Dental prostheses devices and methods

Abstract

Root canal abutment devices and methods which facilitate the adjustment or removal of an oral appliance, e.g., a crown or bridge, from a reconfigurable abutment assembly are described. The adjustable abutment assembly may be secured within a pulp chamber of a pre-existing tooth. The abutment assembly has a projecting abutment portion with one or more shape memory alloy sleeves or plates or elements extending along the abutment. Each of the sleeves has a length with at least one curved or arcuate portion. Energy may be applied to the elements such that the arcuate portion flattens to allow for the oral appliance to be placed thereupon while removal of the energy allows the elements to reconfigure into its curved configuration thereby locking the oral appliance to the abutment. Removal of the oral appliance may be effected by reapplication of energy to the elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of securing an oral appliance, comprising:
 securing one or more posts of an abutment assembly into a pulp chamber of a tooth;   coupling one or more shape memory elements along an abutment portion extending from the one or more posts such that a portion of the elements extend radially relative to the abutment when the elements are in a locking configuration;   biasing the one or more shape memory elements to extend radially relative to the abutment via one or more biasing elements positioned along the abutment; and, positioning a crown upon the abutment portion such that the portion of the elements extending radially are secured within a corresponding receiving channel defined along a coping within the crown.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising actuating the one or more shape memory elements to retract into a low profile configuration such that the elements are retracted from the receiving channel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein actuating comprises applying energy to the one or more shape memory elements. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein actuating comprises applying electromagnetic energy to the one or more shape memory elements. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising re-actuating the one or more shape memory elements to reconfigure into the locking configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein securing comprises cementing the one or more posts within the pulp chamber. 
     
     
         7 . A method of securing an oral appliance, comprising:
 shaping a pre-existing tooth to have a configuration of an abutment portion extending from a remainder of the tooth;   coupling one or more shape memory elements along the abutment portion extending from the one or more posts such that a portion of the elements extend radially relative to the abutment when the elements are in a locking configuration;   biasing the one or more shape memory elements to extend radially relative to the abutment via one or more biasing elements positioned along the abutment; and,   positioning a crown upon the abutment portion such that the portion of the elements extending radially are secured within a corresponding receiving channel defined along a coping within the crown.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising actuating the one or more shape memory elements to retract into a low profile configuration such that the elements are retracted from the receiving channel. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein actuating comprises applying energy to the one or more shape memory elements. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising re-actuating the one or more shape memory elements to reconfigure into the locking configuration. 
     
     
         11 . A method of securing an oral appliance, comprising:
 securing one or more posts of an abutment assembly into a pulp chamber of a tooth;   positioning a sleeve defining a lumen therethrough upon an upper abutment portion of the abutment assembly secured within the pulp chamber,
 wherein the sleeve has one or more first members which extend longitudinally along the sleeve and project radially outward relative to the sleeve, and wherein the sleeve has one or more second members which extend longitudinally along the sleeve and project radially inward relative to the sleeve; 
   securing the sleeve to the upper abutment portion via at least one of the second members projecting radially inward and locking against the upper abutment portion; and   securing the oral appliance upon the sleeve and the abutment assembly via at least one of the first members projecting radially outward and locking against the oral appliance.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of a shape memory alloy. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising actuating the one or more first members and the one or more second members to retract into a low profile configuration such that the one or more first members and the one or more second members are straightened relative to the sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein actuating comprises applying energy to the one or more first members and the one or more second members. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein actuating comprises applying electromagnetic energy to the one or more first members and the one or more second members. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising re-actuating the one or more first members and the one or more second members to reconfigure into a locking configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein securing the sleeve comprises locking the at least one of the second members against an undercut defined along the upper abutment portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein securing the oral appliance comprises locking the at least one of the first members against a coping positioned along an interior surface of the oral appliance. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein securing the one or more posts of the abutment assembly into the pulp chamber of the tooth comprises cementing the one or more posts within the pulp chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the oral appliance is a dental crown.