Methods and means for dental bone profiling

Abstract

A bone mill for preparing the second-stage opening in crestal bone surrounding the gingival surface of a dental implant in a jawbone is tubular in form and has teeth with a negative rake on an end surface and the adjacent side surface for forming a shaped opening to the implant. The side surface of the mill near the end surface is tapered to the desired shape of the opening. A guide pin fixed in the implant mates with an opening in the bone mill to center the mill relative to the implant.

We claim:  
     
       1. A method of preparing a dental implant which is fixed in a living jawbone with its restoration-receiving surface surrounded by crestal bone comprising the steps of: 
       forming in said crestal bone a tapered an opening the narrower first end of which is substantially centered on said surface and the wider second end of which opens through said crestal bone, and  
       fitting to said implant through said opening a healing member having a tapered contour in said opening which substantially matches the tapered a contour of said opening.  
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1  in which said opening is formed with a bone mill. 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 2  in which said opening is formed with a bone mill turned at a low speed so as not to injure said bone. 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 2  in which said opening is formed with a bone mill having teeth with a negative rake for gently abrading said bone and minimizing potential damage to said surface. 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 2  including the steps of fitting to said implant a guide for said bone mill, fitting said bone mill rotatably to said guide, and rotating said bone mill around said guide to form said opening. 
     
     
       6. A method according to  claim 5  including the step of using said guide to limit the advance of said bone mill relative to said surface. 
     
     
       7. A bone mill having a substantially cylindrical outer shape comprising teeth with a negative rake on an end and an adjacent side. 
     
     
       8. A bone mill according to  claim 7  of tubular form. 
     
     
       9. A bone mill according to  claim 7  in which said side is tapered toward said end. 
     
     
       10. A bone mill according to  claim 7  including means to rotate said mill around its tubular axis. 
     
     
       11. A bone mill according to  claim 10  in combination with a guide fittable within said mill through said end for fixing the position of said axis relative to a work site. 
     
     
       12. A combination according to  claim 11  including means to limit advance of said bone mill toward said work site. 
     
     
       13. A bone mill according to  claim 10  in combination with guide means for fixing the position of said axis relative to a work site. 
     
     
       14. A method of preparing a dental implant which is fixed in a living jawbone with its restoration-receiving surface surrounded by crestal bone overlaid with mucosa comprising the steps of forming in said crestal bone a first tapered opening the narrower end of which is substantially centered on said surface and the wider end of which opens through said crestal bone to said mucosa, and forming through said mucosa to said wider end a second tapered opening the narrower end of which has substantially the same width as said wider end of said first opening and the wider end of which opens through the outer surface of said mucosa. 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 14  in which said first and second openings have substantially the same angle of taper. 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 14  in which said second opening is formed with a healing member having a surface shaped with a tapered contour which substantially matches the tapered contour of said first opening, comprising the steps of fitting said healing member to said implant through said first opening, and forming said second opening with a portion of said surface extending out of said first opening. 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 14  in which said first opening is formed with a bone mill. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 17  including the steps of fitting to said implant a guide for said bone mill, fitting said bone mill rotatably to said guide, and rotating said bone mill around said guide to form said opening. 
     
     
       19. A method according to  claim 18  including the step of using said guide to limit the advance of said bone mill with relation to said implant surface. 
     
     
       20. A method according to  claim 14  in which said first opening is formed with a bone mill turned at low speed of about 1,000 to about 1,500 r.p.m., so as not to injure said bone. 
     
     
       21. A method according to  claim 14  in which said first opening is formed with a bone mill having teeth with a negative rake. 
     
     
       22. In combination a dental implant adapted to be installed in a jawbone with an end surface of said implant exposed through an opening in the crestal bone, and a bone mill for shaping said opening comprising a substantially cylindrical body bearing on an end and an adjacent side teeth with a negative rake. 
     
     
       23. The combination according to  claim 22  wherein said bone mill is of tubular form. 
     
     
       24. A combination according to  claim 23  in which said side is tapered toward said end. 
     
     
       25. A combination according to  claim 23  including means to rotate said mill around its tubular axis. 
     
     
       26. A combination according to  claim 25  in combination with a guide telescopically fittable within said mill through said end for fixing the position of said axis relative to said implant. 
     
     
       27. A combination according to  claim 26  including means to limit the advance of said bone mill with relation to said implant surface. 
     
     
       28. A combination according to  claim 26  in which said implant is substantially cylindrical, said bone mill is at least partially tubular with a substantially cylindrical passage opening through one end of said bone mill, said guide is a pin fixed on the cylinder axis of said implant, said bone mill passage fits telescopically over said pin, and said means to operate said bone mill turns said bone mill on said axis. 
     
     
       29. A combination according to  claim 28  in which said passage includes a stop to limit penetration of said pin into said passage, for limiting the advance of said bone mill with reference to said end surface of said implant. 
     
     
       30. A combination according to  claim 28  in which said bone mill has teeth on said one end and on the portion of its outer side surface adjacent said one end. 
     
     
       31. A combination according to  claim 30  in which said portion of said outer surface is tapered toward said one end. 
     
     
       32. A combination according to  claim 30  in which said teeth have a negative rake. 
     
     
       33. A combination according to  claim 32  in which said negative rake is about 20 degrees. 
     
     
       34. In combination a dental implant adapted to be installed in the bone of a dental arch with an end surface of said implant exposed through an opening in the crestal bone, a bone mill having teeth on an end and an adjacent side for shaping said opening in width and depth, said bone mill having an exterior profile that is tapered to produce a tapered shape of said opening and guide means for locating said bone mill relative to said implant and said opening. 
     
     
       35. A combination according to  claim 34  including means to operate said bone mill relative to said implant for shaping said opening. 
     
     
       36. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said contour of said opening in said crestal bone is tapered and said contour of said healing member is tapered. 
     
     
       37. The method according to  claim 36 , wherein said tapered contour of said opening substantially matches said tapered contour of said healing member. 
     
     
       38. A method of preparing bone adjacent to a restoration- receiving surface of a dental implant, said dental implant receiving a healing abutment to form gingiva overlying said bone, comprising:    
       
         forming an opening in said bone with a bone mill, said opening having a contour substantially corresponding to an exterior profile of said bone mill, said exterior profile having a shape that substantially matches the shape of said healing abutment. 
       
     
     
       39. The method according to  claim 38 , wherein said forming includes attaching a guide to said dental implant, and guiding said bone mill over said guide. 
     
     
       40. The method according to  claim 38 , wherein said exterior profile is tapered. 
     
     
       41. The method according to  claim 38 , wherein said bone mill includes cutting teeth having a negative rake. 
     
     
       42. The method according to  claim 38 , wherein said forming includes rotating said bone mill at a speed of between about  1000  rpm and  1500  rpm. 
     
     
       43. A set of components for forming an opening in bone adjacent to a restoration- receiving surface of a dental implant, comprising:    
       
         a bone mill including a hole at one end and cutting teeth at said end, said bone mill has an exterior profile that is tapered to produce a tapered shape of said opening; and  
       
       
         a guide attachable to said dental implant, said guide fitting within said hole of said bone mill for registering said bone mill relative to said implant. 
       
     
     
       44. The set of components of  claim 43 , wherein said bone mill further includes cutting teeth located on a side surface of said bone mill. 
     
     
       45. The set of components of  claim 43 , further in combination with a healing abutment for shaping gingiva overlying said bone, said bone mill having an exterior profile that substantially matches the shape of said healing abutment. 
     
     
       46. The set of components of  claim 45 , wherein said exterior profile is tapered. 
     
     
       47. The set of components of  claim 45 , wherein said bone mill and said healing abutment form a continuous tapered hole through said gingiva and said bone. 
     
     
       48. The set of components of  claim 43 , wherein said hole is partially defined by a surface transverse to a central axis of said bone mill, said surface for engaging said guide to limit the movement of said bone mill relative to said implant. 
     
     
       49. The set of components of  claim 43 , wherein said cutting teeth have a negative rake. 
     
     
       50. The set of components of  claim 49 , wherein said bone mill has an exterior profile that is tapered. 
     
     
       51. The set of components of  claim 43 , wherein said bone mill is power driven. 
     
     
       52. A set of dental components, comprising: 
         a dental implant for installation in living bone having a restoration - receiving surface exposed through an opening in said bone; and    
         a bone mill having teeth with a negative rake on an end, said bone mill for shaping said opening in said bone adjacent to said restoration - receiving surface of said dental implant.   
     
     
       53. The set of components of  claim 52 , further including a guide for attachment to said dental implant, said bone mill having a hole for receiving said guide to register said bone mill on said implant. 
     
     
       54. The set of components of  claim 53 , wherein said hole is partially defined by a surface transverse to an axis of said bone mill, said surface for engaging said guide to limit the movement of said bone mill relative to said implant. 
     
     
       55. The set of components of  claim 52 , in combination with a healing member having a contour that substantially matches a contour of said bone mill. 
     
     
       56. The set of components of  claim 55 , wherein said contour of said bone mill is tapered and said contour of said healing member is tapered, said bone mill and said healing member forming a continuous tapered hole through gingiva and said bone. 
     
     
       57. A set of components for forming an opening in bone adjacent to a restoration- receiving surface of a dental implant, comprising:    
       
         a bone milling device including cutting teeth at a lower portion thereof, said bone milling device including a guide for engaging said dental implant and registering said bone milling device relative to said implant; and  
       
       
         a healing abutment for shaping gingiva overlying said bone, said healing abutment having a shape that substantially matches an exterior profile of said bone milling device. 
       
     
     
       58. The set of components of  claim 57 , wherein said guide is adapted to center said bone milling device relative to said surface of said implant. 
     
     
       59. The set of components of  claim 57 , wherein said guide is separate from said bone milling device. 
     
     
       60. The set of components of  claim 57 , wherein said exterior profile of said bone milling device is tapered. 
     
     
       61. The set of components of  claim 57 , wherein said healing abutment has a surface which is tapered. 
     
     
       62. The set of components of  claim 57 , wherein said bone milling device is power driven. 
     
     
       63. A set of components for forming a tapered opening in bone adjacent to a restoration- receiving surface of a dental implant, comprising:    
       
         a bone mill having a lower end and a tapered side surface that tapers outwardly from said lower end, said tapered side surface having cutting teeth for producing said tapered opening; and  
       
       
         a guide for engaging said dental implant and registering said bone mill relative to said implant. 
       
     
     
       64. The set of components of  claim 63 , wherein said guide and said bone mill are separate from one another. 
     
     
       65. The set of components of  claim 63 , wherein said guide is adapted to fit within a threaded bore of said implant. 
     
     
       66. The set of components of  claim 65 , wherein said guide is threaded. 
     
     
       67. The set of components of  claim 63 , wherein said guide is adapted to fit snugly within a bore of said implant. 
     
     
       68. The set of components of  claim 63 , wherein said bone mill is power driven.