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 dental prosthesis system to provide a dental prosthesis resiliently, removably anchored to the mouth of a patient, the dental prosthesis system comprising at least one rigid dental implant, the implant comprising a first end portion formed of an elongated shank having an externally threaded outer surface and intended to be substantially permanently, threadedly secured into a patient's jaw, below the gum ridge; a flat surface, located at the second end of the implant, which is intended to he located at a position at the outer surface of the patient's gum ridge, and extends transversely to the axis of the shank; a connector head portion extending outwardly beyond the gum ridge surface from a central portion of the flat surface and having an externally threaded outer surface: and a cap having an internally threaded opening extending at least partially axially therethrough, the threaded opening being capable of being threaded secured to the connector head portion and being formed of a material softer than the material of the connector head portion; and a dental prosthesis including a foundation having a concave under-surface intended to fit over and around the jaw ridge, the foundation being formed from a relatively hard dental resin, the hard dental resin defining the concave portion being formed to provide space for the insertion of, and the molding, in situ, of a softer, more resilient dental resin liner within the concave portion, and openings through the hard dental resin and the softer dental resin liner to permit passage of the connector head portion therethrough; whereby the cap being capable of threading onto an end portion of the connector head portion can thus removably secure the dental prosthesis to the mouth of the patient. 
     
     
         6 . The denture system of  claim 5 , wherein the thin, rigid, dental implant further comprises, a generally frusta-conical section extending between the Inner end of the threaded portion of the elongated shank and the flat surface. 
     
     
         7 . The dental prosthesis system of  claim 5  further comprising a connection junction at the outward end of the implant for a tool to threadedly turn the implant in place in order to connect the implant in the patient's jaw. 
     
     
         8 . The denture system of claim  3 , wherein the material of construction of the connecting cap is a material that is rigid hut relatively softer than the material forming the dental implant. 
     
     
         9 . 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. 
     
     
         10 . The denture system of  claim 9 , wherein the material of construction of the connecting cap is a dental resin polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The denture system of  claim 10 , wherein the material of construction of the connecting cap is selected from the group consisting of polyacetal resins, nylon resins, pofysulfones, polyacrylics and silicones. 
     
     
         12 . The dental prosthesis system of  claim 10  wherein the material of construction of the connecting cap is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylics, silicones and polyacetal resins. 
     
     
         13 . The dental prosthesis system of  claim 5  wherein the threaded lower portion of the implant at the end distal from the platform is of a gradually decreasing diameter. 
     
     
         14 . The dental prosthesis system of  claim 5  wherein the diameter of the constant diameter externally-threaded cylindrical connection member is smaller than the largest diameter of the shank portion of the implant. 
     
     
         15 . The dental prosthesis system of  claim 5  wherein the material of construction of the cap is a material that is non-adherent to other dental resin. 
     
     
         16 . The dental prosthesis system of  claim 5  wherein the implant is formed of a titanium metal. 
     
     
         17 . The denial prosthesis system of  claim 14  comprising a plurality of dental implants each having a constant diameter, externally-threaded, cylindrical connection member. 
     
     
         18 . A method of fitting a resiliently lined, rigid dental prosthesis of the type immovably secured to permanently implanted denial support posts embedded into a patient's jaw, where the support posts each include a shank secured into the patient's jaw and an outwardly facing platform surface at a second, opposite, end of the implant, having an outwardly facing surface, and having a diameter greater than the largest 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 and having a diameter less than the diameter of the portion of the shank immediately below the platform surface; the cylindrical connection member extending longitudinally, axially outwardly from the platform to a position distal from the shank; the method comprising the steps of:
 molding a dental prosthesis foundation to form a dental prosthesis, the dental prosthesis including a concave under surface intended to fit over and around the jaw ridge of a patient, the foundation being formed from a relatively hard, dental resin, the hard denial resin defining the concave portion formed to provide space for the insertion of and the molding, in situ, of a softer, more resilient denial resin liner within the concave portion;   molding the softer, more resilient dental resin liner on a form selected from the patient's jaw ridge or on a form molded to emulate precisely the patient's jaw ridge, including the externally-threaded, cylindrical connection members extending longitudinally axially outwardly from the platform of each implant, inserting a curable, softer, more resilient dental resin into the concave portion, placing the dental prosthesis foundation containing the curable denial resin in close contact with the form, and allowing the curable resilient resin to cure and set, so as to form a close negative image of the jaw ridge and thus be capable of forming a suitable seal between the cured resilient resin and the sides of a patient's jaw ridge and surrounding the longitudinally, axially extending, externally-threaded cylindrical connection members;   placing the thus molded dental prosthesis over the patient's jaw ridge so that the outwardly-extending externally-threaded connection, members extend into and through the openings in the dental prosthesis form and protrude to the top of the prosthesis and connecting suitable connecting-caps threaded, onto the externally-threaded connection member, so as to hold the prosthesis firmly on the jaw ridge of a patient.   
     
     
         19 . A kit for permanently, but removably, securing a resilently lined, rigid dental prosthesis of the type capable of being immovably secured to permanently implanted dental support posts embedded into a patient's jaw, the kit comprising at least one support post, each support post comprising a shank designed to be secured into the patient's jaw and an outwardly lacing platform surface at a second, opposite, end of the implant, the platform having a diameter greater than the largest diameter of the shank, and an outwardly extending constant diameter, externally-threaded, connection member rigidly secured to the platform mid extending longitudinally, outwardly from the platform to a position distal from the shank, the connection member having a diameter less than the diameter of the portion of the shank immediately below the platform surface; and
 at least one cap having an internally threaded opening extending at least partially axially therethrough, and being formed of a material softer than the material of the externally-threaded, connection member, the cap being capable of being threadedly, removably secured to the externally-threaded, connection member through its internally threaded opening, so as to secure a dental prosthesis to the implant after it is secured into a patient's jaw.   
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 19  wherein the connection member is cylindrical and extends axially outwardly from the platform surface. 
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 19  wherein the cap is cylindrical in shape and its internally threaded opening axially extends through the cap.