Dental retention systems

Abstract

Dental retention systems 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 to an anchoring implant within the mouth of a patient. The abutment assembly has a projecting abutment portion with one or more shape memory elements extending along the projecting abutment portion. Energy may be applied to the elements such that the arcuate portion self-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 . An oral prosthesis retention system, comprising:
 an abutment assembly configured to couple to an implant secured within a mouth of a patient,
 wherein the abutment assembly has a locking fixture comprising a plurality of shape memory elements, wherein the plurality of shape memory elements circumferentially surround an upper abutment portion of the abutment assembly, 
 wherein the shape memory elements have a locking configuration and a portion of each of the shape memory elements changes its shape by extending radially relative to the abutment assembly when in the locking configuration; 
   an oral prosthesis configured to be positioned upon the upper abutment portion such that the portions of the shape memory elements extending radially are secured within a corresponding receiving channel defined along a surface within the oral prosthesis.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory elements have a low-profile configuration and the portions of the shape memory elements extending radially are retracted from the receiving channel when in the low-profile configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the oral prosthesis is adjustable relative to the abutment assembly when the shape memory elements are in the low-profile configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the oral prosthesis is at least one of a crown, an overdenture, and a bridge. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface within the oral prosthesis is a coping surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking fixture is a sleeve configured to be positioned over the upper abutment portion. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the sleeve is tapered. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper abutment portion is configured to extend beyond the gingiva of the patient. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shape memory elements comprise a metal or metal alloy. 
     
     
         10 . An oral prosthesis retention and removal system, comprising:
 an abutment assembly configured to couple to an implant secured within a mouth of a patient,
 wherein the abutment assembly has a locking fixture comprising a plurality of shape memory elements, wherein the plurality of shape memory elements circumferentially surround an upper abutment portion of the abutment assembly, 
 wherein the shape memory elements have a locking configuration and a portion of each of the shape memory elements changes its shape by extending radially relative to the abutment assembly when in the locking configuration; 
   an oral prosthesis configured to be positioned upon the upper abutment portion such that the portions of the shape memory elements extending radially are secured within a corresponding receiving channel defined along a surface within the oral prosthesis,
 wherein the shape memory elements have a low-profile configuration and the portions of the shape memory elements extending radially are retracted from the receiving channel when in the low-profile configuration; 
   an energy applicator configured to apply electromagnetic energy to the plurality of shape memory elements to actuate at least one of the shape memory elements from the locking configuration to the low-profile configuration.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a controller coupled to the energy applicator. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an energy source coupled to the energy applicator. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the oral prosthesis is adjustable relative to the abutment assembly when the shape memory elements are in the low-profile configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the oral prosthesis is at least one of a crown, an overdenture, and a bridge. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the surface within the oral prosthesis is a coping surface. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the locking fixture is a sleeve configured to be positioned over the upper abutment portion. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve is tapered. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the upper abutment portion is configured to extend beyond the gingiva of the patient. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of shape memory elements comprise a metal or metal alloy. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the energy applicator comprises a handle.