Orthodontic abutment

Abstract

An orthodontic abutment for attachment to a dental implant that is embedded living jawbone having overlying gingiva is set forth. The implant has a gingival surface exposed through the overlying gingiva. The orthodontic abutment is capable of receiving an orthodontic component. The orthodontic abutment comprises a generally cylindrical main body having a lower end for engaging the gingival surface of the implant and a supragingival end opposing the lower end for protruding above the overlying gingiva. The main body has an outer surface between the lower end and the supragingival end. The outer surface includes a roughened portion to which the orthodontic component is to be attached and a gingival portion for contacting the overlying gingiva. The gingival portion extends from the lower end for about 3 mm. The roughened portion typically extends 360° around a central axis of the main body and is preferably adjacent to the supragingival end.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An orthodontic abutment for attachment to a dental implant that is embedded in living jawbone having overlying gingiva, said implant having a gingival surface with a non-round fitting that is accessible through said overlying gingiva, said orthodontic abutment capable of receiving various types of orthodontic components each having a different size of adhesive-bonding area, said orthodontic abutment comprising: 
       a unitary main body having a lower end with means for non-rotationally engaging said non-round fitting on said gingival surface of said implant, a supragingival end opposing said lower end for protruding above said overlying gingiva, and an outer surface between said lower end and said supragingival end, said outer surface including a roughened portion extending at least about 90° around a central axis of said main body for receiving said various types of said orthodontic components, said roughened portion extending from substantially said supragingival end to an intermediate position no closer than about 3 mm from said lower end, said roughened portion having an area that is larger than said adhesive-bonding area of at least one of said orthodontic components, said roughened portion of said outer surface for being in a fixed relationship with respect to said dental implant due to the cooperation of said non-round fitting and said non-rotational engaging means of said lower end; and  
       means for securing said unitary body to said dental implant.  
     
     
       2. The orthodontic abutment of claim  1 , wherein said outer surface is smooth from said intermediate position to said lower end. 
     
     
       3. The orthodontic abutment of claim  1 , wherein said outer surface includes at least one flat area between said lower end and supragingival end such that a periphery of said unitary main body has a non-round shape when viewed in cross-section, said roughened portion being positioned outside of said at least one flat area. 
     
     
       4. The orthodontic abutment of claim  1 , wherein said outer surface is cylindrical. 
     
     
       5. The orthodontic abutment of claim  4  wherein said roughened portion extends 360° around said central axis of said main body. 
     
     
       6. The orthodontic abutment of claim  1 , wherein said securing means includes a screw. 
     
     
       7. The orthodontic abutment of claim  6 , wherein said main body includes a through-bore for receiving said screw that secures said main body to said implant. 
     
     
       8. The orthodontic abutment of claim  1  in combination with an orthodontic component, wherein said orthodontic component is attached to said roughened portion of said outer surface along one segment of a 360° revolution around said central axis of said main body. 
     
     
       9. The orthodontic abutment of claim  1  in combination with an orthodontic component, wherein said orthodontic component is attached to said roughened portion of said outer surface along an entire 360° revolution around said central axis of said main body. 
     
     
       10. The orthodontic abutment of claim  1 , wherein said roughened portion has a roughness in the range of about 700 to about 900 μ-inch RMS. 
     
     
       11. The orthodontic abutment of claim  1 , wherein said outer surface includes a smooth gingival portion for contact with said overlying gingiva, said gingival portion being adjacent to said lower end. 
     
     
       12. The orthodontic abutment of claim  11 , wherein said gingival portion is adjacent to said roughened portion. 
     
     
       13. The orthodontic abutment of claim  11 , wherein at least a segment of said gingival portion tapers outwardly from said lower end. 
     
     
       14. The orthondontic abutment of claim  1 , wherein said body is modifiable by a clinician at chairside. 
     
     
       15. An orthodontic abutment for attachment to a dental implant that is embedded in a living jawbone having overlying gingiva, said implant having a non-round fitting that is accessible through said overlying gingiva, said orthodontic abutment capable of receiving an orthodontic component, said orthodontic abutment comprising: 
       a main metallic body having a lower end with means for engaging said non-round fitting of said implant, a supragingival end opposing said lower end for protruding above said overlying gingiva, and an outer surface between said lower end and said supragingival end, said outer surface including a smooth gingival portion extending from said lower end toward said supragingival end for at least about 3 mm, said outer surface further having a plasma-coated portion between said smooth gingival portion and said supragingival end; and  
       means for securing said main body to said dental implant.  
     
     
       16. The orthodontic abutment of claim  15 , wherein said plasma-coated portion extends from said supragingival end to an intermediate position between said lower end and said supragingival end. 
     
     
       17. The orthodontic abutment of claim  15 , wherein said main body is made of titanium and said plasma-coated portion is produced by plasma spraying titanium particles. 
     
     
       18. The orthodontic abutment of claim  17 , wherein said titanium particles have a size of about −80+200. 
     
     
       19. The orthodontic abutment of claim  17 , wherein said titanium particles have a size greater than −60+100. 
     
     
       20. The orthodontic abutment of claim  17 , wherein said plasma-coated portion is approximately 0.004 inch to about 0.006 inch in thickness. 
     
     
       21. The orthodontic abutment of claim  15 , wherein said plasma-coated surface extends 360° around said central axis of said main body. 
     
     
       22. The orthodontic abutment of claim  15 , wherein said plasma-coated portion is spaced away from said supragingival end. 
     
     
       23. The orthodontic abutment of claim  15 , wherein said plasma-coated portion has a roughness greater than about 700 μ-inch RMS. 
     
     
       24. The orthodontic abutment of claim  23 , wherein said roughness is less than about 900 μ-inch RMS. 
     
     
       25. The orthodontic abutment of claim  15 , wherein said plasma-coated portion includes a plasma layer that is attached to said main body with a bonding strength in the range from about 7,000 psi to about 10,000 psi. 
     
     
       26. The orthondontic abutment of claim  15 , wherein said body is modifiable by a clinician at chairside. 
     
     
       27. A method for providing an orthodontic anchor in a mouth comprising the steps of: 
       installing a dental implant in a jawbone of said mouth where said orthodontic anchor is needed;  
       allowing said implant to osseointegrate with said jawbone;  
       providing a unitary orthodontic abutment having an integal outer surface with a roughened portion extending entirely around said outer surface;  
       installing said orthodontic abutment on said implant in a manner which retains said roughened portion of said outer surface in a fixed position relative to said dental implant; and  
       attaching an orthodontic component to said roughened portion of said orthodontic abutment with an adhesive compound.  
     
     
       28. The method of claim  27 , further including the step of removing a portion of said orthodontic component to ensure a proper bite. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim  27 , wherein said step of attaching an orthodontic component occurs after said step of installing said orthodontic abutment so that said compound is applied in said mouth. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim  27 , wherein said step of attaching an orthodontic component precedes said step of installing said orthodontic abutment so that said compound is applied outside said mouth. 
     
     
       31. An orthodontic abutment for attachment to a dental implant that is embedded living jawbone having overlying gingiva, said implant having a gingival surface exposed through said overlying gingiva, said orthodontic abutment capable of receiving an orthodontic component, said orthodontic abutment comprising: 
       a generally cylindrical main body having a lower end for engaging said gingival surface of said implant and a supragingival end opposing said lower end for protruding above said overlying gingiva, said lower end including a non-rotational fitting to be mated with a corresponding non-rotational fitting on said implant, said main body further including a through-bore for receiving a screw that secures said main body to said implant; and  
       an outer surface between said lower end and said supragingival end, said outer surface including a plasma-coated portion to which said orthodontic component is to be attached and a gingival portion for contacting said overlying gingiva, said gingival portion extending from said lower end for about 3 mm, said plasma-coated portion extending 360° around a central axis of said main body and being adjacent to said supragingival end, said plasma-coated portion being from approximately 0.004 inch to approximately 0.006 inch in thickness.  
     
     
       32. The orthondontic abutment of claim  31 , wherein said body is modifiable by a clinician at chairside. 
     
     
       33. An orthodontic abutment for attachment to a dental implant that is embedded in living jawbone having overlying gingiva, said implant having a gingival surface with a non-round fitting that is accessible through said overlying gingiva, said orthodontic abutment being capable of receiving an orthodontic component, said orthodontic abutment comprising: 
       a unitary titanium main body having a lower end with a fitting for non-rotationally engaging said non-round fitting on said gingival surface of said implant and a supragingival end opposing said lower end for protruding above said overlying gingiva;  
       an outer surface between said lower end and said supragingival end, said outer surface including a roughened portion extending at least about 90° around a central axis of said main body, said roughened portion being adjacent to said supragingival end and at least about 3 mm from the lower end, said roughened portion having a roughness of greater than 700 μ-inch RMS, said outer surface further having a smooth gingival portion for contacting said overlying gingiva; and  
       means for securing said unitary body to said dental implant.  
     
     
       34. The orthodontic abutment of claim  33 , wherein said roughened surface is a plasma-coated surface. 
     
     
       35. The orthondontic abutment of claim  32 , wherein said body is modifiable by a clinician at chairside. 
     
     
       36. An orthodontic abutment for attachment to a dental implant installed in living jawbone having overlying gingiva, said implant having a first non-round fitting, said orthodontic abutment comprising: 
       a lower end;  
       a second non-round fitting adjacent to said lower end for mating with said first non-round fitting of said implant;  
       a supragingival end opposing said lower end for protruding beyond said overlying gingiva;  
       an outer surface between said lower end and said supragingival end, said outer surface including a roughened portion extending at least about 90° around a central axis of said orthodontic abutment, said roughened portion extending from substantially said supragingival end to an intermediate position on said outer surface no closer than about 3 mm from said lower end, said roughened surface being in a fixed relationship with respect to said second non-round fitting; and  
       means for securing said unitary body to said dental implant.  
     
     
       37. The orthodontic abutment of claim  36 , wherein said outer surface includes at least one flat area between said lower and supragingival ends, said roughened portion being positioned outside of said at least one flat area. 
     
     
       38. The orthodontic abutment of claim  36 , wherein said outer surface is generally cylindrical. 
     
     
       39. The orthodontic abutment of claim  36 , wherein said roughened portion extends 360° around said central axis of said main body. 
     
     
       40. The orthodontic abutment of claim  36 , wherein said roughened portion has a roughness in the range of about 700 to about 900 μ-inch RMS. 
     
     
       41. The orthodontic abutment of claim  36 , wherein said outer surface includes a smooth gingival portion for contact with said overlying gingiva, said gingival portion being adjacent to said lower end. 
     
     
       42. The orthodontic abutment of claim  36 , wherein said roughened portion is a plasma-coated surface.