WO2007145454A1

WO2007145454A1 - Healing abutment and implant having the same

Info

Publication number: WO2007145454A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/002818
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kwang Bum Park
Original assignee: Megagen Corp.
Priority date: 2006-06-14
Filing date: 2007-06-12
Publication date: 2007-12-21
Also published as: KR200428106Y1

Abstract

A healing abutment includes a main body portion having an impression coping coupling hole that is provided in an upper end portion to be indented to a predetermined depth from an upper surface and has an impression coping coupling screw portion where a screw is formed throughout a predetermined length section to detachably coupling an impression coping, and a coupling portion detachably coupling the main body portion to a fixture. Thus, by simplifying the impression obtaining process during the impression operation, the implant operation can be easily performed and the inconvenience felt by a patient during the implant operation can be remarkably reduced.

Description

HEALING ABUTMENT AND DENTAL IMPLANT HAVING THE

SAME

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a healing abutment and a dental implant having the same, and more particularly, to a healing abutment to which an impression coping for obtaining an impression can be directly coupled, and a dental implant having the same. Background Art

[2] The word "Implant" originally signifies a replacement to recover damaged or lost human tissues. For the specific field of a dentistry, the implant signifies transplantation of an artificial tooth. That is, the implant is an operation to recover the function of a tooth by placing a dental root made of titanium that shows no rejection symptoms to a human body to replace a lost dental root, in an alveolar bone where a tooth is removed, and fixing an artificial tooth.

[3] In the case of a general dental prosthesis or denture, surrounding teeth and bones are damaged as time passes. In contrast, the implant does not damage surrounding tooth tissues and causes no decayed tooth while providing the same function and shape as a natural tooth. Thus, the implant can be used semi-permanently.

[4] Also, the implant improves not only the restoration of a single lost tooth but also the function of the artificial teeth of partially toothless or completely toothless patients and enhances the aesthetic feature in the restoration of dental prosthesis. Furthermore, the implant can distribute excessive stress applied to the tissues of the surrounding support bone so as to help the stabilization of a row of teeth.

[5] FIG. 1 is a front side view showing that a conventional healing abutment is coupled to a fixture. FIG. 2 is a front side view showing that an impression coping is coupled to the upper portion of the fixture after the healing abutment of FIG. 1 is removed.

[6] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the implant operation includes an implantation step of implanting a fixture 104 into an alveolar bone and a prosthesis step of installing an artificial crown (not shown) by connecting an abutment (not shown) to the fixture 104 that is implanted.

[7] First, an alveolar bone 8 undergoes a drilling and tapping step to form a hole matching the dimension of the fixture 104 and a mount (not shown) is coupled to the top portion of the fixture 104. Next, the fixture 104 is implanted into the alveolar bone 8 by coupling an operation handpiece (not shown) to the mount and rotating the handpiece. Next, the mount is removed from the fixture 104 so that the fixture 104 is completely implanted into the alveolar bone 8. Then, a cover screw (not shown) is coupled to the top portion of the fixture 104 to suture the fixture 104 so that the first operation is complete.

[8] The cover screw prevents the intrusion of germs and foreign materials into the fixture 104. Although the period of osseointegration varies according to the bone quality of a patient and the position of implantation, it generally takes three to six months.

[9] Next, the cover screw is exposed by opening a gum 7 in the second operation. Then, the degree of osseointegration of the fixture 104 is checked and the cover screw is removed. For the formation of an aesthetic gum, a healing abutment 103 is coupled to the fixture 104 by inserting a tool (not shown) in a tool hole 111 in the healing abutment 103 and rotating the tool. Two to three weeks are needed for completion. Recently, to simplify the second operation, a first operation in which the healing abutment 103 is coupled just after the implantation of the fixture 104 can be used.

[10] Next, after checking the formation of the aesthetic gum 7, the healing abutment 103 is removed from the fixture 104. An impression coping 130 is coupled to the top portion of the fixture 104 for the manufacture of a prosthesis. An impression is obtained in the mouth using an impression material. To couple again the impression coping 130 to the impression material, the impression coping 130 is separated from the fixture 104 and the separated impression coping 130 is coupled to the impression material. Next, a fixture analog (not shown) is coupled to the impression coping 130. Plaster is poured into the impression material to which the fixture analog is completely coupled so that a tooth model suitable for the inside of the mouth is manufactured and an artificial crown is manufactured.

[11] In the mouth, the healing abutment 103 is coupled again to the fixture 104 from which the impression coping 130 for the obtainment of the impression is separated. When the artificial crown is completely manufactured, the healing abutment 103 is removed and an abutment (not shown) is coupled at the position where the healing abutment 103 is removed. The artificial crown manufactured to fit to the structure of the mouth is coupled to the abutment so that the implant operation is complete.

[12] However, in the conventional healing abutment and the implant having the conventional healing abutment, since the impression coping cannot be directly coupled to the healing abutment, when an impression is obtained during an implant operation, the healing abutment is separated from the fixture and the impression coping is coupled to the fixture to obtain the impression. In the mouth, the healing abutment is coupled after the impression coping is removed. Thus, due to the complicated impression obtainment step, an operation is not easy and a patient is inconvenienced by the implant operation due to the complicated operation step. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[13] To solve the above and/or other problems, the present invention provides a healing abutment which can simplifies an impression obtainment step during an implant operation so that not only the implant operation is made easy but also the inconvenience felt by a patient during the implant operation can be remarkably reduced, and an implant having the healing abutment. Technical Solution

[14] According to an aspect of the present invention, a healing abutment comprises a main body portion having an impression coping coupling hole that is provided in an upper end portion to be indented to a predetermined depth from an upper surface and has an impression coping coupling screw portion where a screw is formed throughout a predetermined length section to detachably coupling an impression coping, and a coupl ing portion detachably coupling the main body portion to a fixture.

[15] A tool catch portion in which a tool is inserted is provided in the impression coping coupling hole at a position close to the impression coping coupling screw portion. The tool catch portion is provided in a lower portion of the impression coping coupling screw portion.

[16] A horizontal section of the tool catch portion is hexagonal. The diameter between mountains of the impression coping coupling screw portion is greater than the diameter of a circumscribed circle of the tool catch portion. An upper surface of the main body portion is processed to be flat for the coupling to the impression coping.

[17] According to another aspect of the present invention, an implant comprises a healing abutment coupled to a fixture before an abutment is coupled to the fixture to form an aesthetic gum shape, an impression coping to obtain an impression, and an impression coping coupling portion provided at each of the healing abutment and the impression coping to couple the healing abutment and the impression coping.

[18] The impression coping coupling portion comprises an impression coping coupling hole indented to a predetermined depth from an upper surface of the healing abutment, and an impression coping coupling protrusion protruding from a lower surface of the impression coping and capable of coupling to the impression coping coupling groove.

[19] An impression coping coupling screw portion having a screw formed throughout a predetermined length section is provided at the impression coping coupling hole and an impression coping screw portion screw-coupled to the impression coping coupling screw portion is provided at the impression coping coupling protrusion.

[20] A tool catch portion in which a tool is inserted is provided in the impression coping coupling hole at a position close to the impression coping coupling screw portion. [21] A stopper groove indented to a predetermined depth in a radial direction from a surface is provided in an inner wall forming the impression coping coupling hole and a stopper coupled to the stopper groove is provided on an outer wall of the impression coping coupling protrusion.

Advantageous Effects

[22] As described above, according to the present invention, by simplifying the impression obtaining process during the impression operation, the implant operation can be easily performed and the inconvenience felt by a patient during the implant operation can be remarkably reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings [23] FIG. 1 is a front side view showing that a conventional healing abutment is coupled to a fixture; [24] FIG. 2 is a front side view showing that an impression coping is coupled to the upper portion of the fixture after the healing abutment of FIG. 1 is removed; [25] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a healing abutment according to the first embodiment of the present invention; [26] FIG. 4 is a front side view showing that the healing abutment of FIG. 3 is coupled to the fixture; [27] FIG. 5 is a front side view showing that the impression coping is coupled to the upper surface of the healing abutment coupled to the fixture of FIG. 4; [28] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a healing abutment according to the second embodiment of the present invention; [29] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a healing abutment according to the third embodiment of the present invention; [30] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a healing abutment according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; [31] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a healing abutment according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention; and [32] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing that the impression coping is coupled to a healing abutment according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [33] The attached drawings for illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention are referred to in order to gain a sufficient understanding of the present invention, the merits thereof, and the objectives accomplished by the implementation of the present invention. [34] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by explaining preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

[35] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a healing abutment according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front side view showing that the healing abutment of FIG. 3 is coupled to the fixture. FIG. 5 is a front side view showing that the impression coping is coupled to the upper surface of the healing abutment coupled to the fixture of FIG. 4.

[36] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, an implant according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a healing abutment 3 for maintaining an aesthetic gum shape that is coupled to a fixture 4 before an abutment (not shown) is coupled to the fixture 4, an impression coping 30 for obtaining an impression, and an impression coping coupling portion provided at each of the healing abutment 3 and the impression coping 30 to couple the healing abutment 3 and the impression coping 30.

[37] The healing abutment 3 includes a main body portion 10 having an impression coping coupling hole 11 that is formed to a predetermined depth from an upper surface of an upper end portion thereof and has an impression coping coupling screw portion 13 to which the impression coping 30 is coupled, and a coupling portion 20 coupled to a lower end portion of the main body portion 10 and allowing the main body portion 10 to be detachably coupled to the fixture 4.

[38] The main body portion 10, as shown in FIG. 4, is coupled to the fixture 4 buried in the alveolar bone 8 so that the shape of the gum 7 can be maintained aesthetic for a predetermined period. The outer surface of the main body portion 10 is inwardly concave at a predetermined radius of curvature to maintain the shape of the gum 7 aesthetic. This structure makes the gum 7 more aesthetic so that, when an abutment or artificial crown (not shown) is coupled to the gum 7, it can be prevented that the gum 7 is sagged or accordingly a metal or black line is exposed.

[39] The impression coping coupling screw portion 13 is provided at the impression coping coupling hole 11 of the main body portion 10 so that the impression coping 30 can be coupled directly to the main body portion 10. The impression coping coupling screw portion 13 of the impression coping coupling hole 11 is described in detail below.

[40] A tool catch portion 15 is provided in the lower portion of the impression coping coupling hole 11, that is, under the impression coping coupling screw portion 13, so that the healing abutment 3 can be coupled to or separated from the fixture 4 using a tool as in the prior art. Since the horizontal section of the tool catch portion 15 is a hexagon, the healing abutment 3 can be coupled to or separated from the fixture 4 using a tool having a hexagonal head that can be inserted in the tool catch portion 15.

[41] The upper surface of the main body portion 10 is preferably processed to be flat for the appropriate coupling to the impression coping 30. Although the impression coping 30 can be coupled to the healing abutment 3 even if the upper surface of the main body portion 10 has a curved shape, to appropriately couple the impression coping 30 to the healing abutment 3, the impression coping 30 having a variety of curved surfaces needs to be manufactured to match the shape of the lower surface of the impression coping 30 and the curved shape of the upper surface of the healing abutment 3 to appropriately couple the impression coping 30 to the healing abutment 3. However, this is not preferably in view of management and costs. When the upper surface of the main body portion 10 is flat, a single type of the impression coping 30 can be commonly used for various types of the healing abutment 3 which is advantageous in view of the management and costs.

[42] The coupling portion 20 of the healing abutment 3 is coupled to the lower end surface of the main body portion 10 so as to detachably couple the main body portion 10 to the fixture 4. Thus, a screw thread 21 is formed on the coupling portion 20 to be screw coupled to a screw hole (not shown) formed in the upper end portion of the fixture 4 in the lengthwise direction. The coupling portion 20 can be integrally or separately formed in the main body portion 10.

[43] The impression coping 30 coupled to the impression coping coupling screw portion

13 provided in the impression coping coupling hole 11 of the healing abutment 3 can be classified into a transfer type and a pickup type as a constituent element for obtaining an impression as well as accurately fitting the fixture 4 or a fixture analog (not shown) to the impression material.

[44] The transfer type impression coping is to obtain an impression in the step of removing the impression material from a mouth after the impression material is cured, removing the impression coping connected to the fixture 4 in the mouth, and reversely coupling a part such as the impression coping and abutment analog to the obtained impression material, or through a conventional tray. However, according to the pickup type impression coping, an impression is obtained by removing the impression coping with the impression material after the impression material is cured.

[45] The impression coping 30 of the present embodiment includes a main body 31 that is streamlined and concave at the middle portion and an impression coping screw portion 33 provided at the lower end surface of the main body 31 and coupled to the impression coping coupling screw portion 13 of the impression coping coupling hole 11.

[46] The main body 31 that is streamlined is to prevent the impression material from being separated or torn during the obtainment of an impression. Cut surfaces 35 and 36 are formed in each of the upper portion and the lower portion of the main body 31 with respect to the concave middle portion to be round and concave in a vertical direction so that whether the direction is accurate can be checked during the obtainment of an impression. The impression coping screw portion 33 corresponding to the impression coping coupling screw portion 13 of the impression coping coupling hole 11 of the healing abutment 3 is provided at the lower end surface of the main body 31 so that the impression coping 30 can be directly coupled to the healing abutment 3.

[47] The impression coping coupling portion of the present embodiment is provided by the impression coping coupling screw portion 13 provided in the impression coping coupling hole 11 indented to a predetermined depth from the upper surface of the healing abutment 3 and the impression coping screw portion 33 provided on the lower surface of the impression coping 30 and screw coupled to the impression coping coupling hole 11.

[48] The impression coping coupling screw portion 13 of the impression coping coupling hole 11 according to the present embodiment is provided as a female screw where a screw is formed throughout a predetermined length section downward from the upper portion thereof. Also, the tool catch portion 15 in which a tool (not shown) for rotating the healing abutment 3 to be coupled to or separated from the fixture 4 is inserted is provided under the impression coping coupling screw portion 13.

[49] The diameter between the mountains of the impression coping coupling screw portion 13 is greater than the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the tool catch portion 15 so that the tool can be inserted in the tool catch portion 15 without interference with the impression coping coupling screw portion 13.

[50] The impression coping coupling screw portion 13 of the healing abutment 3 is screw-coupled to the impression coping screw portion 33. As the impression coping coupling screw portion 13 is provided in the impression coping coupling hole 11, the implant operation process can be remarkably simplified compared to the conventional implant operation process.

[51] That is, according to the conventional technology, to obtain an impression, the impression coping 130 is coupled to the fixture 4 only after the healing abutment 103 of FIGS. 1 and 2 from the fixture 4. In the present embodiment, however, since the impression coping screw portion 33 of the impression coping 30 can be directly coupled to the impression coping coupling screw portion 13 of the impression coping coupling hole 11 provided on the upper surface of the healing abutment 3, not only the complicated process can be simplified but also the inconvenience felt by a patient during the operation can be much solved.

[52] The operation process of an implant having the healing abutment 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is described below in detail. First, the alveolar bone 8 undergoes a drilling and tapping step to form a hole matching the dimension of the fixture 4 and a mount (not shown) is coupled to the top portion of the fixture 4. The fixture 104 is implanted into the hole formed in the alveolar bone 8. Then, a cover screw (not shown) is coupled to the top portion of the fixture 4 to suture the fixture 4 so that the first operation is complete. Although the period of osseoin- tegration varies according to the bone quality of a patient and the position of implantation, it generally takes three to six months.

[53] Next, the cover screw is exposed by opening the gum 7 in the second operation.

Then, the degree of osseointegration of the fixture 4 is checked and the cover screw is removed. For the formation of an aesthetic gum, the healing abutment 103 is coupled to the top portion of the fixture 4.

[54] However, to improve the complicacy in the second operation process, the steps of coupling and removing the cover screw are omitted and the healing abutment 3 is directly coupled to the fixture 4 during the first operation where the fixture 4 is implanted. Since the healing abutment 3 can contact the gum 7 and tongue, any angled portion of the healing abutment 3 is generally round-processed.

[55] The gum 7 around the abutment 3 is sutured using a suture thread for the maintenance of the shape of the gum 7. After the suture process, a predetermined time period is needed for the formation of the aesthetic gum 7. During the period, the gums 7 around the healing abutment 3 closely contact to fit to the shape of the healing abutment 3 so that an aesthetic gum 7 is formed.

[56] After checking the formation of the aesthetic gum 7, to obtain an impression, the impression coping screw portion 33 of the impression coping 30 is coupled to the impression coping coupling screw portion 13 of the impression coping coupling hole 11 provided on the upper surface of the healing abutment 3 so that the impression coping 30 is directly coupled to the healing abutment 3.

[57] An impression of the implantation area to be operated is obtained using the impression material. The impression coping 30 coupled to the upper surface of the healing abutment 3 is removed and the impression coping 30 is coupled to the impression material. Another healing abutment (not shown) having the same shape of the healing abutment 3 coupled to the fixture 4 and a fixture analog (not shown) are coupled to each other. A tooth model appropriate for a mouth is manufactured by pouring plaster to the fixture analog coupled the another healing abutment so that an artificial crown (not shown) is processed from the tooth model. Then, the healing abutment 3 is removed from the fixture 4 and an abutment (not shown) is coupled to the upper portion of the fixture 4. The artificial crown is fixed on the abutment so that an artificial tooth is complete.

[58] In the operation process of the implant having the healing abutment 3 according to the present embodiment, by directly coupling the impression coping 30 to the upper surface of the healing abutment 3, the conventional complicated operation process in which the healing abutment 103 is removed from the fixture 4, the impression coping 30 is coupled to the removed position, the impression coping 30 is removed again and the healing abutment 3 is coupled to obtain an impression, is remarkably simplified. That is, the impression can be obtained through the remarkably simplified process so that the inconvenience felt by a patient receiving the implant operation can be minimized.

[59] A healing abutment 3a according to the second embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following descriptions, the descriptions on the same structures and features as those of the healing abutment 3 according to the first embodiment will be omitted.

[60] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a healing abutment according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, it is the differences from the first embodiment that, in the healing abutment 3a according to the present embodiment, a tool catch portion 15a is provided in the upper portion of the impression coping coupling hole 11a and the impression coping coupling screw portion 13a is provided in the lower portion thereof.

[61] Due to this shape, a tool is inserted in the tool catch portion 15a in the upper portion to couple the healing abutment 3a to the fixture 4 or separate the healing abutment 3a from the fixture 4. The impression coping coupling screw portion 13a provided in the lower portion can be appropriately coupled to an impression coping screw portion (not shown) corresponding to the impression coping coupling screw portion 13a. However, the diameter of the inscribed circle of the tool catch portion 15a is greater than the diameter between the grooves of the impression coping coupling screw portion 13a so that, when the impression coping screw portion is screw-coupled to the impression coping coupling screw portion 13a, the impression coping screw portion does not interferes with the tool catch portion 15 a.

[62] FIGS. 7 through 9 are sectional views of healing abutments according to the third through fifth embodiments of the present invention. Healing abutments 3b, 3c, and 3d according to the present embodiments are different from the healing abutment 3 of the first embodiment in the outer appearance shape only and the same as that of the first embodiment in that impression coping coupling screw portions 13b, 13c, and 13d and tool catch portions 15b, 15c, and 15d are provided in the impression coping coupling holes 1 Ib, 1 Ic, and 1 Id that are indented to a predetermined depth from the upper surfaces of the healing abutments 3b, 3c, and 3d so that the impression coping 30 can be directly coupled to each of the healing abutments 3b, 3c, and 3d and each of the healing abutments 3b, 3c, and 3d can be coupled to the fixture 4.

[63] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing that the impression coping is coupled to a healing abutment according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, unlike the above-described embodiments, the impression coping coupling screw portion is not provided in an impression coping coupling hole 1 Ie of a healing abutment 3e according to the present embodiment. Also, the impression coping screw portion 33 of FIG. 5 is not provided in an impression coping 30e. That is, in the present embodiment, the impression coping coupling portion is provided as the impression coping coupling hole l ie and an impression coping coupling protrusion 33e provided in the lower end portion of the impression coping 30e. In the present embodiment, the impression coping coupling hole l ie and the impression coping coupling protrusion 33e are forcibly coupled to each other.

[64] A stopper groove 15e indented to a predetermined depth in a radial direction from an inner wall is formed in the impression coping coupling groove 1 Ie. The stopper 35e coupled to the stopper groove 15e is provided on the impression coping coupling protrusion 33e. Thus, the impression coping coupling groove 1 Ie and the impression coping coupling protrusion 33e are coupled to prevent relative rotations thereof.

[65] In the above-described embodiments, the impression coping coupling groove is formed in the impression coping or, although the impression coping coupling groove is formed, the impression coping coupling screw portion is formed on the inner wall of the impression coping coupling groove. Also, the impression coping coupling protrusion is formed in the healing abutment or, although the impression coping coupling protrusion is formed, the impression coping coupling screw portion is formed on the outer wall of the impression coping coupling protrusion. However, a reverse case thereof is possible.

[66] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Industrial Applicability

[67] According to the present invention, by simplifying the impression obtaining process during the impression operation, the implant operation can be easily performed and the inconvenience felt by a patient during the implant operation can be remarkably reduced.

Claims

[1] A healing abutment comprising: a main body portion having an impression coping coupling hole that is provided in an upper end portion to be indented to a predetermined depth from an upper surface and has an impression coping coupling screw portion where a screw is formed throughout a predetermined length section to detachably coupling an impression coping; and a coupling portion detachably coupling the main body portion to a fixture.

[2] The healing abutment of claim 1, wherein a tool catch portion in which a tool is inserted is provided in the impression coping coupling hole at a position close to the impression coping coupling screw portion.

[3] The healing abutment of claim 2, wherein the tool catch portion is provided in a lower portion of the impression coping coupling screw portion.

[4] The healing abutment of claim 3, wherein a horizontal section of the tool catch portion is hexagonal.

[5] The healing abutment of claim 4, wherein the diameter between mountains of the impression coping coupling screw portion is greater than the diameter of a circumscribed circle of the tool catch portion.

[6] The healing abutment of claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the main body portion is processed to be flat for the coupling to the impression coping.

[7] An implant comprising: a healing abutment coupled to a fixture before an abutment is coupled to the fixture to form an aesthetic gum shape; an impression coping to obtain an impression; and an impression coping coupling portion provided at each of the healing abutment and the impression coping to couple the healing abutment and the impression coping.

[8] The implant of claim 7, wherein the impression coping coupling portion comprises: an impression coping coupling hole indented to a predetermined depth from an upper surface of the healing abutment; and an impression coping coupling protrusion protruding from a lower surface of the impression coping and capable of coupling to the impression coping coupling groove.

[9] The implant of claim 8, wherein an impression coping coupling screw portion having a screw formed throughout a predetermined length section is provided at the impression coping coupling hole and an impression coping screw portion screw-coupled to the impression coping coupling screw portion is provided at the impression coping coupling protrusion.

[10] The implant of claim 9, wherein a tool catch portion in which a tool is inserted is provided in the impression coping coupling hole at a position close to the impression coping coupling screw portion.

[11] The implant of claim 8, wherein a stopper groove indented to a predetermined depth in a radial direction from a surface is provided in an inner wall forming the impression coping coupling hole and a stopper coupled to the stopper groove is provided on an outer wall of the impression coping coupling protrusion.