Holding Or Positioning Denture In Mouth Patents (Class 433/172)
  • Patent number: 7704076
    Abstract: A dental attachment system has an abutment member configured for attachment to a tooth root, implant, or adjacent tooth, the abutment member having a head and an annular seat adjacent the head. An elastomeric ring is configured for releasable engagement in the seat on the abutment member, and is retained in a retainer ring which in turn is in swivel engagement with a concave inner surface of a cavity in a cap which is secured in a recess in a dental appliance such as a denture, partial denture, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Zest IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Scott Mullaly, Paul Zuest
  • Publication number: 20100086895
    Abstract: A system for attaching a natural tooth to a dental implant. The system comprises a dental prosthesis and an elastomeric cushion. The dental prosthesis has a first end and a second end. The first end is fixed to a natural tooth and the second end is engaged with a dental implant. The elastomeric cushion is positioned in contact, either directly or indirectly, with at least a portion of the dental implant and at least a portion of the dental prosthesis such that the elastomeric cushion permits movement of the second end relative to the dental implant in response to movement of the natural tooth transferred through the dental prosthesis to the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventor: James Michael Randall
  • Publication number: 20100062394
    Abstract: A dental article includes an external layer formed of a self-supporting hardenable preformed material having a dental article shape defined by an external layer surface. The external layer defines an interior volume. An interior material is disposed within the interior volume. The interior material is different than the external hardenable preformed material and the interior material has a yield stress value of 100 dyn/cm2 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Todd D. Jones, Naimul Karim, Dwight W. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 7670516
    Abstract: A system of manufacturing a custom set of pre-manufactured upper and lower dentures is provided. In one form, a set of master upper and lower dentures is created. The master upper and lower dentures are used to create reusable upper and lower dental matrices, respectively. These re-usable upper and lower dental matrices are repeatedly used to manufacture upper and lower pre-manufactured or standard sized dentures, respectively. Optionally, a dental patient can have these upper and lower pre-manufactured dentures custom fit or relined to fit the dental patient's mouth to form upper reline and/or lower reline pre-manufactured dentures. The dental patient can have custom fit dentures in two visits with the dentist, even two visits in the same day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Indiana Dental Prosthetics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Rusler
  • Patent number: 7661956
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rapid prototype overmold for locating a dental implant analog in a modified stone model for use in creating a tooth prosthesis is provided. An impression of a mouth having a first installation site that has a dental implant and a gingival healing abutment with at least one informational marker installed is taken. A stone model based on the impression is prepared. The model is scanned. A three-dimensional computer model of the installation site on a CAD program using data from the scan is created. The at least one informational marker is determined to gather information about the location of the dental implant. Abutment dimensional information based on the three-dimensional image and the at least one informational marker is developed. Overmold rapid prototype dimensional information based on the three-dimensional image is developed. The overmold rapid prototype adapted to fit over the modified stone model is fabricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Biomet 3i, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore M. Powell, Bruce Berckmans, III, Zachary B. Suttin, Dan P. Rogers, T. Tait Robb
  • Patent number: 7662188
    Abstract: An internal sinus manipulation procedure for augmenting bone of a dental patient between the floor of the patient's sinus and a raised portion of the patient's sinus membrane comprising exposing a portion of the patient's sinus membrane immediately adjacent the floor of the patient's sinus followed by (i) a simultaneous and controlled lifting and lateral separation of the exposed portion of the sinus membrane from the sinus floor to form an open pocket between the sinus membrane and the sinus floor, (ii) introduction of a bone grafting material into the pocket and (iii) a compacting of the bone grafting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Inventor: Jason M. Yamada
  • Publication number: 20090325124
    Abstract: To provide a fixture mount fixing tool for preventing damage of a fixture in the storage container, when a fixture mount and the fixture are engaged, the fixture mount fixing tool includes a top part (2) having a bolt insertion through-hole (1) and a droop part (3) drooped therefrom, the bolt insertion through-hole (1) includes an engagement hole (4) engaged with a regular polygonal-shaped part (Zb) formed on an end part outer face of the fixture mount (Z), and/or the droop part (3) includes engagement faces contacted with plane parts on an outer face of the fixture mount (Z),and the droop part (3) includes a locking part (3b) locked with a container holding hole of a base table for holding the storage container (Y) or a locking part (3b) locked with engagement part formed on the side face of the container (Y).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: GC Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Fujii, Masashi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20090317761
    Abstract: A stabilizer for tooth prostheses, consisting of a double torsion spring, the arms (4, 5) of which are telescopically longitudinally movable in cylindrical guides (7, 8) in the prosthesis halves (1, 2), has a hook-shaped eyelet (9) on each of the ends of both of the stabilizer arms. The guides (7, 8) are closed on their external insertion ends, except for a narrow insertion slot (15) in the form of a mailbox slot, in the assembled functional position of the stabilizer in the prosthesis parts, the eyelets (9) and the eyelet planes and accordingly the planes of the stabilizer arms are directed perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the insertion slot (15). It is thereby achieved that the stabilizers (3) or their arms cannot slip out of the guides (7, 8) and overall their assembly and disassembly can be easily and rapidly undertaken without the aid of any tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Pieter Van Der Veken, Andre Jozef Ernest Vander Kerken
  • Patent number: 7632095
    Abstract: A method of creating a provisional dental prosthesis on an implant placed in bone retains a conical abutment to the implant. A first intermediate component secures to the conical abutment. A second intermediate component attaches to the first intermediate component. The second intermediate component comprises a polymeric material. A prosthetic template is placed over the second intermediate component. The prosthetic template is filled with a hardenable material. After the prosthetic template is filled, the process removes the prosthetic template with the second intermediate component within the hardenable material. A provisional prosthesis forms from the hardenable material, the provisional prosthesis contains the second intermediate component. The provisional prosthesis connect to the first intermediate component by affixing the second intermediate component to the first intermediate component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Biomet 3I, Inc.
    Inventors: Pär-Olov Östman, Theodore M. Powell
  • Patent number: 7632280
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing implants in the upper jaws of a person. A sleeve is inserted through the alveolar ridge to the maxillary sinus. The sleeve is used to raise the subantral membrane and form a cavity. A filler, such as a bone growth stimulant is injected through the sleeve into the cavity. In the process, the sleeve also can cut and/or condense the bone around itself so that the bone can hold an implant. Optionally, the bone growth stimulant is also introduced into the bone surrounding the sleeve. During the injection, the pressure within the sleeve or the cavity is monitored to detect and prevent the rupture of the subantral membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Inventor: Mark N. Hochman
  • Publication number: 20090291412
    Abstract: At least one embodiment of the present invention relates to a dental implant for supporting a coronal component. In at least one embodiment, the implant includes a fixture part forming an apical bone contact part of the implant, an abutment part forming a coronal component support part of the implant, and an abutment screw, wherein said abutment part is arranged to, in an assembled state of said dental implant, be fixed to the fixture part by the abutment screw, and wherein a coronal end portion of the abutment screw is arranged to, in the assembled state, be positioned coronally of a coronal end portion of the abutment part. At least one embodiment of the present invention also relates to abutment structures and methods for implanting a dental implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Kent Engstrom, Anders Halldin
  • Publication number: 20090280453
    Abstract: The device for a dental treatment using at least one retention pin to be inserted into the root canal of teeth, and a container, having at least one sac bore for receiving the retention pin is characterized in that the retention pin is equipped with a coating, and is connected to a retainer at its one end in a releasable manner, which is removably placed into the sac bore, or inserted into the same such that the retention pin is retained centered at a distance of the walls of the sac bore, and in that the sac bore is sterilized with the retention pin and hermetically sealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventor: Bernd Detje
  • Publication number: 20090181345
    Abstract: An assembly for practicing sinus membrane elevation in the process of dental implant surgery comprising a balloon made of an elastomeric material and having a rounded head portion, an elongated, tubular sleeve portion and a flanged rim portion. Further provided is a balloon probe member having a stem portion with an outer screw-thread and a bore freely fitting the external diameter of the balloon tubular sleeve. A connector member is threadably receivable in the probe member and connected to a flexible pipe with a manually operable valve. For inflating the balloon a pump supplies a pressurized fluid through the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Efraim Kfir
  • Patent number: 7530810
    Abstract: A dental implantation system is for securing a dental prosthesis in a patient's jawbone including an alveolar bone, a basal bone adjacent the alveolar bone, and a neurovascular bundle running through the jawbone. The dental implantation system may include a dental implant fixture having an elongate shape and including an upper portion to be positioned in the alveolar bone to receive the dental prosthesis and defining a first axis. The dental implant fixture may also include a lower portion to be positioned in the basal bone and defining a second axis. The dental implant fixture may further include an intermediate offset-defining portion between the upper portion and the lower portion to define an offset between the first axis and the second axis so that the lower portion avoids the neurovascular bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Inventor: Milton A. Clement
  • Publication number: 20090092943
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a coated implant, the method comprising depositing in electrophresis at least one ceramic layer on at least a portion of the body of the implant; and sintering said at least one ceramic layer using optical radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventor: Shoshana Tamir
  • Patent number: 7510397
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing implants in the upper jaws of a person. A sleeve is inserted through the alveolar ridge to the maxillary sinus. The sleeve is used to raise the subantral membrane and form a cavity. A filler, such as a bone growth stimulant is injected through the sleeve into the cavity. In the process, the sleeve also can cut and/or condense the bone around itself so that the bone can hold an implant. Optionally, the bone growth stimulant is also introduced into the bone surrounding the sleeve. During the injection, the pressure within the sleeve or the cavity is monitored to detect and prevent the rupture of the subantral membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Inventor: Mark N. Hochman
  • Publication number: 20090061393
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of retraction of sulcus, in which, in a first step, a flowable retraction material (1) is applied onto the sulcus (5) of at least one tooth (4). In a second step, a dental dam (2) is applied onto the tooth (4) and brought into contact with or in the vicinity of the retraction material (1). According to the invention, the retraction material (1) and the material of the dental dam (2) are chosen such that they can form a chemical bond with each other. Moreover, the invention concerns a dental kit (9) for performing the method, which dental kit (9) contains at least one flowable retraction material (1) and at least one dental dam (2), wherein the retraction material (1) and the dental dam (2) can form a chemical bond. Additionally, the invention concerns the use of a dental kit (9) in the method. Finally, the invention concerns a dental retraction device (10) containing a retraction material (1) and a dental (2), which have formed a chemical bond with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: COLTENE WHALEDENT AG
    Inventors: Ralf Kollefrath, Brigitte Pittner, Werner Mannschedel
  • Publication number: 20090047627
    Abstract: A partial denture of a novel type excellent in feelings in use and easy to manufacture is provided. The partial denture has an artificial tooth 1, a denture base 11 holding the artificial tooth, and a clasp 25 fixed to the denture base, wherein the clasp includes a back-side arm 4b and a front-side arm 4a and does not include a rest, the back-side arm extending in a rearward bulging convex on a back side of a dentition-extended range of the denture base 11, the front-side arm extending in a forward bulging convex toward a front side of the dentition-extended range of the denture base to make a pair with the back-side arm, and wherein the back-side arm and the front-side arm extend within a height range S0 ranging from an extended plane of a top surface 1a of a crown of the artificial tooth toward the denture base side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventor: Hideo Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7491058
    Abstract: A spacer (3) with associated adapter (4) is designed to be fitted on an implant (1). The adapter comprises first and second portions (4b, 4c) designed to cooperate with the spacer and the implant, respectively, for securing the spacer on the implant. The adapter is completely enclosed by the spacer and the implant, and the first portion of the adapter can be designed with slits for forming resilient elements on said portion and/or with penetrating parts which, when the adapter and the spacer are joined together, are deformed as it penetrates into opposite parts in the spacer material. The spacer and the adapter can in this way be easily held together upon application to the implant and can be taken apart when completion work is performed on the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Nobel Biocare Services AG
    Inventors: Lars Jorneus, Anders Johansson, Fredrik Kullberg
  • Publication number: 20090042167
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a tooth prosthesis, for insertion in a jawbone, including an implant and an abutment on top of the implant. The method includes: defining a shape of the prosthesis and its location in the jawbone by using first data from a first CT scan image of the jawbone and second data from a second image of a gypsum cast, correlating first and second data by extracting from the first data first position reference data of a first reference in the first image, and from the second data second position reference data of a second reference in the second image, the second reference being identical to the first reference; performing a geometric transformation on the second data and/or the first data to have a coincidence of the second image with the first image and to combine the first and second data into composite scan data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: ORATIO B.V.
    Inventor: Joseph Maria Van Der Zel
  • Publication number: 20080283432
    Abstract: To accurately fix and prevent to damage a fixture, a housing container for a fixture includes a housing main body 1 made of titanium, a titanium alloy, or glass and a cap 2 made of resin, the fixture X has an engaging hole Xa for an abutment having a larger cross section than that of a female screw part, the cap 2 which is fitted to an outer peripheral part at the fixture insert port side of the housing main body 1 has a stopper part 2a contacting with an upper face of the housing main body 1, and a rod 3 made of titanium or a titanium alloy at the inner side of the cap 2, and the rod 3 is inserted into the engaging hole Xa and/or contacted with an upper face Xb of the fixture X to prevent movement of the fixture X.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: GC Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi TAKAHASHI, Shinichiro Hanada, Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20080261174
    Abstract: A dental prosthetic alignment apparatus simultaneously corrects all vertical, parallel and angular misalignments between several abutments and their matching substructure sleeves in a multi-implant prosthesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Neal B. Gittleman
  • Publication number: 20080254414
    Abstract: A dental blank has having a preformed passage configured to receive a dental screw fixation before or after milling by a CAD/CAM milling machine which can detect an exposed dental screw fixation or an exposed opening of the passage as a reference location. A method to provide a dental blank adapted for use as a reference location by a milling machine and/or a formation to facilitate a dental screw fixation to the blank, includes forming a blank and providing a passage through the blank, for example, by drilling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: JAMES A. McGUIRE, William Baker, Jason R. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20080241790
    Abstract: A dental prosthetic alignment apparatus that simultaneously corrects all vertical, parallel and angular misalignments between several abutments and their matching substructure sleeves in a multi-implant prosthesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Neal B. Gittleman
  • Publication number: 20080227056
    Abstract: A method of virtually producing a dental stent for placing one or more dental implants based on data derived from scanning a patient's mouth and a prosthesis to be installed or an impression of the patient's existing teeth. The virtual dental stent is converted to a usable dental stent, which is, thereafter, used to guide the placement of the one or more dental implants into the patient's jawbone. After the dental implants have been placed, a prosthesis can be mounted onto the dental implants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: IMTEC
    Inventor: Ronald A. Bulard
  • Publication number: 20080227058
    Abstract: A new angulated abutment is described. The angulated abutment is fixated to a dental implant by a nut to support a dental prosthesis. The novel angulated abutment is especially useful for ball attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventor: BEN-ZION KARMON
  • Publication number: 20080206708
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a dental prosthesis and its manufacturing method for restoring a lost tooth. The dental prosthesis has a male member formed on a holding part attached on an adjacent tooth for attaching an artificial tooth on the adjacent tooth and a female member formed in the artificial tooth so that the artificial tooth and the adjacent tooth can be connected with each other without grinding the adjacent tooth. The method for manufacturing the dental prosthesis includes the steps of duplicating an original model, waxing up the duplicated model, holding a sprue on the duplicated model in a state where the duplicated model is waxed up, and investing, burning out and casting the duplicating model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventor: Oh-Dal Kwon
  • Publication number: 20080206709
    Abstract: A sleeve for use as a gingival abutment in the dental industry and methods for using and making the sleeve are disclosed. The sleeve has a sleeve body with a distal end and a proximal end with a sidewall extending therebetween defining a sleeve interior. The sidewall of the sleeve has an exterior surface at least a portion of which substantially corresponds to a natural tooth profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventor: William G. Lannan
  • Patent number: 7396231
    Abstract: An endosseous dental implants include a flared implant extender with an internal passage and with an unthreaded external surface that tapers downwardly from the proximal end of the extender toward its distal end that has a size and shape appropriate to cover the top surface of the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventor: Gerald A. Niznick
  • Patent number: 7377781
    Abstract: The improved molar and/or pre-molar dental implant embedded in the bone of a person's (a dental patient's) jaw prevents a possibility of the implant's pivotability into the extracted tooth socket after insertion. An improved dental implant includes an upper portion, a basis and a lower portion of the implant's body. The upper portion comprises a main neck, a rim and a conic rhomboid form head, including an aperture comprising an inner thread. The lower portion includes a rod comprising the plurality of extensions, and a transverse space crossing the rod along its lateral axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Inventor: Armen Karapetyan
  • Patent number: 7338286
    Abstract: An implant comprising two internal anti-rotational features. One anti-rotational feature is adapted to engage a driving tool, while the other anti-rotational feature is adapted to engage an abutment. An implant abutment system is provided with an angled abutment adapted to mate with one of the anti-rotational features. A second, straight abutment is adapted to engage with the other anti-rotational feature. An abutment is provided with resilient fingers to interface with the implant and provide tactile and audible feedback indicating when the abutment is properly seated. An abutment screw extends through the abutment and engages the implant bore distal of the stem of the abutment. The abutment screw limits axial movement of the abutment relative to the implant. A driving tool comprising one of at least retention structure and visual alignment indicia is provided to facilitate screwing the implant into a patient's bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Biomet 3i, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan S. Porter, Dan P. Rogers, Ralph E. Goodman
  • Publication number: 20080044794
    Abstract: In anchoring of an implant (5, 31) and installation on the implant or implants of a dental structure (37, 50), the respective implant is designed to be recessed in a hole by means of a tightening tool. The latter has first members which can cooperate with corresponding second members on the implant. During the anchoring of the respective implant, a sleeve (14) provided with one or more actuating members (15) is designed to b e engageable with slight clearance in relation to the upper parts of the implant. The tightening tool is designed to be applied so as to cooperate with the implant via the sleeve and, after completed anchoring of the implant and removal of the tightening tool, the sleeve can be removed with the actuating member or actuating members in order to make room for application of members included in the installation. The invention also proposes a system. for permitting the anchoring and the installation. In this way, perfect anchoring and installation of the implants is ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventor: Izidor Brajnovic
  • Patent number: 7300284
    Abstract: An implant system comprising a dental implant, a holding element is provided with non-rotational joint means adapted to avoid relative rotation of the holding element with respect to the implant, and a clamping element adapted to steady retain the holding element close to said implant. The system further comprises release means provided on the clamping element and suitable to interact with release means provided on a separating tool, so that acting on the separating tool the implant can be released from the holding element without transferring damaging forces such as torsional, tensile or compressive forces, to the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Straumann Holding AG
    Inventor: Andreas Linder
  • Patent number: 7287983
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymeric implant, especially useful for dental medicine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a polymerizable device comprising an artificial tooth's root and an abutment anchored therein and to a kit comprising interalia the same. The present invention also relates to a method for implanting the implant in the alveolar bore of previously extracted tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Polydent Medical Devices Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel Ilan
  • Publication number: 20070202462
    Abstract: Abutment of a dental implant system, having at the top a support region intended for receiving a prosthetic build-up construction and at the bottom an implant contact region intended for insertion into a receiving hole of an implant, and wherein the abutment has between the support region and the implant contact region a soft tissue contact surface. Said soft tissue contact surface is at least partially hydroxylated or silanated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: Straumann Holding AG
    Inventors: Frank Schwarz, Jurgen Becker, Marco Wieland, Michel Dard
  • Patent number: 7245977
    Abstract: A method facilitates mass customization of an object by generating a template representing data common to the object; generating specific data to customize the object in conjunction with the template; and fabricating a customized version of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry A. Simkins
  • Patent number: 7207799
    Abstract: Dental prosthesis support apparatus includes a plurality of dental implants having self-tapping threads on a lower portion thereof for seating in a jawbone and an upper portion for enabling engagement therewith. An armature is provided having sufficient flexibility to be aligned with the jawbone and engaged along the upper portions of each of the plurality of dental implants seated in the jawbone. The armature is formed from a material enabling subsequent rigidization. The method includes installing a plurality of dental implants into a jawbone in a spaced apart relationship and thereafter removably disposing an armature onto each of the plurality of dental implants and aligning the armature with the jawbone. The armature is removed and rigidized to the jawbone alignment and thereafter affixed onto each of the implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Instabar Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Keith S. Fisher, John Cogger, Eric R. Fisher, David H. Fisher, Shaan Y. Khan
  • Patent number: 7179089
    Abstract: An abutment system for a dental implant includes an abutment having a base portion that is engageable with a dental implant and a shoulder disposed about the base portion that includes a hybrid ceramic material. The hybrid ceramic material includes at least 85% porcelain. An opaque can be applied to the exterior surface of the abutment. A pigment can also be added to the hybrid ceramic material so as to match the color of the patient's gum tissue. A method of preparing an abutment system includes the steps of forming a curable hybrid ceramic material into a shoulder about the base portion of an abutment, partially curing the hybrid ceramic material so as to form an initially cured shoulder, shaping the initially cured shoulder to a desired shape so that the shoulder conforms to at least one patient specific criterion, and completely curing the shoulder. A plurality of abutment systems may be assembled into a kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Prosthosolve, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence O. Sims, Brian K. Lindke, Yuichi Ikenaga
  • Patent number: 7172422
    Abstract: A device for reshaping human or animal bone with bone replacement material includes at least two spaced apart implants and a bar connected to the at least two spaced apart implants and bridging at least one reshaping location. The bar has notches at the longitudinal sides and transverse grooves at the underside. The bar has slotted holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the bar for receiving the implants, respectively, fasteners of the implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Holger K. Essiger
  • Patent number: 7090495
    Abstract: A dental implant assembly comprising; a first part for fixing a tooth, a second part configured for receiving a threaded fastening means, said fastening means having a head portion and a threaded portion for fastening said first and second parts, a locking mechanism provided with both said first and second parts for locking rotational motion against each other on placing on top of one another, and, characterized in that; said first and second parts and head portion of the fastening means have predetermined profiles such that on screwing said fastening means into said second part a substantial part of the head portion descends into the second part and rests on the profiled sections of first and second parts making a complete contact, thereby, shielding threaded portion of the fastening means from masticating forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Inventor: Dan Rosen
  • Patent number: 7066736
    Abstract: An impression coping for taking an impression of a dental implant installed in the jawbone of a patient. The impression coping has a proximal end with an impression portion adapted to be embedded in impression material and a distal portion with a retention mechanism. The retention mechanism includes a housing having a locking member and biasing member. The locking member is biased to slideably move in the housing and engage the dental implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Zimmer Dental, Inc.
    Inventors: Ajay Kumar, Ines Aravena
  • Patent number: 7059854
    Abstract: A dental abutment is provided with an axial through hole and is fastened at a lower segment thereof with an implant in conjunction with a cement which is infected into a threaded hole of the implant. An excess amount of the cement is forced out via the axial through hole of the abutment such that the cement is deposited on a flat top of the abutment to facilitate the removing of the cement residue and to minimize the likelihood of a gums inflammation which may be resulted from an incomplete removal of the cement residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Inventor: Wen-Yuen Wu
  • Patent number: 6997711
    Abstract: The dental implant includes a body with a coronal end and an apical end. The implant intraosseous region includes a tapered thread which has a constant depth on an apical edge. A coronal edge to the thread varies in profile. There is equal spacing between the apical end and the coronal end of the implant. The coronal edge varies in profile, and can have a profile formed of two or three components. There is at least two cutting actions of the thread to permit for effective implantation in the bone without leading to microfracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Inventor: Robert Jeffrey Miller
  • Patent number: 6994547
    Abstract: An apparatus for alignment of dental implants in which an implant in provided with a generally axial bore and a plurality of angled templates, each adapted for operative inter-connection with the bore of the implant. Each template includes a locator lug adapted for inter-engagement with the axial bore of the implant, each lug having a circular cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Inventors: Ashok Sethi, Peter Sochor
  • Patent number: 6981871
    Abstract: A dental attachment assembly has an abutment member for attachment to a tooth root, implant, adjacent tooth, or bar, and a retention member for hinged engagement in a cap secured in a dental appliance. A skirt projects from one end of the cap for releasable snap engagement over an outer locating surface on the abutment member. The outer locating surface has at least two axially spaced retention surfaces for mating, snap engagement with corresponding spaced snap engagement formations on the inner surface of the cap, to provide a stacked, external retention between the abutment and retention members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Zest Anchors, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Mullaly, Paul T. Zuest
  • Patent number: 6974322
    Abstract: An implant-supported dental prosthesis (10) has in its main body (12) several basal recesses (13) in which in each case a conical cap (7) is embedded in self-curing plastic. Each conical cap (7) sits on a conical peg (6) of a construction post (2), which is inserted in a conical hole of an enossal implant (1). Exclusively prefabricated components are used for the production of the dental prosthesis. The embedding of the conical caps (7) in the main body (12) of the dental prosthesis (10) takes place in a single session in the dental practice, after which the dental prosthesis is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Inventors: Dittmar May, Pascale Grote, Egbert Kremer, Werner Groll
  • Patent number: 6955540
    Abstract: A preparation (10, 11,12,13) to be fixed to a natural tooth part or tooth, in particular for the replacement of a load-bearing tooth part, is for example a filling for a drilled-out tooth (1), a crown, bridge or prosthesis to be placed on a tooth stub, or a tooth pin to be fixed in a tooth root for fastening an artificial tooth, a bridge or a prosthesis. The preparation has surface regions which consist of a material with thermoplastic properties. The preparation (10, 11, 12,13) is designed in a manner such that it has oscillation properties with such low damping losses that for a liquefaction of the material with thermoplastic properties by way of oscillations there are local stress concentrations required, and in a manner such that such stress concentrations only occur in the region of the preparation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Woodwelding AG
    Inventors: Jorg Mayer, Marcel Aeschlimann, Laurent Torriani
  • Patent number: 6902401
    Abstract: A superstructure is included together with other components in a tooth prosthesis system, by means of which a tooth prosthesis is intended to be applied to a patient in a short application time, for example in one or only a few days. The superstructure (1) is designed with a bearing part (1b) which can cooperate with fixture members, and a tooth-prosthesis-supporting part, and the parts are designed with recesses for said securing members. The bearing part and the tooth-prosthesis-supporting part are integrated over at least most of their horizontal extents by means of the parts being produced from a common blank or a material composition using a treatment or method which gives a user-friendly outer shape and bevels on the unit or superstructure forming the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Nobel Biocare AB
    Inventors: Lars Jornéus, Göran Bjorn
  • Patent number: 6896514
    Abstract: An orthodontic implant having a pair of cross members with an anchoring block disposed thereon, the uppermost of the anchoring block being disposed in a cap, and a wire extending from the cap and being attached to an archwire by an elastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: John DeVincenzo
  • Patent number: RE38945
    Abstract: An implant has a proximal protrusion that is distinctly non-round even in a worn state, e.g. square in cross section, and may include radial slots for use in threading the implant into the jaw bone. No forces need be applied directly to the protrusion's external surfaces when inserting the slotted implant for subsequent osseointegration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Inventors: Paula S. Fried, Leonard Cooper