SYSTEM FOR INSERTION INTO THE ROOT CANAL, METHOD FOR OBTAINING A FASTENING ELEMENT USING SAID SYSTEM AND FASTENING ELEMENT

Abstract

The present invention is related to the dentistry field. More precisely, the present invention relates to a system for insertion into the root canal for obtaining a root fastening element to support crowns comprising a sleeve of flexible and moldable material, non-adherent to the walls of the root canal, wherein the sleeve comprises a root section and a crown section which are filled with fibers in different arrangements. In addition, the present invention is related to a method for obtaining a fastening element using the system and root fastening element to support crowns.

Claims

1. A system for insertion into a root canal for obtaining a root fastening element to support crowns, the system comprising a flexible sleeve, wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a root section with shape and diameters approximately equal to a root canal lumen with a central lumen in a conical or parallel shape; and a crown section with a slightly smaller shape of a teeth crown to be used, wherein the root section of the flexible sleeve is filled with longitudinal or unidirectional fibers positioned parallel to its length and impregnated with uncured polymeric matrix; and wherein the crown section of the flexible sleeve is filled with chopped fibers, or fibers in the form of blankets or fabrics multi-directionally arranged and impregnated with an uncured polymeric matrix, through an opening.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible sleeve is produced from a polymeric material including polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylenes, silicones, silicone rubbers, or mixtures thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fibers used to fill the sleeve include glass, quartz, carbon, polyamide, aramid fibers, or a mixture thereof, and wherein the fibers occupy 30% to 80% of a volume occupied by a combination of the fibers and polymeric matrix.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fibers used to fill the sleeve include glass, quartz, or a combination thereof, and wherein the fibers occupy 30% to 80% of a volume occupied by a combination of the fibers and polymeric matrix.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the polymeric matrix used to impregnate the fibers in the flexible sleeve includes resins of polyamides, polyesters, polyolefins, polyimides, polyacrylates, polyurethanes, vinyl esters, epoxy-based materials, such as epoxy resin, styrene, styrene-acrylonitrile, polymers of ABS, polysulfones, polyacetals, polycarbonates, polyphenylene sulfides, acrylic monomers, methacrylic monomers, or mixtures thereof.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the polymeric matrix is based on chemical cure, thermal cure, physical cure, or a combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the polymeric matrix used to impregnate the fibers in the flexible sleeve includes BIS-GMA resin.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the polymeric matrix is based on chemical cure, thermal cure, physical cure, or a combination thereof.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein, in the flexible sleeve, a union between the fiber and the polymeric matrix forms a reinforced composite.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the reinforced composite contains radiopacifier and dispersed pigments in the polymeric matrix, the radiopacifier, and pigments including silica, calcium phosphate, barium sulfate, alumina, zirconia, tin oxide, tantalum oxide, niobium oxide, titanium oxide, poly (methacrylate), or mixtures thereof.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising one or more pre-manufactured pins, rigid or semi-rigid, composite or non-composite, to be inserted within the reinforced composite in the flexible sleeve, before a polymerization of the fibers inside the root canal.

12. A method for obtaining a root fastening element to support crowns, comprising: filling a flexible sleeve for insertion into a root canal with fibers and polymeric matrix; inserting the flexible sleeve filled with fibers and polymeric matrix into the root canal; pre-polymerizing the flexible sleeve in the root canal; removing the flexible sleeve from the root canal; polymerizing the flexible sleeve outside the root canal; and removing the flexible sleeve from the polymerized fibers and polymeric matrix, forming the root fastening element to support crowns.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein polymerizing occurs by light cure, chemical cure, or both.

14. A root fastening element configured to support crowns, the root fastening element comprising: a root section, a crown section, or a complete crown-root section, wherein the root fastening element is produced by a process, comprising: filling a flexible sleeve for insertion into a root canal with fibers and polymeric matrix; inserting the flexible sleeve filled with fibers and polymeric matrix into the root canal; pre-polymerizing the flexible sleeve in the root canal; removing the flexible sleeve from the root canal; polymerizing the flexible sleeve outside the root canal; and removing the flexible sleeve from the polymerized fibers and polymeric matrix, forming the root fastening element to support crowns.

15. The root fastening element of claim 14, wherein the root fastening elements has a flexural strength in a range of 300 MPa to 1800 MPa.

16. The root fastening element of claim 14, wherein the fastening element is tangentially fastened to an inner wall of a root canal by employing chemical cements, physical polymerization cements, or both.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The structure and use of the present invention, together with its additional advantages, can be better understood by reference to the attached drawings and the following description:

[0035] FIG. 1A shows the insertion of a plastic pin into the root canal as known from the prior art.

[0036] FIG. 1B shows the filling of the root canal with resin as known from the prior art.

[0037] FIG. 1C shows the filling of the upper part of the root canal with resin as known from the prior art.

[0038] FIG. 1D shows the final shape of the fastening element after sculpting using drills as known from the prior art.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows the use of pre-manufactured pins made of metal or fibers according to the second prior art method described above.

[0040] FIG. 3A shows a preferred embodiment of the system for insertion into the root canal of the present invention showing the sleeve with the longitudinal fibers and the multidirectional fibers.

[0041] FIG. 3B shows a preferred embodiment of the system for insertion into the root canal of the present invention properly positioned within the root canal.

[0042] FIG. 3C shows a preferred embodiment of the system for insertion into the root canal of the present invention, wherein a pre-manufactured pin is inserted among the fibers.

[0043] FIG. 3D shows the light pre-polymerization of the system of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 3E shows the removal of the system of the present invention from within the canal after performing the pre-polymerization (within the canal) of fibers impregnated with resin.

[0045] FIG. 3F shows the final polymerization procedure of the system for insertion into the root canal of the present invention outside the root canal, which can be performed with or without the containment sleeve.

[0046] FIG. 3G shows the system for insertion into the root canal of the present invention, without the sleeve, cemented within the root canal.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows the root section of the sleeve of the system of the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows the crown section of the sleeve of the system of the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 6 shows in detail the filling of the root and crown sections with fibers in multidirectional and parallel directions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0050] Although the present invention can be presented in different embodiments, the present details accompanied by the drawings, indicate a preferred embodiment, emphasizing that it should be considered as an example of the principle of the present invention and not a limitation.

[0051] As shown by FIGS. 3A to 3G and FIGS. 4 and 5, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention discloses a system 10, such as a fiber system, configured for insertion into a root canal 12 (see, e.g., FIG. 3B) to obtain a root fastening element 14 to support crowns. The system 10 may comprise a flexible sleeve 16, wherein the flexible sleeve comprises two sections: a root canal section 18 and a crown section 20. The flexible sleeve 16 may be configured to receive fibers, such as fibers 22, 24. The root canal section 18 may have a shape and diameter approximately equal to a root canal lumen with a central lumen in a conical or parallel shape, preferably 5 mm to 25 mm long, and walls having a thickness preferably from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. The crown section 20 may have a shape slightly smaller than the teeth crown to be used, the crown section 20 having walls with a thickness preferably from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0052] Regarding the filling of the fiber system 10, it is highlighted that the crown section 20 and the root section 18 are arranged differently from the fibers 22, 24, in order to better withstand the various forces of mastication process, increasing the strength of the root fastening element 14 obtained by the system of the present invention.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 3A, the root section 18 of the flexible sleeve 16 is preferably filled with longitudinal/unidirectional fibers 22 positioned parallel to its length and impregnated with an uncured polymeric matrix (resin). The crown section 20 of the flexible sleeve 16 is preferably filled with chopped fibers 24, or fibers in the form of blankets or fabrics multi-directionally arranged and impregnated with an uncured polymeric matrix (resin).

[0054] The fibers of the crown section can be chopped, multidirectional, random, continuous, non-continuous, braided, interlaced, or other forms of arrangement, impregnated in a polymeric matrix.

[0055] The flexible sleeve is made of one or more polymeric materials, such as, e.g., polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, silicones, silicone rubbers, or mixtures thereof.

[0056] The fibers used to fill the sleeve are fibers selected from the group comprising glass, quartz, carbon, polyamide, aramid fibers and/or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, glass and/or quartz fibers may be preferred, with fiber filling varying from 30% to 80% of fiber volume relative to the total of fibers and polymeric matrix. That is, the fibers may occupy 30% to 80% of the total volume occupied by a combination of the fibers and the polymeric matrix.

[0057] The polymeric matrix used in the impregnation of the fibers in the flexible sleeve is preferably a BIS-GMA resin-based polymeric matrix. In some embodiments, however, the polymeric matrix may include polyamides, polyesters, polyolefins, polyimides, polyacrylates, polyurethanes, vinyl esters, epoxy-based materials, such as epoxy resin, styrene, styrene-acrylonitrile, polymers of ABS, polysulfones, polyacetals, polycarbonates, polyphenylene sulfides, acrylic monomers, methacrylic monomers, or mixtures thereof. The polymeric matrix is based on chemical cure, thermal cure, physical cure, or combinations thereof.

[0058] In the flexible sleeve, the union between the fiber and the polymeric matrix forms a reinforced composite. Said reinforced composite of the fastening system may also contain radiopacifier and dispersed pigments in the polymeric matrix, the radiopacifier and pigments being one or more elements, such as, e.g., silica, calcium phosphate, barium sulfate, alumina, zirconia, tin oxide, tantalum oxide, niobium oxide, titanium oxide, poly (methacrylate), and mixtures thereof.

[0059] Referring particularly to FIGS. 3D and 3E, the sleeve 16 allows insulation and containment of the fibers 22, 24, in order to avoid direct contact with canal walls 28 of the root canal 12, providing the removal of the system 10 for a final polymerization before obtaining the root fastening element 14 to support crowns.

[0060] Considering that the root canal has different diameters and conicities, the flexible sleeve 16 provides that, when positioned in the root canal 12, the system 10 for insertion into the root canal containing non-polymerized fibers will adapt to the walls of the conduit by anatomically juxtaposing to it.

[0061] The presence of the flexible-material sleeve will act as an insulating element, not allowing the adhesion of fibers and resins to the walls of the root canal, which after pre-curing, allows the system for insertion into the root canal of the present invention, to be susceptible to removal to a final polymerization outside the conduit, to obtain the root fastening element to support crowns.

[0062] Referring to FIG. 3C, in an elective embodiment, one or more pre-manufactured pins 5, rigid or semi-rigid, composite or non-composite, can be introduced into the root canal, inside the composite, before the polymerization of the fibers inside the root canal. For example, the pin 5 may be configured for insertion through opening 4 in the flexible sleeve 16.

[0063] The use of one or more pre-manufactured pins 5 aims at strengthening the root and/or anchoring prostheses to be installed on the tooth, further increasing the strength of the root fastening element to support crowns.

[0064] Said pre-manufactured pins 5 can have different diameters, conicities, and shapes, which, when used in conjunction with the present invention, allow conformity to any canal size, since it mechanically forces the non-polymerized fibers against the canal walls.

[0065] In this context, the system for insertion into the root canal described in the present invention makes it possible to obtain a complete crown, root, or crown-root fastening element, that is, obtain a fastening element (core) with a crown section and root section, simultaneously or separately.

[0066] In addition, the present invention provides a method for obtaining a root fastening element to support crowns using the system for insertion into the root canal comprising the following steps, as shown in FIGS. 3D to 3G: [0067] filling the flexible sleeve 16 of the system 10 for insertion into the root canal 12 with fibers 22, 24 and polymeric matrix; [0068] inserting the flexible sleeve 16 filled with fibers 22, 24 and polymeric matrix into the root canal 12; [0069] pre-polymerizing the system 10 in the root canal 12; [0070] removing the system 10 from the root canal 12; [0071] final polymerizing the system 10 outside the root canal 12; and [0072] removing the flexible sleeve 16 from the system 10, forming the root fastening element 14 to support crowns.

[0073] The polymerization can be a light cure, chemical cure, or dual (light and chemical) polymerization.

[0074] Furthermore, the present invention provides a root fastening element 12 to support crowns comprising a root section 3, a crown section 2 or a complete crown-root section, comprising an opening 4 (see, e.g., FIGS. 3A and 3B). In some embodiments, the opening may be defined by the root fastening element 12 and may be configured to receive pre-manufactured pin 5.

[0075] The root fastening element 12 to support crowns of the present invention has a flexural strength which is in the range of 300 Mpa to 1800 Mpa.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 3B, the root fastening element will be tangentially fastened to an inner wall 28 of the root canal 12 by means of thermal, chemical, physical cure cements, or a combination thereof.

[0077] Thus, although only some embodiments of the present invention have been shown, it will be understood that different omissions, substitutions, and alterations of the fastening system for insertion into the root canal can be made by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0078] It is expressly provided that all combinations of elements that perform the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the present invention. Substitutions of elements from one embodiment to another are also fully intended and contemplated.

[0079] It is also necessary to understand that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, but that they are only conceptual.