Dental device comprising surgical template and false teeth set and related methods

Abstract

A dental device is described. The dental device includes a surgical template having one or more sites for drilling osteotomies in the maxillary or mandibular jaw and a false teeth set. The surgical template and false teeth set are configured to fit together to form a denture prosthesis that can be implanted in a patient. Also described are a method for creating a surgical dental template, a method for implanting a dental prosthesis, and a method for reducing jaw bone in a patient.

1 . A dental device comprising:
 a surgical template having one or more sites for drilling osteotomies in a maxillary or mandibular jaw of a patient; and   a false teeth set;   wherein the surgical template and false teeth set are configured to fit together to form a denture prosthesis.   
     
     
         2 . The dental device of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical template is configured to fit over an edentulous patient's maxillary or mandibular gum tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The dental device of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the surgical template is configured as gum tissue. 
     
     
         4 . The dental device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sites are openings each providing a channel for drilling an osteotomy into the maxillary or mandibular jaw. 
     
     
         5 . The dental device of  claim 4 , wherein each opening comprises a cylindrical wall having a height which is capable of limiting drilling depth of the osteotomy. 
     
     
         6 . The dental device of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical template and false teeth set have male and female portions capable of interlocking. 
     
     
         7 . The dental device of  claim 6 , wherein the surgical template comprises a male portion configured to interlock with a female portion on one of the teeth of the false teeth set. 
     
     
         8 . The dental device of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical template comprises a ledge configured to fit the false teeth set. 
     
     
         9 . The dental device of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical template comprises one or more sets of drill holes configured to provide a guide for reducing jaw bone when the surgical template is positioned on the maxillary or mandibular jaw during use. 
     
     
         10 . The dental device of  claim 4 , wherein the false teeth set comprises one or more openings configured to overlap the one or more openings of the surgical template when the template and false teeth set are fit together. 
     
     
         11 . The dental device of  claim 1 , wherein a wall of the surgical template is configured to provide one or more pin holes. 
     
     
         12 . The dental device of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more pin holes are configured as projections extending outward from the wall of the surgical template. 
     
     
         13 . The dental device of  claim 12 , further comprising pins configured to pass though each of the pin holes. 
     
     
         14 . The dental device of  claim 13 , wherein each pin has a handle portion extending outward from each projection and a tapered portion extending inward through each projection. 
     
     
         15 . The dental device of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical template comprises one or more flanges extending outward from the template. 
     
     
         16 . A dental device comprising:
 a surgical template configured to fit the interior of a maxillary or mandibular jaw over an edentulous patient's maxillary or mandibular gum tissue;   a false teeth set;   wherein the surgical template and false teeth set are configured to fit together;   wherein the surgical template comprises one or more openings each providing a channel for drilling an osteotomy into the maxillary or mandibular jaw;   wherein the false teeth set comprises one or more openings configured to overlap the one or more openings of the surgical template when the template and false teeth set are fit together;   wherein a wall of the surgical template is configured to provide one or more pin holes.   
     
     
         17 . The dental device of  claim 16 , further comprising pins configured to pass though each of the pin holes. 
     
     
         18 . A dental device comprising:
 a surgical template configured to fit over gum tissue of a partially edentulous jaw missing one or more incisors, the surgical template having one or more openings each providing a channel for drilling an osteotomy into a maxillary or mandibular jaw of a patient at a site of the missing incisors; and   one or more removable false teeth configured to fit the surgical template at each opening;   wherein the surgical template and one or more removable false teeth provide a partial or complete bridge between left and right cuspids when implanted into a patient's jaw.   
     
     
         19 . The dental device of  claim 18 , wherein the surgical template is configured to partially wrap around the left and right cuspids.