Submergible screw-type dental implant and method of utilization

Abstract

A submerigible screw-type implant includes a longitudinal channel which directs bone chips towards the base of a bore in the patient's bone in which the implant is installed. These bone chips promote autogenous rapid regrowth of new bone to securely anchor the implant in place. In order to be able to position the implant at the most advantageous angle at the edentulous sight, angled abutments for supporting an artificial tooth structure or angularly adjustable abutments are provided. The angularly adjustable abutments may be in the form of a ball and socket joint in which the socket includes an inner casing having a peripheral extension that acts to lock the joint at the desired angle. Also, the support for an artificial tooth may include a shock-absorbing cushion to prevent some of the forces of mastication from disturbing the implant.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An implant portion of an implant designed for supporting a prosthetic structure comprising: an implant body having threads over at least part of its exterior surface and being adapted to be threaded into an opening in a bone of a patient.Iadd., .Iaddend.which bone has been exposed by an incision in the covering tissue; and   at least one channel formed such that it at least extends through threads . .on.!. .Iadd.of .Iaddend.the body for directing bone chips toward a base portion of the opening in the bone, one edge of the threads at one side of the channel being substantially at a right angle to the circumferential direction of the threads .Iadd.and shaped to form at least one cutting edge at one of the threads.Iaddend., said .Iadd.at least .Iaddend.one .Iadd.cutting .Iaddend.edge . .being adapted.!. .Iadd.having a bone tapping and scraping surface so as to come into contact with the bone surrounding the opening upon insertion of the implant body into the opening and while a major portion of the implant body is outside the opening such that threading of the implant body further into the opening causes the bone tapping and scraping surface to engage the surrounding bone and .Iaddend.(i) to . .promote self-tapping of.!. .Iadd.self-tap .Iaddend.the threads . .in.!. .Iadd.into .Iaddend.the .Iadd.surrounding .Iaddend.bone, (ii) to shave off pieces of bone during threading of the implant . .portion.!. .Iadd.body .Iaddend.into .Iadd.the opening in .Iaddend.the bone, and (iii) to direct the pieces of bone into the channel such that the channel may direct pieces toward the base portion of the opening.   
     
     
       2. An implant portion of an oral implant designed for supporting an artificial tooth structure comprising: a generally cylindrical implant body having a plurality of circumferential projections extending over at least part of its exterior surface and being adapted to be installed in an opening in the bone of a patient by rotation thereof at least in part; and   at least one channel formed such that it extends generally longitudinally through the projections of the body for directing bone chips towards a base portion of the opening in the bone, one edge of the projections at one side of said channel being substantially at a right angle to the circumferential direction of the implant body .Iadd.and shaped to form at least one cutting edge at one of the projections.Iaddend., said .Iadd.at least .Iaddend.one .Iadd.cutting .Iaddend.edge . .being adapted.!. .Iadd.having a bone tapping and scraping surface so as to come into contact with the bone surrounding the opening and while a major portion of the implant body is outside the opening such that rotation of the implant body further into the opening causes the bone tapping and scraping surface to engage the surrounding bone and .Iaddend.(i) to . .promote self-tapping of.!. .Iadd.self-tap .Iaddend.the projections . .in.!. .Iadd.into .Iaddend.the .Iadd.surrounding .Iaddend.bone during rotation of the implant body, (ii) to shave off pieces of bone during rotation of the implant body; and (iii) to direct the pieces of bone into the channel such that the channel may direct pieces toward the base portion of the opening.   
     
     
       3. An implant as claimed in claim 2 wherein the projections are threaded and the implant portion is installed by threading it into the opening in the bone. .Iadd. 
     
     
       4.  The implant portion of claim 1, further including at least one vent extending at least partially through the threaded part of the body, said at least one vent being at least one of aligned with and intersecting with the at least one channel..Iaddend..Iadd.5. The implant portion of claim 4, wherein the at least one channel widens toward the vent..Iaddend..Iadd.6. The implant portion of claim 1, wherein the at least one channel terminates in an upper turn of the threads remote from an apical portion of the implant..Iaddend..Iadd.7. The implant portion of claim 2, wherein the at least one channel terminates in an upper turn of the circumferential projections remote from an apical portion of the 
     
     
        implant..Iaddend..Iadd.8.  The implant portion of claim 2, further including at least one vent extending at least partially through the projections of the cylindrical body, said at least one vent being at least one of aligned with and intersecting with the at least one channel..Iaddend..Iadd.9. The implant portion of claim 8, wherein the at least one channel widens toward the vent..Iaddend..Iadd.10. The implant portion of claim 2, wherein the projections extend over a cylindrical part of the exterior surface of the cylindrical implant body..Iaddend..Iadd.11. An implant portion of an implant designed for supporting a prosthetic structure comprising: a generally cylindrical implant body having threads over at least part of its exterior surface and being adapted to be installed in an opening in the bone of a patient, which bone has been exposed by an incision in the covering tissue; and   at least one channel formed such that it at least extends through threads of the cylindrical implant body for directing bone chips towards a base portion of the opening in the bone, one edge of the threads at one side of said channel being substantially at a right angle to the circumferential direction of the threads and shaped to form at least one cutting edge at one of the threads, said at least one cutting edge having a bone tapping and scraping surface so as to come into contact with the bone surrounding the opening upon insertion of the implant body into the opening and while a major portion of the implant body is outside the opening such that threading of the implant body further into the opening causes the bone tapping and scraping surface to engage the surrounding bone and (i) to self-tap the threads into the surrounding bone, (ii) to shave off pieces of bone during threading of the implant body into the opening in the bone, and (iii) to direct the pieces of bone into the channel such that the channel may direct pieces toward the base portion of the opening..Iaddend..Iadd.12. The implant portion of claim 11, further including at least one vent extending at least partially through the threaded part of the cylindrical body and intersecting the at least one channel, the at least one channel widening toward the vent..Iaddend..Iadd.13. The implant portion of claim 12, wherein the at least one channel widens toward the vent..Iaddend..Iadd.14. The implant portion of claim 11, wherein the at least one channel terminates in an upper turn of the threads remote from an apical portion of the   
     
     
        implant..Iaddend..Iadd.15.  The implant portion claim 11, further including at least one vent extending at least partially through the threaded part of the cylindrical body, said at least one vent being at least one of aligned with and intersecting with the at least one channel..Iaddend..Iadd.16. The implant portion of claim 11, wherein the threads extend over a cylindrical part of the exterior surface of the cylindrical implant body..Iaddend..Iadd.17. An implant portion of an implant designed for supporting a prosthetic structure comprising: an implant body having threads over at least part of its exterior surface and being adapted to be threaded into an opening in a bone of a patient, which bone has been exposed by an incision in the covering tissue; and   at least one channel formed such that it at least extends through threads of the body for directing bone chips toward a base portion of the opening in the bone, one edge of the threads at one side of the channel being shaped to form at least one cutting edge at one of the threads, said at least one cutting edge having a bone tapping and scraping surface so as to come into contact with the bone surrounding the opening upon insertion of the implant body into the opening and while a major portion of the implant body is outside the opening such that threading of the implant body further into the opening causes the bone tapping and scraping surface to engage the surrounding bone and (i) to self-tap the threads into the surrounding bone, (ii) to shave off pieces of bone during threading of the implant body into the opening in the bone, and (iii) to direct the pieces of bone into the channel such that the channel may direct pieces toward   
     
     
        the base portion of the opening..Iaddend..Iadd.18.  The implant portion of claim 17, further including at least one vent extending at least partially through the threaded part of the body, said at least one vent being at least one of aligned with and intersecting with the at least one channel..Iaddend..Iadd.19. The implant portion of claim 17, wherein the at least one channel terminates in an upper turn of the threads remote from an apical portion of the implant..Iaddend..Iadd.20. An implant portion of an oral implant designed for supporting an artificial tooth structure comprising: a generally cylindrical implant body having a plurality of circumferential projections extending over at least part of its exterior surface and being adapted to be installed in an opening in the bone of a patient by rotation thereof at least in part; and   at least one channel formed such that it extends generally longitudinally through the projections of the body for directing bone chips towards a base portion of the opening in the bone, one edge of the projections at one side of said channel being shaped to form at least one cutting edge at one of the projections, said at least one cutting edge having a bone tapping and scraping surface so as to come into contact with the bone surrounding the opening and while a major portion of the implant body is outside the opening such that rotation of the implant body further into the opening causes the bone tapping and scraping surface to engage the surrounding bone and (i) to self-tap the projections into the surrounding bone during rotation of the implant body, (ii) to shave off pieces of bone during rotation of the implant body; and (iii) to direct the pieces of bone into the channel such that the channel may direct pieces toward the base portion of the opening..Iaddend..Iadd.21. The implant portion of claim 20, wherein the at least one channel terminates in an upper turn of the circumferential projections remote from an apical portion of the implant..Iaddend..Iadd.22. The implant portion of claim 20, further including a vent extending at least partially through the threaded part of the body and wherein the at least one channel widens toward the vent..Iaddend..Iadd.23. The implant portion claim 20, further including at least one vent extending at least partially through the projections of the cylindrical body, said at least one vent being at least one of aligned with and intersecting with the at least one channel..Iaddend..Iadd.24. The implant portion of claim 23, wherein the at least one channel widens toward the vent..Iaddend..Iadd.25. An implant as claimed in claim 20, wherein the projections are threaded and the implant portion is installed by threading it into the opening in the bone..Iaddend..Iadd.26. The implant portion of claim 20, wherein the projections extend over a cylindrical part of the exterior surface of the cylindrical implant body..Iaddend..Iadd.27. An implant portion of an implant designed for supporting a prosthetic structure comprising:   a generally cylindrical implant body having threads over at least a cylindrical part of its exterior surface and being adapted to be installed in an opening in the bone of a patient, which bone has been exposed by an incision in the covering tissue; and   at least one channel formed such that it at least extends through threads of the cylindrical part of the cylindrical implant body for directing bone chips towards a base portion of the opening in the bone, one edge of the threads at one side of said channel at the cylindrical part of the implant body being shaped to form at least one cutting edge at one of the threads, said at least one cutting edge having a bone tapping and scraping surface so as to come into contact with the bone surrounding the opening upon insertion of the implant body into the opening and while a major portion of the implant body is outside the opening, such that threading of the implant body further into the opening causes the bone tapping and scraping surface to engage the surrounding bone and (i) to self-tap the threads into the surrounding bone, (ii) to shave off pieces of bone during threading of the implant body into the opening in the bone, and (iii) to direct the pieces of bone into the channel such that the channel may   
     
     
        direct pieces toward the base portion of the opening..Iaddend..Iadd.28. The implant portion of claim 27, further including at least one vent extending at least partially through the threaded part of the cylindrical body and intersecting the at least one channel, the at least one channel 
     
     
        widening toward the vent..Iaddend..Iadd.29.  The implant portion of claim 28, wherein the at least one channel widens toward the vent..Iaddend..Iadd.30. The implant portion of claim 18, wherein the at 
     
     
        least one channel widens toward the vent..Iaddend..Iadd.31.  The implant portion of claim 27, wherein the at least one channel terminates in an upper turn of the threads remote from an apical portion of the 
     
     
        implant..Iaddend..Iadd.32.  An implant portion of an implant designed for supporting a prosthetic structure comprising: an implant body having threads over at least part of its exterior surface and being adapted to be threaded into an opening in a bone of a patient, which bone has been exposed by an incision in the covering tissue; and   at least one channel formed such that it at least extends through threads on the body for directing bone chips toward a base portion of the opening in the bone, one tapping edge on the threads at one side of the channel being substantially at a right angle to the circumferential direction of the threads, said one edge acting (i) to cause self-tapping of the threads in the surrounding bone, (ii) to shave off pieces of bone during threading of the implant body into the opening in the bone, and (iii) to direct the pieces of bone into the channel such that the channel may direct pieces   
     
     
        toward the base portion of the opening..Iaddend..Iadd.33.  An implant portion of an oral implant designed for supporting an artificial tooth structure comprising: a generally cylindrical implant body having a plurality of circumferential projections extending over at least part of its exterior surface and being adapted to be installed in an opening in the bone of a patient by rotation thereof at least in part; and   at least one channel formed such that it extends generally longitudinally through the projections of the body for directing bone chips towards a base portion of the opening in the bone, one edge of the projections at one side of said channel being substantially at a right angle to the circumferential direction of the implant body, said one edge acting (i) to cause self-tapping of the projections in the bone during rotation of the implant body, (ii) to shave off pieces of bone during rotation of the implant body; and (iii) to direct the pieces of bone into the channel such that the channel may direct pieces toward the base portion of the opening..Iaddend..Iadd.34. An implant as claimed in claim 33, wherein the projections are threaded and the implant portion is installed by threading   
     
     
        it into the opening in the bone..Iaddend..Iadd.35.  An implant portion of an oral implant designed for supporting an artificial tooth structure comprising: a generally cylindrical implant body having a plurality of circumferential threads extending over at least part of its exterior surface and being adapted to be installed in an opening in the bone of a patient by threading thereof at least in part into the opening in the bone; and   at least one channel formed such that it extends generally longitudinally through the threads of the body for directing bone chips towards a base portion of the opening in the bone, one edge of the threads at one side of said channel being substantially at a right angle to the circumferential direction of the implant body, said one edge acting (i) to cause self-tapping of the threads in the surrounding bone during threading of the implant body into the opening in the bone, (ii) to shave off pieces of bone during threading of the implant body into the opening in the bone; and (iii) to direct the pieces of bone into the channel such that the channel may direct pieces toward the base portion of the opening..Iaddend.