Dental platform assembly and methods

{
  "publication_number": "US2011151408A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Dental platform assembly and methods",
  "abstract": "A dental implant system comprises a base member that is adapted to be embedded within a patient's jawbone at a treatment site. The base member has a generally flat top side defining an outer periphery, a bottom side, and a central opening. At least one recess is included in the top side for receiving an alignment pin. The system further includes an implant screw that comprises a head and a threaded end. The threaded end is adapted to pass through the central opening of the base member and into the patient's jawbone. Also, the head is adapted to be seated within the central opening of the base member after the threaded end is screwed into the patient's jawbone. The implant screw further includes a threaded opening in the head.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for securing a dental implant system to a patient's jawbone, the method comprising: removing a portion of the patient's gum at a treatment site sufficient to expose the patient's jawbone; removing a portion of the patient's jawbone at the treatment site to form a recess; positioning a base member at the treatment site such that the base member is embedded within the patient's jawbone at the treatment site, wherein the base member has a generally flat top side defined by an outer perimeter and a tapered central opening; placing a drill bit through the central opening and drilling a hole in the jawbone; inserting an implant screw through the central opening, wherein the implant screw has a head with a tapered section and a threaded end; and turning the implant screw to secure the threaded end within the hole in the jawbone and to seat the head of the implant screw within the tapered opening of the base member. 2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising placing drill bits of increasing size into the central opening to expand the size of the hole in the jawbone. 3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the base member is generally rectangular in geometry, and wherein the recess in the jawbone is generally rectangular. 4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the top side of the base member is generally flush with the patient's jawbone. 5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising placing an abutment onto the top surface of the base member, wherein the top side of the base member further includes at least one recess and further comprising placing a locating pin in the recess and inserting the locating pin into a corresponding recess on the abutment when placing the abutment on the base member to ensure non-rotatable alignment of the abutment with the base member. 6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the implant screw includes a threaded hole and further comprising a capture screw, and inserting the capture screw through a central opening of the abutment and into the threaded hole. 7. A method as in claim 6, further comprising seating the implant screw into the jawbone using a torque wrench using a force of at least about 35 Ncm. 8. A method as in claim 6, wherein the abutment includes a locating sleeve extending from the central opening of the abutment, and further comprising placing the locating sleeve into the central opening of the base member. 9. A method as in claim 1, further comprising placing a healing cover onto the base member and suturing the patient's gun over the healing cover, wherein the healing cover extends to the outer perimeter of the base member. 10. A method as in claim 9, further comprising accessing the healing cover, removing the healing cover from the base member and placing a tissue contouring cap onto the base member using a screw that extends into the implant screw. 11. A method as in claim 10, further comprising removing the healing cover and securing an abutment to the base using a capture screw that extends through the abutment and into the implant screw. 12. A method as in claim 11, further comprising attaching a crown to the abutment. 13. A method as in claim 1, wherein the base member has a generally flat bottom side, wherein the central opening tapers inward from the top surface to the bottom surface with a constant taper, and wherein the base member has an outer periphery that tapers with a straight taper inward from the top surface to the bottom surface such that the top surface is greater in surface area than the bottom surface. 14. A method as in claim 1, wherein the portion of the patient's jawbone that is removed forms a rectangular cavity in the patient's jawbone. 15. A method as in claim 1, wherein the treatment site is where a tooth previously existed, and wherein the base member is sized to be generally the same size as the removed tooth. 16. A method as in claim 1, wherein the outer periphery of the base member includes a coating or surface treatment to increase the surface area of the outer periphery to promote osseointegration. 17. A dental implant system comprising: a base member that is adapted to be embedded within a patient's jawbone at a treatment site, wherein the base member has a generally flat top side defining an outer periphery, a bottom side, and a central opening, wherein the base member is configured to be positioned within a recess in the patient's jawbone; an implant screw comprising a head and a threaded end, wherein the threaded end is adapted to pass through the central opening of the base member and into the patient's jawbone, and wherein the head is adapted to be seated within the central opening of the base member after the threaded end is screwed into the patient's jawbone, wherein the implant screw defines a threaded opening in the head; an abutment that is configured to be placed onto the top side of the base member, wherein the abutment comprises: a flat bottom surface that is configured to be positioned adjacent the top side of the base member, wherein the bottom surface of the abutment has an outer perimeter that generally matches the outer periphery of the base member; a shaped upper surface that is adapted to receive a crown; a through hole extending longitudinally through the abutment; a locating sleeve that is adapted to extend from the through hole of the abutment and into the head of the implant screw; at least one alignment mechanism that is configured to align the base member with the abutment; and a capture screw that is configured to be inserted through the through hole of the abutment, through the locating sleeve and into the threaded opening in the head of the implant screw. 18. A system as in claim 17, wherein the base member defines at least one recess in the top side, wherein the bottom surface of the abutment defines at least one recess that is aligned with the recess in the base member when the abutment is placed onto the base member, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises a pin that is configured to fit within the recess of the base member and the abutment, wherein the abutment and the base member each include another recess that are aligned with each other when the abutment is placed onto the base member, and further comprising another alignment pin that is adapted to fit within the recesses. 19. A system as in claim 17, wherein the sleeve is cylindrical in geometry, and wherein the capture screw has an upper end with a smooth outer surface that is configured to fit within the sleeve. 20. A system as in claim 17, wherein the central opening is tapered, and wherein the implant screw has a tapered head section to seat within the tapered central opening. 21. A system as in claim 17, wherein the base member is generally rectangular in geometry. 22. A system as in claim 17, wherein the outer periphery of the base member tapers inward from the top surface to the bottom surface such that the top surface is greater in surface area than the bottom surface. 23. A system as in claim 17, wherein the outer periphery of the base member includes a coating or surface treatment to increase the surface area of the outer periphery to promote osseointegration. 24. A system as in claim 17, further comprising a crown that is adapted to be mounted to the abutment. 25. A platform for securing a dental crown to a patient's jawbone, the platform comprising: a base member that is adapted to be embedded within a patient's jawbone at a treatment site, wherein the base member has a generally flat top side, a generally flat bottom side, an outer periphery, and a central opening that tapers inward with a constant taper from the top surface to the bottom surface and is configured to receive an implant screw, wherein the top side further includes a pair of recesses that are adapted to receive alignment pins that are configured to be received within corresponding recesses of an abutment to ensure non-rotatable alignment of the abutment with the base member. 26. A platform as in claim 25, wherein the outer periphery tapers with a straight taper inward to the bottom surface such that the top surface is greater in surface area than the bottom surface. 27. A platform as in claim 25, wherein the base member is generally rectangular in geometry, and wherein the recesses are located in opposing corners of the base member."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Implants are popular means of replacing a lost tooth. Due to their relatively low maintenance and durability people often prefer implants to bridges. Nevertheless, there is a largely undocumented body of complaints voiced to front line dentists about implants, by their patients. These complaints generally are about food impacting and accumulating around and beneath the crown portion of the implant in the enlarged periodontal gap between the implant and the adjacent teeth.\n\nThe invention describes various dental implant systems as well as methods for securing such systems within a patient's jaw. In one embodiment, such a method includes the step of removing a portion of the patient's gum at a treatment site sufficient to expose the patient's jawbone. A portion of the patient's jawbone at the treatment site is also removed to form a recess. This recess preferably has a shape and size similar to a base member that will subsequently be placed into the recess. This base member has a generally flat top side defined by an outer perimeter and a tapered central opening. The base member is positioned in the recess, typically with the top side being flush with a top surface of the jawbone. A drill bit is placed through the central opening and a hole is drilled in the jawbone. An implant screw is inserted through the central opening. This implant screw has a head with a tapered section and a threaded end. The implant screw is turned to secure the threaded end within the hole in the jawbone and to seat the head of the implant screw within the tapered opening of the base member.",
  "cpc": [
    "A61C 8/001",
    "A61C 2008/0046",
    "A61C 8/0018",
    "A61C 8/0022",
    "A61C 8/0045",
    "A61C 8/0048",
    "A61C 8/005",
    "A61C 8/0063",
    "A61C 8/0066",
    "A61C 8/0068",
    "A61C 8/0069",
    "A61C 8/008"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A61C 8/00",
    "A61C 5/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Grant Dental Tech Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "James C. Grant"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2011-01-26",
  "publication_date": "2011-06-23",
  "priority_date": "2008-03-04",
  "application_number": "US-201113014526-A",
  "family_id": "44358066",
  "cited_by_count": 21,
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}