Components for permanent removable and adjustable dentures and bridges

Abstract

A locking cap for dental implants embedded in hard dental tissue, such as tooth stubs or bones. The locking caps are ovoidal in plan view and may be formed of materials, such as non-adherent polymers, that are rigid, but softer than the material of the dental implant.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A denture system that is resiliently, removably anchored to the mouth of a patient, the denture system comprising, in combination, at least one thin, rigid dental implant secured into the jaw of a patient, a rounded connecting cap for the implant, and a rigid dental prosthesis connected to the implant through the connecting cap; the rigid dental implant comprising at one end a thin shank having an external thread, intended to be secured into a patient's jaw, and at a second, opposite, end a platform having an outwardly facing surface, having a diameter greater than the major diameter of the shank, and a constant diameter, externally threaded, cylindrical connection member, rigidly secured to the platform and extending longitudinally axially outwardly from the platform; the rounded connecting cap comprising a head portion having a generally rounded shape from a top view and the shape of a flattened sphere when viewed from a side view, and a central, internally threaded opening extending axially into the bottom surface, whereby the rounded connecting cap can be threadedly connected to the dental implant by the constant diameter, externally threaded member; and the rigid dental prosthesis formed from a rigid dental resin, in the form of a denture, and intended to be supported over the gum ridge of the mouth of a patient, comprising a convex upper surface having the appearance of teeth, and a concave underside lined with a softer, resilient polyacrylic material formed so as to tightly, but resiliently, conform to the gum ridge and to the rounded connecting cap threadedly secured to each implant and which extend above the gum ridge of the patient, so that the resilient material can firmly, but removably, grip the rounded connecting cap when the prosthesis is placed over the gum ridge of the patient containing at least one implant and connecting cap. 
     
     
         6 . The denture system of  claim 5 , wherein the rounded connecting cap further comprises an axially extending base portion extending from the bottom surface of the rounded connecting cap, and having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the rounded cap potion, and extending axially from the center of the rounded cap portion, the axially extending base portion further comprising a central internal opening extending longitudinally axially therefrom and being internally threaded, the rounded cap portion further comprising means to cause the rotation of the rounded cap portion such that the externally threaded connection member is threadedly connected to the connecting cap. 
     
     
         7 . The denture system of  claim 5 , wherein the thin, rigid dental implant further comprises a generally frusto-conical section extending between the inner end of the threaded portion of the shank and the platform. 
     
     
         8 . The denture system of  claim 5 , wherein the material of construction of the connecting cap is a material that is rigid but relatively softer than the material forming the dental implant. 
     
     
         9 . The denture system of  claim 8 , wherein the material of construction of the connecting cap is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylics and silicones. 
     
     
         10 . The denture system of  claim 5 , wherein the rounded connecting cap further comprises at bottom surface a base portion axially extending and having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the rounded cap portion and extending longitudinally therefrom; the diameter of the rounded cap portion extending perpendicularly to the axially extending portion from the rounded connecting cap; the axially extending base portion further comprising a central internal opening extending longitudinally axially thereof and wherein the internal circumference of the central internal opening is threaded, whereby the connecting cap can be threadedly connected to the dental implant by the outwardly extending external threaded connector. 
     
     
         11 . The denture system of  claim 5 , comprising further a connection junction on the implant for a wrench to threadedly secure the implant in place in the patient's jaw. 
     
     
         12 . The denture system of  claim 5 , wherein the threaded portion of the implant at the distal end from the platform is of a gradually decreasing diameter. 
     
     
         13 . The denture system of  claim 5 , wherein the cap further comprises a covering cap that can be secured on the connecting cap and into the softer, resilient material on the underside of the dental prosthesis, so as to permit the easier removal of the denture from the rounded connecting cap.