Implant with internal multi-lobed interlock

Abstract

A dental implant for supporting a dental prosthesis comprises a body portion and a top surface. The implant further comprises an internal cavity with an opening located at the top surface. The internal cavity comprises an interlock chamber having a depth measured from the top surface equal to a first distance. The interlock chamber comprising a cylindrical portion and plurality of semi-circular channels arranged around a periphery of the cylindrical portion. A threaded chamber that includes threads is located below the post-receiving chamber. The cylindrical portion has a first radius and the channels have a second radius, a ratio of the first radius to the second radius being between approximately 4:1. and 2:1.

1 - 36 . (canceled)  
   
   
       37 . A dental abutment for supporting a dental prosthesis on a dental implant, the abutment comprising: 
 an upper region comprising a bottom surface;    a substantially cylindrical post extending below the bottom surface, the substantially cylindrical portion including a plurality of substantially semi-circular protrusions arranged around a periphery of the substantially cylindrical post, wherein the substantially cylindrical post has a first radius and the protrusions have a second radius, a ratio of the first radius to the second radius being between approximately 4:1 and approximately 2:1 and wherein the protrusions have a length measured from the bottom surface of the upper region that is equal to a first distance and the substantially cylindrical post has a length measured from the bottom surface of the upper region that is equal to a second distance, the first distance being less than the second distance.    
   
   
       38 . A dental abutment comprising: 
 a body portion with a bottom surface; and    a lower region comprising a post and an interlock region adjacent the bottom surface, the interlock region being formed as a single continuous curve having substantially no internal corners, the single continuous curve being formed from a substantially cylindrical portion and a plurality of semi-circular protrusions spaced around the periphery of the cylindrical portion at approximately 120 degrees from each other.    
   
   
       39 . A prosthodontic component for mating with a dental implant, the prosthodontic component comprising: 
 an upper region comprising a bottom surface;    an interlock region extending below the bottom surface comprising a non-threaded cylindrical portion and at least one substantially semi-circular protrusion arranged around a periphery of the cylindrical portion, wherein the cylindrical portion has a first radius and the at least one protrusion has a second radius, a ratio of the first radius to the second radius being between approximately 4:1 and approximately 2:1 and wherein the interlock region has a length measured from the bottom surface that is equal to a first distance;    a non-threaded post extending below the interlock region; the post having a length measured from the bottom surface that is equal to a second distance; and    and an inner bore extending through the dental abutment.    
   
   
       40 . A dental abutment for supporting a dental prosthesis on a dental implant, the abutment comprising: 
 an upper region comprising a bottom surface;    an interlock region extending below the bottom surface comprising a non-threaded cylindrical portion and at least three semi-circular protrusions arranged around a periphery of the cylindrical portion, wherein the cylindrical portion has a first radius and the protrusions have a second radius, a ratio of the first radius to the second radius being between approximately 4:1 and approximately 2:1 and wherein the interlock region has a length measured from the bottom surface that is equal to a first distance.    wherein the bottom surface of the abutment has a third radius and a ratio of the third radius to the second radius is between approximately 5:1 and 4:1.    
   
   
       41 . A dental abutment for supporting a dental prosthesis on a dental implant, the abutment comprising: 
 an upper region comprising a bottom surface;    an interlock region extending below the bottom surface comprising a non-threaded cylindrical portion and plurality of substantially semi-circular protrusions arranged around a periphery of the cylindrical portion, wherein the cylindrical portion has a first radius and the protrusions have a second radius, a ratio of the first radius to the second radius being between approximately 4:1 and approximately 2:1 and wherein the interlock region has a length measured from the bottom surface of the upper region that is equal to a first distance; and    a non-threaded post extending below the interlock region; the post having a length measured from the bottom surface of the upper region that is equal to a second distance.    
   
   
       42 . A dental implant for mating with a dental abutment, the dental implant comprising: 
 a body portion;    a top surface; and    an internal cavity formed in the body, the internal cavity comprising a substantially cylindrical portion that opens into a plurality of channels arranged around a periphery of the substantially cylindrical portion, the channels also opening into the top surface of the implant, each of the channels including a shelf that lies a first distance below the top surface and the substantially cylindrical portion having a depth measure from the top surface that is greater than the first distance, wherein the substantially cylindrical portion has a first radius and the channels have a second radius, a ratio of the first radius to the second radius being between approximately 4:1 and 2:1.    
   
   
       43 . A dental implant for supporting a dental prosthesis, the dental implant comprising: 
 a body portion and a top surface, and    an internal cavity formed in the body, the internal cavity comprising an opening having a substantially cylindrical portion and a plurality of channels arranged around a periphery of the substantially cylindrical portion, the channels extending down the implant to a shelf that lies a first distance below the top surface; and    a threaded chamber that includes threads and is distanced from the shelf of the channels by an unthreaded portion of the internal cavity;    wherein the substantially cylindrical portion has a first radius and the channels have a second radius, a ratio of the first radius to the second radius being between approximately 4:1 and 2:1.    
   
   
       44 . A prosthodontic assembly for installing a prosthetic tooth, the prosthodontic assembly comprising: 
 a first prosthodontic component comprising a body portion and a top surface, the first prosthodontic component further comprising an internal cavity with an opening located at the top surface, the internal cavity comprising an interlock portion having a depth measured from the top surface equal to a first distance, the interlock chamber being formed as a single continuous curve having substantially no internal corners, the single continuous curve being formed from a substantially cylindrical portion and a plurality substantially semi-circular channels spaced around the cylindrical portion at approximately 120 degrees from each other and a threaded chamber that includes threads and is located a second distance below the top surface, the second distance being greater than the first distance; and    a second prothodontic component comprising an interlock area a having a shape that corresponds to the shape of the interlock portion.    
   
   
       45 . A dental implant for supporting a dental prosthesis, the dental implant comprising a body portion and a top surface, the implant further comprising an internal cavity with an opening located at the top surface, the internal cavity comprising an interlock portion having a depth measured from the top surface equal to a first distance, and a threaded chamber that includes threads and is located a second distance below the top surface, the second distance being greater than the first distance, the interlock portion being formed as a single continuous curve having substantially no internal corners, the single continuous curve being formed from a substantially cylindrical portion and a plurality of semi-circular channels spaced around the periphery of the cylindrical portion at approximately 120 degrees from each other.