EP0477644A1 — Dental-implant system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 90 words

In a dental implant including a metallic bone-embedded fixture having a receiving end portion, a support post, trans-tissue means on the post for abutment with the receiving end portion of the fixture within an interface region, said post having a suproginival core section extending from the trans-tissue means, a prosthesis, and a coping portion to which the prosthesis is attached received on the support post; the improvement residing in said support post being made of a ceramic material, the coping portion covering the post and being surface bonded directly thereto.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 90 words

In a dental implant including a metallic bone-embedded fixture having a receiving end portion, a support post, trans-tissue means on the post for abutment with the receiving end portion of the fixture within an interface region, said post having a suproginival core section extending from the trans-tissue means, a prosthesis, and a coping portion to which the prosthesis is attached received on the support post; the improvement residing in said support post being made of a ceramic material, the coping portion covering the post and being surface bonded directly thereto.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 67 words

The improvement as defined in claim 1 further including removable fastener means for securing the support post to the metallic fixture, said support having an access bore from which the fastener means extends into the fixture through the receiving end portion thereof, and washer means deformed within the access bore in response to threaded insertion of the fastener means into the fixture for sealing said interface region.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The improvement as defined in Claim 2 wherein said ceramic material of the support post is Ai 2 0 3 .

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

The improvement as defined in claim 3 wherein said coping portion is a separate piece made of porcelain material completely covering the core section of the post.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein said trans-tissue means comprises a conical formation intergral with the post while the supragingival core section includes a cylindrical portion and a curved transition surface portion interconnecting the cylindrical portion with the conical formation on the support post.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 68 words

The improvement as defined in claim 5 wherein the fastener means includes a head portion engaging the washer means in spaced relation to the receiving end portion of the fixture, a screw portion threadedly inserted into the fixture and an intermediate shank portion interconnecting the head and screw portions on which the washer means is retained, said intermediate shank portion having means for limiting dental implant rupture thereto.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 40 words

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said trans-tissue means is a conical formation on the post while the supragingival core section includes a cylindrical portion and a curved transition portion interconnecting the cylindrical portion with the conical formation.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 68 words

The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein the fastener means includes a head portion engaging the washer means in spaced relation to the receiving end portion of the fixture, a screw portion threadedly inserted into the fixture and an intermediate shank portion interconnecting the head and screw portions on which the washer means is retained, said intermediate shank portion having means for limiting dental implant rupture thereto.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said trans-tissue means on the support post is an anatomically contoured formation on the coping portion.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 116 words

In a dental implant including a bone-embedded fixture having a receiving end portion exposed within an interfacing region between edentulous bone and gingival edge, a support post, abutting means on the post for engagement with the receiving end portion of the fixture within said interfacing region, said post having an access bore formed therein, and a prosthesis received on the support post, the improvement residing in: removable fastener means extending from the access bore into the fixture for securing the support post thereto in response to threaded insertion through said receiving end portion and washer means deformed within the access bore in response to said threaded insertion of the fastener means for sealing the interfacing region.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 116 words

In a dental implant including a bone-embedded fixture having a receiving end portion exposed within an interfacing region between edentulous bone and gingival edge, a support post, abutting means on the post for engagement with the receiving end portion of the fixture within said interfacing region, said post having an access bore formed therein, and a prosthesis received on the support post, the improvement residing in: removable fastener means extending from the access bore into the fixture for securing the support post thereto in response to threaded insertion through said receiving end portion and washer means deformed within the access bore in response to said threaded insertion of the fastener means for sealing the interfacing region.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 68 words

The improvement as defined in claim 10 wherein the fastener means includes a head portion engaging the washer means in spaced relation to the receiving end portion of the fixture, a screw portion threadedly inserted into the fixture and an intermediate shank portion interconnecting the head and screw portions on which the washer means is retained, said intermediate shank portion having means for limiting dental implant rupture thereto.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 37 words

The combination as defined in claim 10 including a coping portion embedded in the prosthesis and surface bonded directly to the support post and a filler occupying the access bore in covering relation to the fastener means.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 118 words

A method for making a custom fitted dental appliance to be secured to a metallic fixture having a receiving end portion exposed within an interface region between edentulous bone in which the fixture is embedded and a gingival edge, including the steps of: fitting an axially elongated abutment post made of ceramic material into said interface region; forming a superstructure shaped for external contact with the abutment post; cutting the abutment post to fit within the formed superstructure; surface bonding the formed superstructure to the cut abutment post; fastening the abutment post through an access bore therein to the embedded metallic fixture; sealing the interface region from the access bore; and plugging the access bore with a filler.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 118 words

A method for making a custom fitted dental appliance to be secured to a metallic fixture having a receiving end portion exposed within an interface region between edentulous bone in which the fixture is embedded and a gingival edge, including the steps of: fitting an axially elongated abutment post made of ceramic material into said interface region; forming a superstructure shaped for external contact with the abutment post; cutting the abutment post to fit within the formed superstructure; surface bonding the formed superstructure to the cut abutment post; fastening the abutment post through an access bore therein to the embedded metallic fixture; sealing the interface region from the access bore; and plugging the access bore with a filler.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 13 wherein said step of surface bonding includes firing the superstructure assembled on the cut abutment post to form a unitary body therewith.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said ceramic material of the abutment post is Ai 2 0 3 .

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 15 wherein said superstructure includes a separate coping portion surface bonded to the cut abutment post by said step of firing.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 16 wherein said steps of fastening and sealing includes threadedly inserting into the fixture a screw fastener having a head portion transmitting compressive force to deform a washer retained within the access bore.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 13 wherein said ceramic material of the abutment post is Ai 2 0 3 .

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 80 words

In a method of making a custom fitted dental appliance to be secured to an implant fixture having a receiving end portion exposed to an interface region formed in edentulous bone within which the fixture is embedded, the steps of: fitting a prosthesis support post made of aluminum oxide into said region, said implant post having an access bore therein; fastening the post to the embedded fixture through said access bore; and sealing said interface region from the access bore.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 80 words

In a method of making a custom fitted dental appliance to be secured to an implant fixture having a receiving end portion exposed to an interface region formed in edentulous bone within which the fixture is embedded, the steps of: fitting a prosthesis support post made of aluminum oxide into said region, said implant post having an access bore therein; fastening the post to the embedded fixture through said access bore; and sealing said interface region from the access bore.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 19 wherein said step of fastening the post includes threadedly inserting into the metallic fixture a screw fastener having a head portion retained in the access bore.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 20 wherein said step of sealing said interface region includes: positioning a washer on the screw fastener within the access bore; and deforming the washer under compressive force applied thereto by the head portion of the screw fastener in response to said threaded insertion thereof into the implant fixture.

Dental-implant system

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