Positioning jig and improved methods to design and manufacture dental implants

Abstract

This invention is directed to a positioning jig for preparing a two or more of adjacent teeth for a dental prosthesis comprising a member with (i) three or more parallel bores in the member and (ii) one or more means to attach the member to a dental articulator. The invention is also directed to methods of use of the position jig such as to prepare a series of aligned holes in teeth or aligned holes mockup of a dental bridge for a prosthesis.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Appn. No. 61 / 565,649 filed Dec. 1, 2011, Lerner, having Atty. Docket No. LER11001USV, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates a positioning jig for aligning the holes in artificial denture teeth in an artificial tooth arrangement (ATA) for replacing a plurality of teeth. The invention also relates to methods of design and methods of manufacture of dental implants in general, particularly for making hybrid prostheses.2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]2.1. Introduction[0004]For patients who have lost many adjacent teeth, dental prostheses are widely used. These prostheses may be either removable full or partial dentures or fixed full or partial dentures. A common type of fixed denture is the “hybrid prosthesis” a term generally used to describe a wide variety of dental prostheses with materials of different compo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]In particular non-limiting embodiments, the invention provides a positioning jig for preparing two or more adjacent teeth for a dental prosthesis comprising: a member with (i) three or more parallel bores in the member; and (ii) one or more means for attaching the member to a dental articulator.

[0012]The invention also provides a method of preparing an artificial prosthesis having two or more adjacent teeth which comprises: preparing an artificial tooth arrangement (ATA) with two or more adjacent teeth in a mold on a positioning jig comprising a member with (i) three or more parallel bores in the member and (ii) one or more means for attaching the member to a dental articulator; placing at least three rigid struts in the parallel bores of the positioning jig; using at least one of the rigid struts to align a drill; drilling an aligned hole into each of the teeth in the mold; placing a rod in each of the aligned holes of the teeth to form a series of aligned rods; using the teeth and the aligned rods to prepare a dental mockup; copying the dental mockup to prepare a dental bridge; and affixing the teeth using the aligned holes to the dental bridge so as to prepare the artificial prosthesis.

[0013]Moreover, the invention provides a method of preparing a dental mockup with two or more aligned holes which comprises: preparing an artificial tooth arrangement (ATA) with two or more adjacent teeth in a mold on a positioning jig comprising a member with (i) three or more parallel bores in the member, and (ii) one or more means for attaching the member to a dental articulator; placing at least three rigid struts in the parallel bores of the positioning jig; using at least one of the rigid struts to align a drill; drilling an aligned hole into each of the teeth in the mold; placing a rod in each of the aligned holes of the teeth to form a series of aligned rods; and using the teeth and the aligned rods to prepare the dental mockup with the plurality of aligned holes.

[0014]In addition, the invention provides a kit which comprises a positioning jig for preparing two or more adjacent teeth for a dental prosthesis comprising a member with (i) three or more parallel bores in the member and (ii) one or more means for attaching the member to a dental articulator; and three or more rigid struts with a diameter so they fit tightly in the parallel bores.

Problems solved by technology

These hybrid prostheses have a high rate of mechanical complications.

Other mechanical complications include: the fracture of the resin support; fracture of attachment to underlying metal framework; or the fracture of the metal framework / implant bar.

They were not designed with individualized metal supports for denture teeth.

Furthermore, the teeth were added in sections with silicone matrices which are difficult to work with.

In particular, it is difficult to get the denture teeth to maintain their position in the silicone matrices.

Like the classical hybrid framework above, the vertical support component to the framework was insufficient.

Another issue with this technique is that some of the teeth may change position in the flask once the wax is eliminated.

Another complication with making improved hybrid frameworks is that each tooth must be individually drilled and individually fitted onto a post supporting the tooth in the denture material.

This requires great precision and is extremely time consuming

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