Immediate post-extraction implant

Abstract

A submergible or non-submergible (“one stage”) screw-type implant for use in the immediate post-extraction site of a patient's tooth. In order to increase the ability of regenerated bone to anchor the implant, an upper portion of the implant has a preferably generally conical shape and has a plurality of spherical projections sintered to its outer surface to make it suitable for bone integration and retention. The lower portion of the implant has a cylindrical shape with threads extending over a portion thereof. A channel is located through the threads and is shaped so that one side forms a cutting edge that makes the lower portion of the implant self-tapping into the bone at the base of the tooth extension socket.

Description

[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 183,731, filed Jun. 25, 2002, now pending, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 248,079, filed Feb. 10, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,089, issued Jul. 2, 2002. Each of these prior applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates generally to dental implants, and, more particularly, to submergible screw-type implants. BACKGROUND ART [0003] Screw-type implants are well known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,222 of L. I. Linkow et al. (the “'222 patent”) discloses screw-type implants that may be buried in the alveolar ridge crest bone of a patient in an edentulous region. The implant has a threaded lower portion that may be screwed into an opening created in the bone after the tissue has been displaced. A coronal portion protrudes above the bone and is used to support an artificial dental appliance, e.g., an artificial tooth or bridge. [0004] Mor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The present invention is directed to a dental implant that may be used at the site of a recent tooth extraction and can be put into service in a reasonably short period of time. This implant has a lower self-tapping portion and an upper portion covered with a sintered material that is osteopromotive and osteoretentive so to promote adhesion between the implant and the surrounding bone.

Problems solved by technology

When a tooth is extracted, it leaves behind a rather large conically-shaped cavity, which does not lend itself to the insertion of a cylindrical implant if an artificial tooth is to be substituted for the removed tooth.

However, this requires that the patient live with an edentulous area without a functional prosthesis for a long period of time.

As the slope of the conical shape of the extraction site cannot be predicted in advance, these implants cannot be made self tapping.

As a result, no pressure can be applied to these implants for a significant period of time, i.e., until existing bone has grown around the implant to anchor it in place.

In addition, as a self-tapping implant is not used, there may not be intimate contact between the implant and the new bone, so the implant may eventually fail, even if a significant amount of time is allowed to pass before an artificial tooth is mounted on the implant and it is put into use.

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