Abstract: A novel post and core assembly for the implantation of a dental prosthesis is set forth in the present invention. Comprised of separate post and core elements of a laser weldable material, the assembly allows for an infinite number of precise lengths and angular deviation between the post and core to precisely align a prosthesis with existing teeth/prostheses without delays in fabrication outside of the dentist's office, as is typically required in prior art assemblies. The post and/or core may be cut to the desired length and angle and welded, on site, with a minimal requirement for fabrication equipment.

Abstract: An adjustable drilling guide, removably mountable to a patient's teeth, having a guide block with at least one stent for guiding a dental drill is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the guide block has a plurality of guide holes disposed at differing angles which may receive a stent for precise drilling at the selected angle. If minor variations need be made, the stent may be moved to a second or third of the guide holes to adjust the angle. In a second embodiment, three distinct stents are formed directly in the guide block allowing for drilling at up to three different angles. A third embodiment has a stent which is pivotable about a pivot point within the guide block, allowing drilling at any angle within the arc of the pivot. The guide block may be fitted to a model of the patient's teeth prior to installation into the mouth to ensure proper fit.

Abstract: A novel dental prosthesis abutment and waxing core assembly, in which the abutment has an exterior axis which differs from its longitudinal axis, and the waxing sleeve has both interior and exterior axes which differ from one another and from the exterior axis of the abutment, is disclosed. In the present invention the abutment and waxing sleeve assembly cooperates with a conventional anchor having a socket for receiving the abutment, and also adjusts to correct for angular misalignment of the prosthesis. The divergent axes allow for alignment of the prosthesis within the mouth while requiring less modification of the waxing sleeve by removal of material and/or addition of material to the waxing sleeve and abutment, thereby reducing the labor required in producing the prosthesis using prior art waxing sleeves and abutments.

Abstract: A novel dental prosthesis abutment and waxing core assembly, in which the abutment has an exterior axis which differs from its longitudinal axis, and the waxing sleeve has both interior and exterior axes which differ from one another and from the exterior axis of the abutment, is disclosed. In the present invention the abutment and waxing sleeve assembly cooperates with a conventional anchor having a socket for receiving the abutment, and also adjusts to correct for angular misalignment of the prosthesis. The divergent axes allow for alignment of the prosthesis within the mouth while requiring less modification of the waxing sleeve by removal of material and/or addition of material to the waxing sleeve and abutment, thereby reducing the labor required in producing the prosthesis using prior art waxing sleeves and abutments.

Abstract: A healing cap and emergence profiler for a dental implant anchor are disclosed. The healing cap has a cylindrical head having a threaded opening at the top side, and legs projecting downwardly from the head. The threaded opening receives a threaded tool which will subsequently be employed to withdraw the healing cap from the anchor. The legs are separated by a gap enabling the legs to be urged toward one another when the healing cap is inserted into the anchor. The legs of the healing cap fit through an aperture in the emergence profiler such that the profiler surrounds the head of the healing cap and abuts the top of the dental implant anchor, thereby preventing the regeneration of gingival tissue around the shoulder of the anchor and allowing easy modification of the emergence profiler to surrounding gingival tissue. The emergence profiler would typically be of a biocompatible plastic.

Abstract: A screw type dental implant anchor having external, helical threads (bone engaging ridges) for engaging bony tissue of a patient' mouth. The body may have a smooth section at its upper end or be threaded along its full length. A threaded, internal cavity for securing a post and core assembly may have substantially cylindrical walls, be tapered along its length, or transition from tapered proximate it opened end to substantially conical proximate its depth. Unique slots passing though a raised area of the body of the implant and into the internal cavity provide both internal and external wrenching capability for installing the implant, as well as added anti-rotational support for the abutment of the prosthesis. The internal/external slots provide enhanced strength for wrenching and eases installation in less accessible locations, as well as providing additional venting of excess cement, thereby preventing hydraulic lock.

Abstract: A novel post and core assembly for the implantation of a dental prosthesis is set forth in the present invention. Comprised of separate post and core elements of a laser weldable material, the assembly allows for an infinite number of precise lengths and angular deviation between the post and core to precisely align a prosthesis with existing teeth/prostheses without delays in fabrication outside of the dentist's office, as is typically required in prior art assemblies. The post and/or core may be cut to the desired length and angle and welded, on site, with a minimal requirement for fabrication equipment.

Abstract: A threaded implement, such as a dental or medical implant having a receptacle bearing a socket for receiving or securing a threaded shank for engaging material such as bone tissue, the threads bearing longitudinally oriented grooves for opposing spontaneous unthreading over time. Alternatively, the implement could be a general purpose anchor or an industrial fastener wherein resisting unthreading is important. The grooves extend from the lower end of the implant toward the upper portion. In a first embodiment, the grooves are shallow, and in another embodiment, are deep enough to impinge upon the shank. Each groove has a first face disposed perpendicularly or nearly so to the circumferential surface when viewed in side cross section and a second face disposed more closely to parallel to the circumferential surface when viewed in side cross section. The first face is oriented such that it faces away from the direction of advance when the implant is threaded into the bone.

Abstract: An adjustable drilling guide, removably mountable to a patient's teeth, having a guide block with at least one stent for guiding a dental drill is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the guide block has a plurality of guide holes disposed at differing angles which may receive a stent for precise drilling at the selected angle. If minor variations need be made, the stent may be moved to a second or third of the guide holes to adjust the angle. In a second embodiment, three distinct stents are formed directly in the guide block allowing for drilling at up to three different angles. A third embodiment has a stent which is pivotable about a pivot point within the guide block, allowing drilling at any angle within the arc of the pivot. The guide block may be fitted to a model of the patient's teeth prior to installation into the mouth to ensure proper fit.

Abstract: An open end wrench having two heads each of which provides ratchet action, each of which accepts fasteners of different nominal sizes, and each of which imposes torque on the fastener only on flat facets and not at apices between adjacent facets. Each head has a first jaw bearing a convex interior surface facing the interior surface of a second jaw. The second jaw has plural pairs of intersecting facets where, in a first embodiment, the included angle formed between intersecting facets is greater than ninety degrees and less than one hundred twenty degrees. In another embodiment, the included angle is greater than seventy degrees and less than ninety degrees. Each pair of intersecting facets accommodates a polygonal fastener of one nominal size. The two embodiments are usable with hexagonal and square headed fasteners, respectively.

Abstract: A drill particularly suited for drilling holes for dental anchors. The drill has a central shaft including a proximal end having conventional connection structure for attachment to a powered rotatable appliance and a distal end bearing a forwardly projecting pin which occupies and is guided within a pilot bore. The pin has a blunt, preferably spherical, enlarged head. The blade is mounted on the central shaft between the proximal and distal ends of the shaft. The blade is preferably annular, having cutting teeth facing the distal end of the shaft. At least one relief communicates between the interior of the annular blade and the exterior thereof.

Abstract: A one or two sided or headed ratcheting driving wrench. Each side or head has a rotatable tool carrier constrained to rotate in only one direction by interengaging teeth formed in the tool carrier and in its housing. Both sets of teeth may be pointed or rounded. In one direction, torque locks the tool carrier to the housing, and thus drives a tool such as a screw driver blade or a socket. In the other direction, torque causes the tool carrier to disengage from the housing. Thus, intermittent one way rotation is assured. The chamber is slightly elongated, having two rows of teeth, each row separated from the other by stretches of chamber wall lacking teeth. Should the tool carrier back out of contact with one row of teeth, it will shortly engage the second row of teeth, thereby maintaining driven relationship with the working head. The wrench has a bent lever or handle to allow for working in tight quarters. The tool carrier has a square hole formed therein, for receiving a driven tool.

Abstract: A healing cap for an anchor of a dental implant anchor. The healing cap has a cylindrical head having an opening at the top side, and two legs projecting downwardly from the head. The opening at the top side has threads for receiving a threaded tool which will subsequently be employed to withdraw the healing cap from the anchor. The legs are separated by a gap enabling the legs to be urged toward one another when the healing cap is inserted into the anchor. The legs are of lesser diameter than that of the cylindrical head, so that the head can seal the opening of the anchor when the healing cap is fully inserted into the anchor. The legs resiliently resist compression from being forced into the opening of the anchor. This arrangement causes frictional engagement with the anchor which secures the healing cap to the anchor. The novel healing cap enables an anchor to be employed which lacks threads for engaging the healing cap, thereby reducing cost of fabricating the anchor.

Abstract: A post and core for dentures which is machinable to adjust for axial misalignment of a denture with respect to surrounding dentures or teeth. The core has excess material which is machined away by a dental practitioner to result in a core appropriately oriented to compensate for the misalignment. The unnecessary material projects from the core to form a pie slice or wedge configuration. The pie slice or wedge tapers to a maximum cross sectional area with increasing distance from the post. The included angle of the wedge does not exceed thirty degrees when the post is hexagonal. The novel configuration of the core minimizes volume of material which must be removed by tedious hand machining to result in a core which is appropriately angled with respect to the post in order to overcome the misalignment.

Abstract: A two sided or headed ratcheting driving wrench. Each side or head has a rotatable receptacle constrained to rotate in only one direction by interengaging teeth formed in the receptacle and in its housing. Both sets of teeth may be pointed or rounded. In one direction, torque locks the receptacle to the housing, and thus drives a tool such as a screw driver blade or a socket. In the other direction, torque causes the receptacle to disengage from the housing. Thus, conventional, intermittent one way rotation is assured. The receptacle and its surrounding chamber formed in each tool head are dimensioned and configured to assure engagement between receptacle and head when placed under torque in one direction. The wrench has a lever or handle which has a significant portion of its length offset from linear to allow for working in tight quarters. The receptacle has a square hole formed therein, for receiving a driven tool.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing a permanent metal post and core adjusted angularly in order to result in a prosthesis aligned in parallel relation to surrounding teeth and prostheses. A bendable post and core assembly is placed in a conventional anchor. The post is bent to a precise desired angle with respect to the core, and cemented in this position. A ceramic mold is formed around the cemented post and core. The post and core, which is preferably fabricated from a synthetic organic polymer which melts at a temperature below 1,400.degree. F., is then heated and evacuated from the mold. A permanent post and core is then cast in the mold from a suitable material, such as gold. Optionally, a sleeve which is configured to slip over and closely conform to the post is employed, either to increase the diameter of the core prior to forming the mold, or to assist in fabricating the denture after the permanent post and core is completed.

Abstract: A two sided ratcheting driving tool. Each side has a rotatable receptacle constrained to rotate in only one direction by interengaging teeth formed in the receptacle and in its housing. A leaf spring urges the receptacle into the engaged position with respect to the housing. In one direction, the receptacle is locked to the housing, and thus drives a tool such as a screw driver blade or a socket. In the other direction, torque causes the receptacle to overcome the spring and disengage from the housing. Thus, conventional, intermittent one way rotation is assured. The receptacle has a square hole formed therein, for receiving a tool. The tool comprises a square block cooperating with the square hole of the receptacle, and has two oppositely oriented blades, sockets, or other tools. Direction of operation is reversed by using a different one of the oppositely oriented tools. No adjustment of a lever is required.

Abstract: An anchor for a dental implant, having a compact cavity for receiving the post of a post and core, and a tapered threaded end having tapered, self-tapping threads. The cavity is configured to have flat walls forming a hexagonal or other polygonal interior surface. This interior surface also has screw threads superimposed on the polygonal surface. The anchor is thus of reduced axial length than prior art anchors having threads and polygonal surfaces not superimposed. The tapered threads formed on the tapered threaded end engage different areas of bone tissue. Since bone tissue may not be homogeneously strong and resilient, this arrangement helps assure that some threads will engage strong, resilient bone tissue. This threading preferably comprises buttress type threads. A pitched relief groove extends across all convolutions of the external, self-tapping threads formed on the tapered end. These self-tapping threads are buttress threads.