WO2008138852A1

WO2008138852A1 - Implant arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2008138852A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/055681
Authority: WO
Inventors: Per Olof Leike; Sture Benzon
Original assignee: Biomain Ab
Priority date: 2007-05-11
Filing date: 2008-05-08
Publication date: 2008-11-20

Abstract

An adapter for a dental implant with a conical connection recess in its upper part is provided by the present invention. This adapter comprises a threaded part (12) for connection with said dental implant and a conical main body (11), corresponding to a conical connection recess of said implant, a tool grip portion (14), allowing for attachment of said adapter to said implant by the aid of a tool, and a connection recess (13) adapted for connection to a spacer element or a dental structure.

Description

IMPLANT ARRANGEMENT

Field of the Invention

This invention pertains in general to the field of a implant arrangement, and in particular to a platform switch for implant arrangements. More particularly the invention relates an adapter, such as a dental implant platform switch, for attachment to a dental implant, said adapter comprising a threaded part for connection with a dental implant and a conical male part, corresponding to a conical connection surface of a female part in an implant with a conical connection platform.

Background of the Invention

In the field of dentistry, and in particular in the field of dental implant technology, it is known to manufacture dental implants with conical connection platforms. Astra Tech has developed an implant with a design called the Conical Seal Design™, which is a conical connection below the marginal bone level that transfers the load deeper down in the bone. Compared to conical connections above the marginal bone level and flat-to-flat designs, Conical Seal Design™ reduces peak stresses and thereby preserves the marginal bone. It also seals off the interior of the implant from surrounding tissues, minimizing micro-movements and micro-leakage. Conical Seal Design™ simplifies maintenance and ensures reliability in all clinical situations. Also, the tight and precisely fitting implant-abutment relation of the Conical Seal Design™ makes abutment connection a quick and simple procedure. The abutment is self-guiding and the installation procedure is non-traumatic, eliminating the risk of bone damage.

Conical Seal Design™ is first implanted in the jaw bone of the patient, where after a spacer element is attached to the Conical Seal Design™. This spacer element is in this context provided with a threaded part, to be threadingly connected to the implant, and a conical male part, adapted to bear on the conical connection platform of the implant. Furthermore, the spacer element is provided with an abutment, extending upwards from the dental implant, constituting a mounting knob in the oral cavity of the patient. Thereafter, a dental superstructure may be mounted on the abutment of the spacer element.

Since a conical fitting of this kind is very tight and precise, it is almost impossible to mount superstructures directly on the implant, i.e. at a fixture level. The tight fitting renders the structure, such as a superstructure or distance, to be mounted on the implant almost impossible to align with other conical fittings. Therefore, the use of Conical Seal Design™ results in a need of spacer elements according to above, whereupon the application of a superstructure will be in a distance level in respect of the implant.

It is ask for in the field of dental implant technology to have the opportunity to work at fixture level, since this in some cases is needed to provide an aesthetic fitting to gum of the patient. Other advantages with work in fixture level also exist.

Also, when an implant already has been implanted, and a satisfactory osseointegration of the implant has been obtained, it would be of great damage to exchange such an implant with another implant, better suited for attachment of structures or spacer elements needed in changed circumstances for the patient. This may be the case if the patient is in need of some kind of reconstruction of the dental structure, such as for example in case of loosing yet another tooth. In this case it would be better to have a dental implant better suited for adaptation in respect of other implants, spacer elements, and/or superstructures in the mouth of the patient. US 6,358,050 discloses a dental implant converter structure, having a tool grip portion projecting from the upper part of the dental implant converter structure. Inherently, the dental implant converter structure according to US 6,358,050 thus needs specific superstructure arrangements adapted to the projecting tool grip portion, whereby the converting of the implant system not may be done to convert the system into an already existing system. US 6,168,436 discloses a universal dental implant abutment system, comprising an abutment collar and a fixation screw. The abutment collar has a cylindrical part for cooperation with an implant body. The system disclosed in US 6,168,436 does not convert the platform of the dental implant.

Thus, there is a need for a new dental system, allowing for configuration of dental implants with conical connection platforms, such that spacer elements and/or superstructures mounted thereon more easily may be adjusted in respect of other spacer elements and/or superstructures or changed circumstances in the mouth of the patient, while simultaneously providing the opportunity for the dentist or dental technician to work at fixture level.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention preferably seeks to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies in the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination and solves at least the above mentioned problems by providing an adapter for a dental implant with a conical connection recess in its upper part, said adapter comprising a threaded part for connection with said dental implant and a conical main body, corresponding to a conical connection recess of said implant, a tool grip portion, allowing for attachment of said adapter to said implant by the aid of a tool, and a connection recess adapted for connection to a spacer element or a dental structure. Advantageous features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

These and other aspects, features and advantages of which the invention is capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a side contour view of an adapter according to one embodiment of the present invention, and

Figs. 2a and 2b are end views of adapters according to embodiments of the present invention.

Description of Embodiments

The following description focuses on an embodiment of the present invention applicable to an adapter for modifying the connection part of an implant with a conical connection recess.

According to one embodiment of the present invention an adapter, according to Fig. 1, is provided. This adapter comprises a main body 11 and a threaded male part 12. The threaded male part 12 is adapted to be threadingly fitted with a threaded female part of an implant. The main body 11 has a first end connected to the threaded male part 12 and a second end located on a distance from said first end along a central axis of the adapter. In said second end of the adapter a connection recess 13 and a tool grip portion 14 are located. The connection recess 13 and the tool grip portion 14 may preferably also be aligned along the central axis of the adapter. The tool grip portion 14 may suitable be a in the form of a screwdriver slot or an internal hexagonal fitting, of known type to the skilled artisan, in the bottom of the connection recess 13. The connection recess 13 may comprise a threaded female part 15, stretching from the end of the tool grip portion 14 towards the second end of the adapter. The tool grip portion 14 allows a tool, such as a screwdriver, to engage with the adapter to fasten it to the dental implant. The female threaded part 15 allows a screw member to be threadingly connected to the adapter, through which a spacer element, a superstructure, and/or prosthesis may be attached/fastened to the adapter. Above the threaded female part 15, or closer to the second end of the adapter than said threaded female part, a seat 16 is located. The seat 16 corresponds to an abutment of a spacer element, a superstructure, and/or a prosthesis, such that a fitting between the adapter and said spacer element, superstructure, and/or prosthesis may be obtained.

Figs. 2a and 2b illustrates end views of two embodiments of the adapter of said second end. The seat 16 may be a circular seat, according to Fig. 2a, or a main circular seat with indentions 21, according to Fig. 2b. These indentions 21 may have a radius smaller than the radius of the circular seat 16. In other embodiments of the present invention the number of indentions may vary. For example the number of indentions may be 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, or even more than 5, as long as the purpose of the indentions fulfil the object of hindering a dental structure and/or a spacer element from rotating. If a dental structure, such as a prosthesis or superstructure, is attached to more than one dental implant, a circular seat may provide a satisfying seat, since the dental structure itself will hinder rotation. This is due to the fact that the dental structure is attached at more than one point, thus locking the dental structure.

In still other embodiments of the present invention the seat 16 may have other suitable forms, allowing for the hindering of rotation of a spacer element, a superstructure, and/or a prostheses. Such other suitable forms may be a square shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, other polygonal shapes, or a star shape.

The shape of the seat 16 may be tailored to fit the different spacer elements, superstructures, and/or prostheses available on the market. Thus, it will be possible to obtain a platform switch from the conical implant platform to any suitable platform asked for.

It is also possible that the seat is provided on the spacer element, superstructure, and/or prosthesis, whereby an abutment corresponding to such seat is located on the adapter. In these embodiments the threaded female part 15 and the tool grip portion 14 may be provided, within the boundaries of the abutment, or next to said abutment, such that the abutment may be fastened to the implant and a spacer element, a superstructure, and/or a prosthesis in turn may be fastened to the adapter.

The side or sides of the seat, and thereby also on the corresponding abutment, may be slightly angled. This arrangement permits a tight attachment between the adapter and the spacer element, superstructure, and/or prosthesis. The frictional forces between the two congruent, smooth- finished circumferential surfaces can be adjusted, on the one hand as a function of the tightening force or choice of material and, on the other hand, as a function of the angle of convergence of the surfaces.

The adapter may for example be made of titanium, but other materials with a sufficient degree of biocompatibility and strength to be able to serve permanently as a bone anchor for prosthetic structures in the form of spacer elements, superstructure, crowns, bridges and other prostheses. These can be made of ceramics, metal, or tissue-compatible plastic, or combinations thereof. Also, different combinations of material can be used for different indications. For example, when, for reasons of space, the adapter has to be given an extremely small volume, it can have a core of especially strong alloys and a coating of pure titanium and/or hydroxyapatite in order thereby to increase the strength of the adapter.

The main body 11 has a conical shape corresponding to a conical inner shape of a dental implant, such as Conical Seal Design™. This arrangement permits a tight attachment between the main body 11 of the adapter and the dental implant. The frictional forces between the two congruent, smooth-finished circumferential surfaces can be adjusted, on the one hand as a function of the tightening force or choice of material and, on the other hand, as a function of the angle of convergence of the surfaces. If this angle is sufficiently small, the two components can be tightened so hard that it is practically impossible to distinguish them. The second end of the main body 11 preferably ends at the same plane and/or level as the dental implant, whereby the connection recess 13 of the adapter will be located at a fixture level, i.e. there is no need for elevation of the connection recess 13 above the dental implant, which will be the case when using spacer elements. This may be accomplished since the grip portion 14 is located within the connection recess 13, whereby there is no need for a separate grip portion protruding from the second end. Thus, the main body 11 fills the connection recess of the implant with a conical connection recess, such that the main body 11 has substantially the same volume as the recess of the implant, except for the connection recess 13 and the grip portion 14. Also, it will be possible to manufacture adapters with different connection recesses corresponding to different spacer elements and/or superstructures, manufactured from different suppliers, whereby the dentist may choose a spacer element, superstructure and/or dental system not actually intended for the dental implant, but perhaps better suited for the dental situation of the patient. Furthermore, a dental implant may be adapted instead of replaced by the aid of an adapter according to the present invention, when a new dental implant would better suit the dental situation of the patient, which may be the case if the patient is in need of some kind of reconstruction of the dental structure, such as for example in case of loosing yet another tooth. Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims and, other embodiments than the specific above are equally possible within the scope of these appended claims. In the claims, the term "comprises/comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by e.g. a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. The terms "a", "an", "first", "second" etc do not preclude a plurality. Reference signs in the claims are provided merely as a clarifying example and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any way.

Claims

1. An adapter for a dental implant with a conical connection recess in its upper distal part, said adapter comprising a threaded part (12) for connection with said dental implant and a conical main body (11), corresponding to a conical connection recess of said implant, a tool grip portion (14), allowing for attachment of said adapter to said implant by the aid of a tool, and a connection recess (13) adapted for connection to a spacer element or a dental structure, said main body (11) having a first proximal end connected to the threaded part (12) and a second distal end, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said tool grip portion (14) is located within said connection recess (13).

2. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the connection recess (13) comprises a threaded female part (15) .

3. The adapter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection recess of the adapter has a seat (16) of circular shape.

4. The adapter according to claim 3, wherein the seat (16) also is provided with indentions (21).

5. The adapter according to claim 4, wherein the number of indention/indentions is/are 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.

6. The adapter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection recess (13) of the adapter has a seat (16) of a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, or a star shape.