit means (8) including a plurality of tabs (71) project from the bearing surface (23, 63) of the implant (3).

11. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the tabs (71) include a lengthwise tab wall (72) and two widthwise tab walls (73), and each of the grooves includes a lengthwise groove wall (82) and two widthwise groove walls (83), such that, when the first form-fit means (7) engages in the second form-fit means (8), the lengthwise tab wall (72) is arranged at a distance from the lengthwise groove wall (82), and the distance is greater than a distance between the widthwise tab walls (73) and the widthwise groove walls (83), such that the abutment (2) is positioned in a rotationally stable manner in the implant (3) and is tiltable relative to the implant (3).

12. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the number of tabs (71) is less than the number of grooves (81), forming a form-fit connection.

13. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic has reinforcement fibers chosen from a group consisting of: carbon fiber, aramid fiber, glass fiber, carbon nanotubes, or combinations thereof.

14. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic comprises unidirectional carbon fibers in a PEEK matrix.

15. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a stop element (64, 65) is arranged on the bolt (50) and/or on an inner wall (66) of the through-bore (21) of the abutment, and the bolt (50) latches temporarily in the stop element (64, 65) in a pre-assembly position.

16. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the stop element (64, 65) comprises a narrowing of the inner wall (66) of the through-bore (21), and the bolt (50), and in the pre-assembly position latches temporarily in the narrowing.

17. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the stop element (64, 65) comprises a recess arranged in the inner wall (66), and the bolt (50) includes a projection (65) which latches temporarily in the recess in the pre-assembly position.

18. The dental prosthesis as claimed in claim 15, wherein in the pre-assembly position, the first cylinder portion (43) of the bolt (4) extends over an entire length in the through-bore (21) of the abutment (2), and the second cylinder portion (44) protrudes from the through-bore.

19. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first form-fit means (7) comprises one of: a plurality of tabs (71) which project from the bearing surface or a plurality of grooves in the bearing surface of the abutment, and the second form-fit means (8) includes, respectively, a corresponding plurality of grooves (81) arranged on the bearing surface (54) or a corresponding plurality of tabs arranged on the bearing surface (54) of the implant.

20. The dental prosthesis system as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a stop element (64, 65) arranged on the bolt (50) and/or on an inner wall (66) of the through-bore (21) of the abutment, wherein the bolt (50) latches temporarily in the stop element (64, 65) in a pre-assembly position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of illustrative embodiments and by reference to the drawing, in which:

[0038] FIG. 1A shows a first embodiment of the dental prosthesis system according to the invention,

[0039] FIG. 1B shows the first embodiment from FIG. 1A in a sectional view along the axis B-B,

[0040] FIG. 2A shows, in a perspective view, a further embodiment of an implant with anti-rotation means for the dental prosthesis system according to the invention,

[0041] FIG. 2B shows, in a perspective view, a further embodiment of an abutment with anti-rotation means, wherein the abutment corresponds to the implant from FIG. 2A and forms an embodiment of the dental prosthesis system according to the invention,

[0042] FIG. 3A shows an example of a bearing surface of the abutment and of the implant from FIG. 1, wherein abutment and implant are shown in a sectional view,

[0043] FIG. 3B shows a further embodiment of a bearing surface of the abutment and of the implant, wherein abutment and implant are shown in a sectional view,

[0044] FIG. 4A shows a further embodiment of an abutment with a stop element, with the abutment depicted in a pre-assembly position, and

[0045] FIG. 4B shows a detail of the bolt and of the inner wall of the abutment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] FIG. 1A shows a side view of a first embodiment of the dental prosthesis system 1 according to the invention, comprising an abutment 2 connected to an implant 3. The abutment 2 and the implant 3 are produced from a ceramic material, preferably zirconium oxide reinforced with aluminum oxide, or zirconium oxide reinforced with yttrium oxide. The dental prosthesis system shown is what is referred to as a bone level design. The implant 3 is configured here in such a way that, when screwed into the jaw bone, it protrudes only to a very small extent, if indeed at all, above the bone level.

[0047] FIG. 1B shows a sectional view of the embodiment from FIG. 1A along the axis B-B. The abutment 2 has a through-bore 21, and the implant 3 has a receiving opening 31. The through-bore 21 and the receiving opening 31 are configured to receive the bolt 4 and in this way to connect the abutment 2 to the implant 3 and fix it. The bolt 4 is produced from a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic, for example unidirectional carbon fibers embedded in a PEEK matrix. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the bolt 4 comprises a bolt head 41, with a recess 46 for receiving a screwing tool, and a stem 40 adjoining the head 41. At the transition between head 41 and stem 40, the bolt 4 has a first circumferential shoulder 42, which bears on a projection 22 arranged in the through-bore 21. In the present embodiment, the stem 40 comprises three contiguous cylinder portions 43, 44 and 45. The first cylinder portion 43 adjoins the head 41 and extends with one part in the through-bore 21 of the abutment and with a further part in the receiving opening 31 of the implant 3. In the embodiment shown, the second and third cylinder portions 44, 45 adjoining the first cylinder portion 43 extend only in the receiving opening 31. In the embodiment shown, the first cylinder portion 43 is designed for an interference fit, and the diameter of the first cylinder portion extending in the receiving opening 31 is at least 0.02 mm greater than the corresponding portion 32 of the receiving opening 31 of the implant. At the transition from the first cylinder portion 43 to the second cylinder portion 44, the bolt has a second circumferential shoulder 47, which bears on an internal projection in the receiving opening 31. An interference fit is formed on account of the greater diameter of the first cylinder portion 43 relative to the receiving opening 31, among other things in the bearing region between the shoulder 47 and the internal projection. The receiving opening of the implant is thereby sealed off in the proximal direction, below the shoulder 47 and the internal projection, against entry of bacteria. On its lateral surface, the second cylinder portion 44 has a circumferential outer thread 48, which corresponds to an inner thread 33 arranged in the receiving opening. Between the second cylinder portion 44 and the corresponding inner thread 33, and between the third cylinder portion 45 and the corresponding portion of the receiving opening, there is a clearance fit. To put it another way, the minimum size of the root diameter of the inner thread 33 is always greater than, or at least the same as, the maximum size of the diameter of the second cylinder portion 44. A comparable situation applies to the third cylinder portion 45. The minimum size of the diameter of the receiving opening of the implant, corresponding to the third cylinder portion 45, is always greater than, or at least the same as, the maximum size of the diameter of the third cylinder portion 45.

[0048] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the second cylinder portion 44 is adjoined by a third cylinder portion 45.

[0049] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the first cylinder portion 43 and third cylinder portion 45 have a smooth lateral surface. As can be seen clearly from the sectional view in FIG. 1B, the proximal edge 23 of the abutment bears on the distal edge 34 of the implant 3. When the bolt 4 is tightened, the proximal edge is pressed against the distal edge. The two edges each form an annular bearing surface 23, 24, which takes up axial compression forces that arise during the pretensioning of the bolt 4. The abutment 2 and implant 3 are produced from ceramic, and the bolt 4 is produced from a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material. According to the present invention, shown by way of example in FIG. 1B, the ceramic implant and the ceramic abutment take up, at the annular bearing surfaces 23, 34, only compressive forces that arise during the tightening of the bolt 4. Bending forces that result from the mastication load are absorbed by the bolt 4. The tensile forces resulting from the bending forces are taken up by the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material and not by the ceramic implant 3 or the abutment 2. The abutment 2 manages without an abutment stem. An anti-rotation means (not visible in FIG. 1B) is provided at the proximal edge of the abutment 2.

[0050] FIGS. 2A and 2B show an illustrative embodiment of an anti-rotation arrangement as can also be used in the embodiment according to FIG. 1B. In the arrangement according to the invention, the distal edge of the implant 3, forming the bearing surface 34, can be made correspondingly wide.

[0051] FIG. 2A shows a further embodiment of an implant 5 for the dental prosthesis system according to the invention, and FIG. 2B shows an embodiment of the corresponding abutment 6. The implant 5 has a receiving opening 51, which serves to receive a bolt, for example the bolt 4 shown in FIG. 1B. An annular bearing surface 54 is formed at the distal edge of the implant 5. As can be seen from FIG. 2A, the annular bearing surface 54 is partially interrupted by second form-fit means 8 in the form of individual grooves 81. Sufficient bearing surface 54 is retained in order to ensure that the compressive forces acting on the abutment are introduced into the implant. The first form-fit means 7 of the abutment 6 shown in FIG. 2B engage in these second form-fit means 8. Each of the grooves 81 has a lengthwise groove wall 82 and two widthwise groove walls 83. The grooves extend on the inside, at the distal end of the implant in the region of the implant collar 55. The first form-fit means 7, configured as tabs 71, are correspondingly short. Their length does not exceed the width of the implant collar 55. The tabs 71 each have a lengthwise tab wall 72 and two widthwise tab walls 73.

[0052] When the abutment 6 is connected to the implant 5, the tabs 71 latch into the grooves 81. A form-fit connection results between the two widthwise groove walls 83 and the two widthwise pin walls 73, and the play between the widthwise tabs and groove walls is very small, as close as possible to zero, such that a rotationally stable fastening of the abutment in the implant is ensured. The play between the lengthwise tab walls 72 and the lengthwise groove walls 82 is in each case greater than the play between the widthwise tabs and groove walls, i.e. there is a desired distance between said walls 72 and 82. Therefore, before the bolt is inserted, the abutment is freely tiltable relative to the implant. The distance between the walls 72 and 82, and therefore a certain tiltability, is also retained when the bolt is inserted and the dental prosthesis system is mounted fixedly in the jaw of the patient. Under a flexural load, no tensile stresses act on the ceramic implant 5 and the ceramic abutment 6. As is shown, the abutment 6 is connected to the implant 5 with the aid of the bolt 4, which is inserted through the through-bore 61. A pretensioning force applied to the bolt 4 presses the bearing surface 63 against the bearing surface 54. The two ceramic parts are subjected to a compressive load. A tensile load, as occurs in addition to the compressive load during flexural loading, is not taken up by the ceramic parts but by the bolt 4 (not visible in FIGS. 2A and 2B).

[0053] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B and FIGS. 2A and 2B, the bearing surface 34, 54 at the distal end of the implant is formed as a flat cone and the bearing surface 23, 63 as a form-fit mating piece and therefore likewise as a flat cone.

[0054] In a further embodiment (not shown) of the dental prosthesis system according to the invention, the bearing surfaces at the distal end of the implant and at the proximal end of the abutment have a flat configuration extending in the horizontal.

[0055] FIG. 3A shows a sectional view of the dental prosthesis system 1 from FIG. 1 comprising the implant 3 and the abutment 2. This view is intended to show in detail the angle W2 of the bearing surface 23 arranged at the proximal edge of the abutment 2 and the angle W3 of the bearing surface 34 arranged at the distal edge of the implant 3. First and second form-fit means (not visible in FIG. 3A) are arranged on the bearing surfaces 23 and 34, for example in the form of the tabs and grooves depicted in FIG. 2. The angles W2 and W3 in FIG. 3A have a value of 150.

[0056] FIG. 3A shows a further embodiment of a bearing surface 93 arranged at the proximal edge of an abutment 9 and of a bearing surface 14 arranged at the distal edge of an implant 10. The abutment 9 and the implant 10 have first form-fit means 92 and second form-fit means 13. The bearing surface 93 is configured corresponding to the bearing surface 14. Both bearing surfaces have a rounded configuration compared to the flat-cone shape from FIG. 3A and have the same radius R. When the abutment 9 is placed onto the implant 10 and is not yet fixed with the bolt (bolt not shown in FIG. 3), it is rotationally stable on account of the first and second form-fit means 92, 13 but can be tilted relative to the implant 10.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of an abutment 6 as used in the dental prosthesis system according to the invention. The implant is not shown. The abutment 6 has a through-bore 61 with an inner wall 66. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the abutment 6 is located with the inserted bolt 50 in what is called a pre-assembly position. In this position, a part of the bolt 50 protrudes in the proximal direction from the through-bore 61. With the aid of the protruding part of the bolt, the abutment 6 is held and centered in the implant (implant not shown in FIG. 4) until it is finally fixed by the dentist. As the bolt 50 is tightened for final fixing in the implant, it leaves the pre-assembly position by means of the projection 64 being moved out of the furrow 65 (not visible in FIG. 4).

[0058] In the pre-assembly position shown, the first cylinder portion 43 extends in the through-bore 61, and parts of the second cylinder portion 44 protrude from the through-bore 61. A recess, for example a furrow 65, is arranged on the inner wall 66. A projection 64 provided on the bolt 50, preferably on the head 41, latches temporarily into the furrow 65 in the pre-assembly position. The projection 64 and the furrow 65 form a stop element which temporarily holds the bolt in a pre-assembly position.

[0059] FIG. 4B shows a detail A of this position, wherein the bolt 50 at the head 41 has a projection 64 which engages in a recess configured as furrow 65.