Patent Application
20060063132
Not Applicable.
The present invention relates generally to the field of dental implantology and, more specifically, to retaining screws used to secure dental components, such as abutments, copings, and prosthesis to dental implants.
Retaining screws in the field of dental implantology or dental prosthetics are very important since they are used to fasten and hold together various dental components. These retaining screws, for example, fasten the dental abutment to the dental implant. Unfortunately, prior dental retaining screws tend to loosen over time and also need internal threads inside the abutment to prevent the screw from falling out. The loosening of these screws has caused many problems, and much effort has been devoted to solving these problems.
Dental retaining screws are typically fabricated from titanium. On one hand, titanium is ideal for this indication since it is strong, light-weight, and biocompatible. On the other hand though, titanium has a high coefficient of friction that makes it very susceptible to loosening over time. Specifically, a large percentage of the torque applied to a dental retaining screw is lost to overcoming the high frictional contact between the screw threads and threaded bore of the implant and between the screw head and seating surface of the abutment. According to some estimates, approximately 50% of the applied torque is lost in overcoming the mating friction under the screw head; and 40% of the applied torque is lost in the threads. As such, only about 10% of the applied torque exerted on the screw head is actually exerted as preload or-tensile force stretching and tightening the screw.
Retaining screws tend to loosen in dental applications also because these screws are exposed to large loads and extended vibrations. Occlusal forces from chewing, talking, grinding, brushing, etc. continuously load the prosthetic tooth and accompanying retaining screw. These forces, over time, can decrease the preload and loosen the screw. Once the screw loosens, the joint between the prosthetic components can open or form gaps. The dental components, such as the prosthesis, the abutment, and the screw, can then bend or even break.
Over the years, many solutions have been proposed to reduce the occurrence of titanium screws loosening in dental applications. One solution is to increase the applied torque to the screw. This solution has limitations since the retaining screws can be tighten or loaded above the yield point of the material. In this instance, the screw can be permanently damaged and elastically unable to return to its original shape and position. Further yet, the maximum, attainable preload can be lessened if the screw is permanently damaged and deformed.
Many other solutions have been devoted to reducing the coefficient of friction either between the screw head and the mating surface of the dental component or between the screw threads and threaded bore of the implant. In some instances, screws have been made of gold-alloy material to reduce the co-efficient of friction, but their soft material causes deformation of their threads upon tightening.
In other instances, surface coatings have been placed on the retaining screw to reduce the coefficient of friction. U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,295, entitled “Diamond-Like Carbon Coated Dental Retaining Screws” and incorporated by reference herein, teaches a retaining screw coated with diamond-like carbon. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,669, entitled “High Load Factor Titanium Dental Implant Screw” teaches a retaining screw coated with a soft, deformable, biocompatible material that is malleable and subject to cold flow.
These coatings can reduce the coefficient of friction of the retaining screw, but the coatings have disadvantages. First, the coatings can be expensive. Additionally, they can wear over time or become removed or scraped during tightening. Further, although they can reduce the coefficient of friction, they do not prevent or inhibit the retaining screw from loosening or losing preload due to occlusal forces, vibrations during masticulation, and the like.
It would be advantageous to have a dental retaining screw that could be used to secure prosthetic components to a dental implant yet not be prone to loosen or fall out from the abutment.
The present invention is directed toward dental retaining screws used to secure dental components, such as abutments, copings, analogs, cuffs, healing members, and prosthesis to dental implants. The retaining screw has a proximal end with a locking mechanism. This mechanism includes a moveable locking component and a biasing member that are disposed in a housing formed as a bore.
The dental component includes an internal cavity with a locking mechanism along the interior surface of the cavity. The retaining screw fits inside this cavity and seats on a ledge to connect the dental component and implant. When the retaining screw is placed inside the abutment, the screw will not loosen and fall out. Specifically, the biasing member biases the locking component partially out of the housing to engage and lock with the locking mechanism of the dental component. The locking mechanisms of the retaining screw and dental component, thus, engage to prevent the screw from rotating or losing preload while tightened and connected to the implant.
One important advantage of the present invention is that once the retaining screw is tightened to a selected torque level, the locking mechanisms prevent or reduce the possibility that the retaining screw will loosen. The retaining screw will not tend to loosen even when exposed to large loads and extended vibrations, such as occlusal forces from chewing, clinching, grinding, talking, brushing, etc. Hence the stability of the dental implant system is improved and a secure and reliable fastening mechanism or coupling is provided between the dental component and the dental implant.
As a further advantage, the locking mechanisms of both the dental component and retaining screw are biocompatible and resistive to corrosion. The retaining screw is also relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
Accordingly, the present invention comprises a combination of features and advantages that overcome various problems, deficiencies, or shortcomings associated with prior devices. The various features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon referring to the accompanying drawings and reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention.
For a more detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The dental component 12 and retaining screw 14 can be commercialized as a dental kit. This dental kit may further include additional dental components known to those skilled in the art. Such dental components include dental copings, analogs, healing collars, healing abutments, cuffs, prosthesis, and the like.
In one preferred embodiment, the dental implant system 10 further comprises a dental restoration, prosthesis, or artificial tooth 18 The abutment 12 supports the restoration 18 in the mouth of a patient. The restoration 18 can be cemented to the abutment 12. Alternatively, or in addition, a separate screw (not shown) can be used to mount and retain the prosthesis 18 on the abutment 12.
As shown in
As the skilled artisan will recognize, the present invention can be embodied utilizing a wide variety of commercially available abutments. Thus, the abutment 12 can comprise, for example, the UCLA abutment or abutments sold by Centerpulse Dental Inc. of Carlsbad, Calif.
The abutment 12 has a top end 22, a bottom seating end/surface 24 for interfacing or abutting with the implant 18, and an internal, through cavity or bore 26. This cavity has a generally circular opening 28 at the top end 22 and is adapted to receive the retaining screw 14. The cavity 26 further includes an internal seating surface, shoulder, seat, or ledge 32 that serves as a seating surface for the head of the screw 14. Preferably, the shoulder 32 is generally flat, annular or ring-like in shape, but other embodiments are known to those skilled in the art.
The shoulder or abutting surface 32 divides or partitions the through cavity 26 into an upper generally cylindrical cavity, portion, or surface 34 and a lower (or middle) generally cylindrical cavity, portion, or surface 36. The cavity 34 and cavity 36 are in communication with one another with the cavity 34 having a diameter larger than that of the cavity 36.
The cavity 36 is further in communication with a generally hexagonal socket, portion, or surface 38 at the bottom end 24 of the abutment 12. The hexagonal socket 38 permits anti-rotational mating, coupling, or attachment between the abutment 12 and implant 16.
As shown in
Turning back to
The hexagonal post 42 of the implant is configured to provide anti-rotational engagement with the abutment hexagonal socket 38 (
Turning now to
The screw head 60 is preferably generally cylindrical in shape and includes a lower contacting, seating, or abutting surface 72 for engaging the opposed seating surface, or shoulder 32 of the abutment 14. Preferably, the contacting surface 72 is generally annular or ring-like in shape to generally conform to the shape of the abutment shoulder 32. Additionally, the screw head 60 preferably has a generally hexagonal cavity or socket 74 for receiving a torque wrench or other suitable tool.
Looking now to
The housing 86 may have various configurations known to those skilled in the art. As shown best in
A stop member or plug 92 closes one end of the bore 90 and maintains the biasing member 84 and locking component 82 in the housing 86. The other end of the bore remains open. A ledge or lip 94 at the end of bore 90 prevents the locking component 82 from exiting the housing while under bias from the biasing member.
As shown in
Turning now to
The rotational force or torque required to disengage the locking mechanism 86 of the screw from the locking mechanism 27 of the abutment should be greater than the forces tending to loosen the screw, such as vibrational and occlusal forces like chewing, grinding, talking, brushing, etc.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the biasing member and locking component can have various configurations and continue to function as a locking mechanism on the screw. The locking component, for example, can be a pin, a button, a cylinder, other geometric configurations, or combinations thereof
It will be appreciated that the present invention could incorporate multiple locking components and biasing members in other configurations as well. Multiple bores, for example, could be used to house multiple locking components and biasing members.
Although
The present invention can be used with various dental implants and dental accessories, such as abutments, healing components, fixture mounts, copings, analogs, cuffs, or other dental components. Further, as understood by those skilled in the art, the precise configuration and dimensions of the various components of the retaining screw may vary depending upon the size of the implant or dental component. The principles of the present invention can be applied to these various components. Further yet, while preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or teaching of this invention.
While preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or teaching of this invention. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications of the system and apparatus are possible and are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but is only limited by the claims which follow, the scope of which shall include all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/302,253 filed Nov. 22, 2002, entitled “Retaining Screw With Retentive Feature,” which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/385,814, filed Jun. 4, 2002 and entitled “Retentive Screw With Retentive Feature,” both of these applications being hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60385814 | Jun 2002 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10302253 | Nov 2002 | US |
| Child | 11273494 | Nov 2005 | US |
