Immediate post-extraction implant

Abstract

A submergible or non-submergible (“one stage”) screw-type implant for use in the immediate post-extraction site of a patient's tooth. In order to increase the ability of regenerated bone to anchor the implant, an upper portion of the implant has a preferably generally conical shape and has a plurality of spherical projections sintered to its outer surface to make it suitable for bone integration and retention. The lower portion of the implant has a cylindrical shape with threads extending over a portion thereof. A channel is located through the threads and is shaped so that one side forms a cutting edge that makes the lower portion of the implant self-tapping into the bone at the base of the tooth extension socket.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An implant for installation into a tooth extraction socket in the alveolar bone of a patient, comprising: 
 an upper portion in the direction away from the bone when the implant is installed therein having a generally conical side surface, at least part of the side surface having a plurality of microbeads non-circumferentially attached thereto;    a lower portion in the direction toward the bone adapted to be fixed into the bone upon insertion therein.    
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 2 , wherein the lower portion has a generally cylindrical shape and threads being located about at least a portion thereof; and 
 a channel extending through the threads, one side of the channel being at an angle up to a right angle with respect to the circumference of the periphery of the lower portion and extending through the threads to create a cutting edge so that the threads are self-tapping.    
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 2 , further including a vent in said lower portion oriented toward the bone when installed therein, the vent being aligned with said channel so that bone chips shaved off by the cutting edge can pass down said channel and enter the vent.  
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 3 , wherein said channel widens from the top of said lower portion to the bottom of said lower portion.  
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of said channels and said vents.  
     
     
         6 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the microbeads are composed of a material selected from the group consisting of metals, polymers, copolymers and composites.  
     
     
         7 . The implant of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of microbeads are titanium.  
     
     
         8 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the microbeads have been sintered to the side surface.  
     
     
         9 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the part of the side surface having microbeads attached thereto has a porosity of 200-350 microns.  
     
     
         10 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein a major portion of the side surface has microbeads attached thereto.  
     
     
         11 . An implant for installation into a tooth extraction socket in the alveolar bone of a patient comprising a portion adapted to minimize space between the implant and the extraction socket, at least part of the portion having a plurality of microbeads attached thereto.  
     
     
         12 . The implant of  claim 11 , wherein the microbeads are non-circumferentially attached.  
     
     
         13 . The implant of  claim 11 , wherein a majority of the portion has microbeads attached thereto.  
     
     
         14 . A method for installing a dental implant into a tooth extraction socket in the alveolar bone of a patient comprising: 
 providing an implant having a portion adapted to minimize space between the implant and the extraction socket, at least part of the portion having a plurality of microbeads attached thereto; and    installing the implant.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the microbeads are non-circumferentially attached.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising at least partially back-filling, with a bone graft material, the space between the portion and the extraction socket.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a majority of the portion has microbeads attached thereto.  
     
     
         18 . A method for installing a dental implant into a tooth extraction socket in the alveolar bone of a patient comprising: 
 installing an implant such that a lower portion of the implant is fixed into bone at the base of the socket and an upper portion of the implant is located in the extraction socket, the upper portion having a generally conical side surface at least part of which has a plurality of microbeads non-circumferentially attached thereto; and    back-filling, with a bone graft material, space between the upper portion of the implant and the extraction socket.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein at least part of the lower portion has self-tapping threads and the method further comprises the steps of: 
 first creating an opening in the bone at the base of the extraction socket; and    installing the implant by self-tapping it into the opening.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the bone graft material is solid.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the bone graft material is microporous.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the bone graft material is resorbable.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the bone graft material is non-resorbable.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of installing the implant includes providing an implant adapted to minimize the space between the implant and the extraction socket.  
     
     
         25 . The implant of  claim 18 , wherein the microbeads are composed of a material selected from the group consisting of metals, polymers, copolymers and composites.  
     
     
         26 . The implant of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of microbeads are titanium.  
     
     
         27 . The implant of  claim 18 , wherein the microbeads have been sintered to the side surface.  
     
     
         28 . The implant of  claim 18 , wherein the part of the side surface having microbeads attached thereto has a porosity of 200-350 microns.  
     
     
         29 . The implant of  claim 18 , wherein a major portion of the side surface has microbeads attached thereto.