Suprastructure, dental prosthesis and method for producing a dental prosthesis

Abstract

Suprastructure (14) for a dental prosthesis (10), comprising a dental crown base body (24) which supports at least one artificial dental crown, a positioning body (26) with a through-opening for receiving a fastening means (16) for indirectly or directly fastening the superstructure (14) to a dental implant (12), and a coupling device which captively couples the positioning body (26) to the dental crown base body (24) and is designed to enable a relative movement of the positioning body (26) relative to the dental crown base body (24).

Description

The present invention relates to a superstructure for a dental prosthesis. The present invention further relates to a dental prosthesis having the superstructure according to the invention, a dental implant and a fastening means. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for producing the dental prosthesis.A "superstructure" is understood to mean any type of superstructure which serves as a dental prosthesis and is fastened to a dental implant. For example, a superstructure in the present sense is an artificial tooth structure, such as an artificial tooth crown or a bridge. The superstructure is typically made of ceramic or a comparable material.The term "dental implant" is used colloquially frequently non-uniformly and incorrectly for the overall image of a dental prosthesis. It should therefore be made clear at this point that a "dental implant" is understood in the dental and present sense to mean only the "implant body", that is to say the artificial tooth root which is implanted into the jaw of the patient. Therefore, the term "implant body" is frequently also used instead of the term "tooth implant". However, the term "dental implant" is used uniformly below for the mentioned part of the dental prosthesis.In conventional dental prostheses, the superstructure is connected to the dental implant by means of a so-called abutment or another type of so-called mesostructure. The abutment forms the transition from the dental implant through the peri-implant soft tissue to the oral cavity and to the superstructure. Such "abutments" are also referred to as "buttresses" or "implant posts". Typically, the abutment is manually ground to the proper size and shape to then mount and bond the superstructure to the abutment. Meanwhile, structures for dentures are also used which allow the superstructure to be fastened directly and directly to the dental implant without the use of an abutment. Such a dental prosthesis is known, for example, from DE 10 2018 113 237 A1.Today, implant planning of such dental prostheses usually takes place on the basis of a 3D model of the patient's mouth. Using the 3D model, the position and spatial orientation of the dental implant and the superstructure as well as the shape of the superstructure is initially planned and established. At the same time, the position, spatial orientation, size (diameter) and depth (length) of the bore in the patient's jawbone into which the dental implant is to be inserted is planned.Conventionally, the 3D model is created with the aid of a plastic molding of the patient's oral cavity. Meanwhile, more and more intraoral scans are replacing conventional plastic molding. In this case, a digital 3D model of the mouth interior is created with the aid of cameras. The latter is significantly more comfortable for the patient and simplifies automated planning and production of the dental prosthesis.It is understood that the bore in the jawbone, the dental implant inserted therein and the superstructure must be exactly matched to one another. If a plurality of tooth implants are used, an alignment of the corresponding bores relative to one another is furthermore important.Positioning and alignment of the dental implants and thus also of the superstructures corresponding to planning is, however, not quite as easily realized for a dentist or a dental surgeon in practice. At least, as a result of the bore manually introduced into the gum and into the jawbone, into which bore the dental implant is inserted, deviations from the planned position and spatial alignment usually occur. It is true that dental drill guidance systems, for example, can be used as auxiliary means for this purpose. An exemplary system and method for preparing and / or performing a dental implant insertion is known from DE 10 2022 134 517 A1. However, undesired deviations can also occur with extensive planning, preparation and many years of experience of the operator.Such deviations have a disadvantageous effect on the alignment of the dental prosthesis in the oral cavity of the patient. This can lead to the dental prosthesis no longer fitting into the intended tooth gap between non-artificial teeth of the patient. Also, inaccurate alignment may result in optical and / or functional constraints for the patient. In particular in the case of superstructures which are designed as bridges and are fastened with the aid of a plurality of tooth implants, difficulties can arise in the fastening of the superstructure if the actual distances between the tooth implants and / or their alignment with respect to one another do not correspond to the planned position and / or alignment.To some extent, such deviations can be compensated for by reworking during the operation. However, the possibilities for this are limited. Moreover, such follow-up operations are time-consuming and cost-intensive and, moreover, are not patient-friendly. In the worst case, excessively large deviations may even require re-planning of the dental prosthesis.It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a superstructure for a dental prosthesis, a dental prosthesis and a method for producing the dental prosthesis, which facilitate user-friendly, time- and cost-effective alignment of the dental prosthesis.This object is achieved according to the invention by a superstructure according to claim 1, wherein the superstructure comprises:a tooth crown base body which carries at least one artificial tooth crown,a positioning body having a through opening for receiving a fastening means for indirectly or directly fastening the superstructure to a tooth implant, anda coupling device which couples the positioning body to the tooth crown base body in a captive manner and is configured to enable a restricted relative movement of the positioning body relative to the tooth crown base body.The coupling device of the superstructure according to the invention enables that the tooth crown base body can be moved relative to the positioning body and thus be aligned and vice versa. At the same time, the positioning body is secured to the tooth crown base body in a captive manner. Thus, the superstructure enables an easily manipulated, flexible alignment of the tooth crown base body relative to the positioning body and vice versa.The positioning body is configured to be fastened to the tooth implant by means of the fastening means. Thus, the tooth crown base body can be held in a desired position and / or spatial orientation (e.g. relative to the mouth interior of the patient) and at the same time the positioning body can be positioned and / or oriented simply and flexibly relative to the tooth implant in order to fasten the positioning body to the tooth implant. In other words, the tooth crown base body, which is connected to the tooth implant via the coupling device and the positioning body, can be positioned and / or aligned easily and flexibly relative to the tooth implant. This advantageously allows undesired inaccuracies in the bore for the tooth implant, which lead to a deviation from the planned position and / or position of the tooth implant in the mouth interior of the patient, to be compensated.The relative movement can be a change in the position and / or the spatial orientation (also referred to as "position") of the positioning body and of the tooth crown base body relative to one another. The possible relative movement thus means translation and / or rotational degrees of freedom. The relative movement can be restricted in one or more of the degrees of translational and / or rotational freedom.The tooth crown base body serves as a support body for one or more artificial tooth crowns. These may be integrally connected to the tooth crown base body or be fastened to the latter. The tooth crown base body can thus be configured to be connected to one or more artificial tooth crowns. The tooth crown base body comprises, for example, a tooth crown or a tooth bridge.The method according to the invention for producing a dental prosthesis has the following steps:providing a superstructure having a tooth crown base body which carries at least one artificial tooth crown, a positioning body having a through opening for receiving a fastening means for indirectly or directly fastening the superstructure to a tooth implant, and a coupling device which couples the positioning body to the tooth crown base body in a captive manner and is configured to enable a relative movement of the positioning body relative to the tooth crown base body,providing a dental implant,providing a fastening means which is configured to fasten the superstructure indirectly or directly to the tooth implant, andfixing the superstructure to the tooth implant with the aid of the fixing means.The superstructure is thus fastened to the tooth implant by means of the fastening means, such as a screw or a bolt. More specifically, the positioning body is fastened to the tooth implant with the aid of the fastening means.The tooth crown base body can then still be moved relative to the positioning body, in particular also in the assembled state of the dental prosthesis. This has the advantage that the tooth crown base body can thus be fine-adjusted in the desired position and spatial orientation even if the superstructure or the positioning body is already connected to the implanted tooth implant. The superstructure can likewise also be fastened to the tooth implant simply and flexibly with the aid of the fastening means if the tooth implant should deviate in terms of position and spatial position from the planned position and / or the planned spatial position in the jawbone of the patient. In other words, it is possible to move or align the tooth crown base body, even in the assembled state of the dental prosthesis, still relative to the positioning body, which is fastened to the dental implant and is thus spatially fixed, in a simple and flexible manner. This in turn makes it possible to produce the superstructure already before the surgical procedure in which the dental implant(s) are implanted. Without the now possible possible possibilities of adaptation, the superstructure could hitherto conventionally only be produced after the dental implant(s) has been implanted(s) and a scan or impression has been taken. The superstructure according to the present invention therefore simplifies and accelerates the process sequence by a multiple.The fastening means can be arranged in the through-opening of the positioning body in an assembled state of the dental prosthesis in which the superstructure is connected to the dental implant. For this purpose, the fastening means can be introduced into the tooth implant through the through-opening of the positioning body in order to fasten the positioning body to the tooth implant.The tooth implant can have, for example, an opening extending along a longitudinal axis of the tooth implant and an internal thread arranged in the opening. In this case, the fastening means can have an external thread matching the internal thread of the tooth implant.Preferably, the provision of the superstructure comprises the positioning and / or spatial alignment of the tooth crown base body in a desired position or spatial alignment before and / or after the fastening of the superstructure to the tooth implant with the aid of the fastening means.The above-mentioned object is thus completely achieved.Various optional configurations are explained below, which can relate in the same way both to the tooth implant according to the invention and to the method according to the invention.According to one embodiment, the tooth crown base body has a second through-opening, in which the positioning body is arranged.The positioning body thus extends in an opening of the tooth crown base body, which is configured as a through opening and is referred to in the present case as a "second through opening".It is understood that the arrangement of the positioning body in the through-opening relates to a force-free state of the superstructure (apart from the weight force). With the relative movement, the positioning body can move in the through opening and / or move out of the through opening.Preferably, a longitudinal axis of the second through-opening is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the positioning body. In particular, the longitudinal axis of the second through-opening is preferably identical to the longitudinal axis of the positioning body.According to a further embodiment, the positioning body extends through the second through-opening and protrudes out of the latter at least on one side.The positioning body thus protrudes from the second through-opening along a longitudinal axis of the second through-opening at least on one side or protrudes from the latter along the longitudinal axis.Advantageously, projecting the positioning body toward the jawbone or the dental implant (relative to a state of the dental prosthesis mounted on the dental implant) enables simple attachment of the superstructure or the positioning body to the dental implant. Thus, an improved interface of the superstructure is provided.Projecting the positioning body toward the oral cavity (in relation to the state of the dental prosthesis mounted on the dental implant) facilitates fixing the tooth crown base body to the positioning body. This can be effected, for example, by means of a filling compound which is poured in between the positioning body and the tooth crown base carrier and fixes the tooth crown base carrier and the positioning body to one another with curing of the filling compound. In this case, the positioning body can represent a spatial limitation for the filling compound, wherein at the same time a running-in of the filling compound into the positioning body is avoided. This has the advantage that the through-opening of the positioning body and in particular a fastening means arranged in the through-opening of the positioning body can remain freely accessible.However, the fact that the positioning body, as mentioned, preferably protrudes from the through-opening does not necessarily mean that the positioning body also protrudes from the tooth crown base body, i.e. protrudes beyond the artificial tooth crown. The latter may likewise be the case. In such a case, however, the positioning body is usually shortened, e.g. ground, after the superstructure has been installed.According to a further embodiment, an inner wall of the tooth crown base body defining the second through-opening surrounds the positioning body at least partially and is at least partially spaced apart from an outer wall of the positioning body in such a way that the positioning body has play in the second through-opening.Between the inner wall of the second through-opening and the outer wall of the positioning body, an intermediate space can thus be formed, which allows play of the positioning body in the second through-opening.This has the advantage that the relative movement of the positioning body relative to the tooth crown base body is restricted not only by the coupling device but also by the tooth crown base body. In this way, in particular the play transversely to the longitudinal axis of the second through-opening can be restricted. At the same time, a relative movement is possible which still enables a positioning and / or spatial orientation of the tooth crown base body relative to the positioning body and vice versa.Preferably, the inner wall of the tooth crown base body completely surrounds the positioning body along a circumference of the positioning body.This has the advantage that a space limited transversely to the longitudinal direction of the second through-opening can be formed. This can simplify, for example, a spatially defined introduction of the filling compound.It is understood that the positioning body can partially or sectionally abut the surrounding inner wall of the second through-opening. It is only necessary that the second through-opening enables at least one degree of freedom of the positioning body.According to a further embodiment, an annular gap is formed between the inner wall and the outer wall.This has the advantage that a uniform play can thereby be achieved in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the second through-opening. This facilitates a particularly flexible positioning and / or alignment of the positioning body relative to the tooth crown base body and vice versa.Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the second through-opening runs through the center point of the annular structure which forms the gap.It is understood that the annular shape of the gap refers to a state free of forces apart from the weight force. In other words, in a state of the tooth crown base body oriented as desired relative to the positioning body, the positioning body can be in contact with the inner wall of the tooth crown base body.According to a further embodiment, the positioning body has a hollow cylinder which defines the through opening.A longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder thus corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the through-opening of the positioning body.This has the advantage that the fastening of the positioning body to the tooth implant can be facilitated. In particular, the hollow cylinder is particularly suitable for receiving rotationally symmetrical fastening means such as, for example, screws or bolts.According to a further embodiment, the through-opening runs along a longitudinal axis and has in its interior a contact surface running transversely to the longitudinal axis.The contact surface is configured to serve as a contact surface for the fastening means, such as a screw or a bolt. For example, a screw head can abut the contact surface.The contact surface preferably protrudes from the inner wall of the through-opening transversely to the longitudinal axis. Particularly preferably, the contact surface extends annularly in the interior of the through-opening.This has the advantage that simple fastening of the positioning body to the tooth implant is made possible. The fastening means can be screwed into the tooth implant, for example, and thereby fix the contact surface relative to the tooth implant.Preferably, the contact surface is configured as part of a stepped bore. This can be manufactured, for example, by means of an additive manufacturing method.According to a further embodiment, the coupling device has a coupling element which is formed integrally with the tooth crown base body and / or the positioning body.The coupling element is thus connected in one piece to the tooth crown base body and / or the positioning body. In other words, the coupling element is configured monolithically with the tooth crown base body and / or positioning body. This is also possible, for example, by means of an additive manufacturing method.It is understood that the coupling device can also have a plurality of coupling elements, such as, for example. 2, 3, 4 or more coupling elements.According to a further embodiment, the coupling device has a first coupling element which connects the tooth crown base body and the positioning body to one another in a spring-elastic manner.The coupling element can thus be deformed elastically, i.e. reversibly, wherein the coupling element can have a linear or non-linear spring characteristic.In particular, the coupling element is designed to be more elastic or less stiff in comparison to the tooth crown base body and / or the positioning body. That is to say that the tooth crown base body and / or the positioning body are more rigid than the coupling element. This can be adjusted, for example, by means of the component rigidity (i.e. shape and / or the cross section of the coupling element) and / or by means of the material properties (in particular the modulus of elasticity, also referred to as "modulus of elasticity").For example, an elastic modulus of the coupling element is smaller than an elastic modulus of the tooth crown base body and / or an elastic modulus of the positioning body. This is also possible, for example, by means of an additive manufacturing method.The coupling element, the tooth crown base body and the positioning body preferably have an (identical) modulus of elasticity, wherein the lower rigidity of the coupling element (relative to the tooth crown base body and / or the positioning body) is achieved by means of the shape and / or the cross section of the coupling element.The coupling element is configured, for example, as a connecting element which fixes the positioning body to the tooth crown base body.The coupling device enables the relative movement of the positioning body relative to the tooth crown base body by elastic deformation of the coupling element. It is understood that the deformation is not limited to a purely elastic deformation, but can also have a plastic portion (elastically plastic deformation).Instead of a coupling element, a plurality of such coupling elements, for example two, three, four, five or six coupling elements, can also be provided.According to a further embodiment, the coupling device has a second coupling element and a third coupling element, wherein the second coupling element is formed on the positioning body and the third coupling element is formed on the tooth crown base body, wherein the second coupling element and the third coupling element cooperate to form a bearing by which the positioning body is movably mounted on the tooth crown base body.The second coupling element can thus be movably mounted in the third coupling element or vice versa.The second coupling element and the third coupling element can cooperate, for example, as a tongue and groove connection.Preferably, the second coupling element is formed integrally with the positioning body and the third coupling element is formed integrally with the tooth crown base body.Further preferably, the second coupling element is configured to engage with the third coupling element. Alternatively, the third coupling element can be configured to engage with the second coupling element.It is understood that the designation of a coupling element as a "first coupling element", "second coupling element" or "third coupling element" merely follows a nomenclature which serves to conceptually distinguish the different coupling elements from one another. Therefore, the coupling device can, but does not necessarily have to, have the first coupling element, the second coupling element and the third coupling element at the same time. The coupling device can have, for example, only the second coupling element and the third coupling element or only the first coupling element.According to a further embodiment, the superstructure comprises a further positioning body, which has a further through-opening for receiving a further fastening means for indirectly or directly fastening the superstructure to the tooth implant, and a further coupling device, which couples the further positioning body to the tooth crown base body in a captive manner and is configured to enable a relative movement of the further positioning body relative to the tooth crown base body.The through-opening and the further through-opening are spaced apart from one another. The positioning body and the further positioning body are thus spaced apart from one another.The positioning body and the further positioning body are each configured to be fastened to a tooth implant. Thus, the superstructure can be fastened at several locations in the patient's mouth. This can be necessary or advantageous in the case of relatively large tooth crown base bodies or tooth crown base bodies with a multiplicity of artificial tooth crowns such as bridges.In this case, the positioning body and the further positioning body can each be aligned on the respective tooth implant independently of one another relative to the tooth crown base body. Thus, even when the superstructure is fastened at two different locations in the oral cavity of the patient, a simple and flexible positioning and / or spatial alignment of the tooth crown base body or of the positioning body is made possible. This has the advantage that in particular deviations from bores in which a tooth implant is arranged in each case can be compensated for.It is understood that the various optional configurations which have already been explained or will still be described and relate to the superstructure according to the invention having the (one) positioning body and the (one coupling device) also relate in the same way to the superstructure having the further (second) positioning body and the further (second) coupling device.It is also understood that the superstructure is not limited to two positioning bodies and two coupling devices. Rather, the superstructure can have a plurality of positioning bodies and a plurality of coupling devices. The various optional configurations also relate in the same way to the superstructure with the plurality of positioning bodies and the plurality of coupling devices. It is also understood that the plurality of coupling devices can be configured differently in each case or in part.According to a further embodiment, the method according to the invention comprises the step of filling a filling compound into an intermediate space between the positioning body and a second through-opening of the tooth crown base body, in which the positioning body is arranged.This has the advantage that the tooth crown base body can be easily fixed in a desired position and / or desired spatial orientation relative to the positioning body. As a result, the relative movement of the positioning body relative to the tooth crown base body previously made possible by the coupling device is prevented.The filling compound is configured to cure and, as a result of the curing, to connect the tooth crown base body to the positioning body in such a way that the tooth crown base body is fixed in its position and / or spatial position relative to the positioning body. Preferably, the curing is induced by irradiation with UV light.The method according to the invention preferably further comprises removing parts of the superstructure, in particular at least part of the coupling device and / or at least part of the positioning body. The removal takes place after the hardening of the filling compound and can take place, for example, by removal and in particular by grinding.This has the advantage that the superstructure can be adapted optically and functionally to the needs of the patient.For example, removing parts of the superstructure comprises removing a coupling element of the coupling device and / or removing a part of the positioning body which protrudes beyond the through-opening of the tooth crown base body.According to a further embodiment, the provision of the superstructure comprises producing the superstructure by means of an additive manufacturing method.Advantageously, the additive manufacturing method enables simple manufacturing of a complex shape or structure of the superstructure, in particular with regard to the coupling device.It is understood that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. The following are shown: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dental prosthesis according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the dental prosthesis shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 ashows a perspective view of a superstructure according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 bshows a further perspective view of the superstructure shown in FIG. 3 a; FIG. 3 cshows a sectional representation of the superstructure shown in FIG. 3 a; FIG. 4a is a perspective view of the superstructure according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 bshows a sectional representation of the superstructure shown in FIG. 4 a; FIG. 5a is a perspective view of the superstructure according to a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 bshows a sectional representation of the superstructure shown in FIG. 5 a; FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the superstructure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIGS. 1 and 2 show a perspective view and a sectional representation of an exemplary embodiment of a dental prosthesis according to the invention. The dental prosthesis is denoted therein in its entirety by the reference sign 10.The dental prosthesis 10 serves as an artificial dental prosthesis which can be inserted in a mouth interior of a patient (e.g. a human being or an animal).The dental prosthesis 10 has a dental implant 12, a superstructure 14 and a fastening means 16. The superstructure 14 is fastened to the dental implant 12 with the aid of the fastening means 16.The dental implant 12 is adapted to be inserted into a bore in a jawbone of a patient and serves as a kind of artificial tooth root. The superstructure 14 is the actual artificial tooth structure and is connected to the tooth implant 12 by means of the fastening means 16.The dental implant 12 has an external thread 17 which serves for fastening the dental implant 12 in the jawbone of the patient. The dental implant 12 further has a longitudinal axis 18, an opening 19 extending along the longitudinal axis 18 of the dental implant 12, and an internal thread 20 arranged in the opening 19.The fastening means 16, which is designed here as a screw, has an external thread 22 matching the internal thread 20 of the dental implant 12.FIGS. 3 a, 3 band 3 c show two different perspective views of the superstructure 14 and a sectional representation thereof. The superstructure 14 has a tooth crown base body 24, a positioning body 26 and a coupling device 28.The tooth crown base body 24 has an artificial tooth crown 30 and a through-opening, which is referred to in the present case as a second through-opening 32, extends along a longitudinal axis 34 and is configured as a through-bore. The tooth crown base body 24 further has an inner wall 36 defining the second through-opening 32.The positioning body 26 has a hollow cylinder 38 which extends along a longitudinal axis 40 and defines a through-opening 42. The hollow cylinder 38 has an outer wall 44 and a contact surface 46.The coupling device 28 has a first coupling element 48 which is formed integrally with the tooth crown base body 24 and the positioning body 26 and connects the tooth crown base body 24 to the positioning body 26. The first coupling element 48 is arranged on a side of the tooth crown base body 24 facing away from the tooth implant 12 (or facing the oral cavity). In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first coupling element 48 is L-shaped.The first coupling element 48 secures the positioning body 26 to the tooth crown base body 24. At the same time, the first coupling element 48 enables a relative movement of the positioning body 26 relative to the tooth crown base body 24. As a result, the positioning body 26 can be moved and rotated relative to the tooth crown base body 24.This has the advantage that the superstructure 14 can be easily and flexibly aligned at two different reference points. The crown base 24 can be held in a desired position and spatial orientation relative to the patient's oral cavity. At the same time, the positioning body 26 can be aligned relative to the tooth implant 12. Deviations in the actual position and spatial orientation of the tooth implant 12 from a planned position and spatial orientation in a jaw bone of the patient, which are given, for example, due to an inaccurately made bore for the tooth implant, can therefore be compensated.The positioning body 26 is arranged in the second through-opening 32. The longitudinal axis 40 of the positioning body 26 and the longitudinal axis 34 of the second through-opening 32 run parallel to one another without the action of external forces (apart from the weight force) and coincide in the exemplary embodiment shown. In an aligned state of the superstructure 14, i.e. under the action of external forces, the longitudinal axis 40 and the longitudinal axis 32 can run offset parallel or transverse to one another.The term "transverse" is not necessarily perpendicular or orthogonal in the present case. Instead, "transverse" includes any orientation at any angle.The outer wall 44 of the positioning body 26 is spaced apart from the inner wall 34 of the tooth crown base body 24 in such a way that an intermediate space 49 is formed between the positioning body 26 and the tooth crown base body 24, which is formed as an annular gap 50. The annular gap 50 allows a uniform play of the positioning body 26 in the second through-opening 32 in directions along and transversely to the longitudinal axis 34 of the tooth crown base body 34.The hollow cylinder 38 of the positioning body 26 extends through the second through-opening 32 and protrudes out of the second through-opening 32 on both sides. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 a, 3 band 3 c, the hollow cylinder 38 protrudes along the longitudinal axis 34 of the tooth crown base body 24 on one side of the second through-opening 32 via the artificial tooth crown 30. On the opposite side of the second through-opening 32, the hollow cylinder 38 likewise protrudes from the second through-opening 32.The contact surface 46 forms an annular contact surface for the fastening means 16 or for the screw head of a screw. The contact surface 46 is designed as a stepped bore and protrudes from an inner wall 47 of the hollow cylinder 38 in the interior of the hollow cylinder 38 in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis 40 of the positioning body 26.Returning to FIG. 2, the superstructure 14 can be fastened to the dental implant 12 by means of the fastening means 16, which is configured as a screw, as follows. The fastening means 16 can be inserted through the through-opening 42 of the positioning body 26 into the tooth implant 12 and screwed to the tooth implant 12. In this case, the positioning body 26 is fastened to the tooth implant 12 in that the fastening means 16 presses the contact surface 46 against the tooth implant 12 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 18 of the tooth implant 12. The position of the positioning body 26 transversely to the longitudinal axis 18 of the tooth implant 12 is also fixed by the fastening means 16.In the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 3 a, 3 band 3 c, the coupling device 28 has a first coupling element 48. Alternatively, the coupling device 28 can have a plurality of first coupling elements 48. For example, the coupling device 28 can have two, three, four or more first coupling elements 48, i.e. a multiplicity of first coupling elements 48. These can be arranged, for example, symmetrically about the longitudinal axis 34 of the second through-opening 32 or about the longitudinal axis 40 of the positioning body 26.Figures 4a and 4b show a second embodiment of the superstructure 14 according to the present invention, which, in contrast to the embodiment shown in Figures 3a, 3b and 3c, comprises a plurality of positioning bodies 26, a plurality of coupling means 28 and a plurality of artificial tooth crowns 30. The superstructure 14 shown in FIGS. 4 aand 4 bis designed as a toothed bridge, i.e. is suitable for replacing a multiplicity of (natural) teeth.While FIG. 4 ashows a perspective view of the superstructure 14, FIG. 4 bshows a further perspective view of the superstructure in which the plurality of positioning bodies 26 and the plurality of coupling devices 28 and the tooth crown base body 24 are partially cut. The section lies in a plane of symmetry of the corresponding positioning body 26 or of the corresponding hollow cylinder 38.The superstructure 14 may be connected to a plurality of dental implants 12 by inserting a fastener into a respective dental implant 12 through each of the plurality of positioning bodies 26.The plurality of positioning bodies 26 is connected to the tooth crown base body 24 by means of one of the plurality of coupling devices 28. The plurality of coupling devices 28 are each configured with a respective first coupling element 48, as in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 a, 3 band 3 c.Each of the plurality of positioning bodies 26 can be moved relative to the tooth crown base body 24, namely independently of the other positioning bodies 26. Thus, each of the plurality of positioning bodies 26 can be positioned on a respective tooth implant 12 and spatially aligned independently of the other positioning bodies 26.The superstructure 14 in the exemplary embodiment shown has a plurality of optional positioning holders 52. These are detachably connected to the tooth crown base body 24 and serve as auxiliary means for positioning and spatially aligning the tooth crown base body 24. the positioning holders 52 each have a through bore 53 for fastening to a further auxiliary device (not shown). The tooth crown base body 24 can thus be fixed in space in such a way that undesired displacement or rotation of the tooth crown base body 24 can be avoided and a user (e.g. an operator) simultaneously has both hands free. When the positioning holders 52 are no longer required, they can be released from the tooth crown base body 24.The position of the first coupling element 48 can vary, as in the present exemplary embodiment, depending on the coupling device 28 or artificial tooth crown 30.As can be seen in FIGS. 4 aand 4 b, the longitudinal axes 34 of the respective second through-opening 32 or the longitudinal axis 40 of the respective positioning bodies 26 run transversely to one another. Alternatively, the longitudinal axis 34, 40 of the plurality of positioning bodies 26 can run at least partially parallel to one another.As can be seen in FIGS. 4 aand 4 b, the tooth crown base body 24 has a greater number of artificial tooth crowns 30 than a number of positioning bodies 26. alternatively, the number of artificial tooth crowns 30 can correspond to the number of positioning bodies 26.FIGS. 5 aand 5 b show a third exemplary embodiment of the superstructure 14 according to the present invention, which differs from the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 a, 3 band 3 cin terms of the configuration of the coupling device 28.The coupling device 28 additionally has a second coupling element 54 and a third coupling element 56. The second coupling element 54 and the third coupling element 56 are designed as a tongue-and-groove connection. The second coupling element 54 is configured integrally with the positioning body 26 and protrudes from the outer wall 44 of the positioning body 26 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis 40 of the positioning body 26. The second coupling element 54 is rod-shaped. The third coupling element 56 is formed as a receptacle 58 for the second coupling element 54 integrally in the tooth crown base body 24, wherein the second coupling element 54 engages in the receptacle 58. The receptacle 58 surrounds the second coupling element 54 from five sides. The second coupling element 54 is at a distance from the receptacle 58 in such a way that the second coupling element 54 has play in the receptacle 58. The play enables a restricted translation and a restricted rotation of the positioning body 26 relative to the tooth crown base body 24.Thus, in comparison to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 a, 3 band 3 c, the relative movement of the positioning body 26 relative to the tooth crown base body 24 is restricted not only by means of the first coupling element 28 but also by means of the second coupling element 54 and the third coupling element 56.In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 aand 5 b, the second coupling element 54 and the third coupling element 56 prevent the positioning body 26 from being rotated too strongly in the second through-opening 32 of the tooth crown base body 24.In the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5 aand 5 b, the coupling device 28 has a first coupling element 48, a second coupling element 54 and a third coupling element 56. Alternatively, the superstructure 14 according to the invention can have a coupling device 28 with a plurality of first coupling elements 48 and / or a plurality of second coupling elements 54 and a corresponding number of third coupling elements 56. In this case, the number of first coupling elements 48 does not have to correspond to the number of second coupling elements of the 54 or to the number of third coupling elements 56.The plurality of first coupling elements 48 and / or the second coupling elements 54 and the corresponding plurality of third coupling elements 56 can be arranged, for example, symmetrically about the longitudinal axis 34 of the second through-opening 32.Alternatively, the coupling device 28 can be configured without a first coupling element 48 and comprise only the second coupling element 54 and the third coupling element 56, or a corresponding plurality thereof.FIG. 6 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of the superstructure 14 according to the present invention, which, in contrast to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 aand 5 b, has a plurality of positioning bodies 26, a plurality of coupling device 28 and a plurality of artificial tooth crowns 30. In this case, the plurality of positioning bodies 26 is connected to the tooth crown base body 24 in each case by means of one of the plurality of coupling devices 28.The fourth exemplary embodiment differs from the second exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 aand 4 bin respect of the configuration of the coupling devices 28.As in the second exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 aand 4 b, each of the plurality of positioning bodies 26 can be positioned and spatially aligned relative to the tooth crown base bodies 24 independently of the other positioning bodies 26. This has the advantage that, therefore, in particular, deviations of the corresponding bores of the respective tooth implants from one another can be compensated for.FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the method 60 according to the invention. In a first step (i), second step (ii) and third step (iii), the superstructure 14, the tooth implant 12 and the fastening means 16 are provided. Subsequently, in a fourth step (iv), the superstructure 14 is fastened to the tooth implant 12 with the aid of the fastening means 16. For this purpose, the fastening means 16 is screwed through the through-opening 42 of the positioning body 26 into the internal thread 20 of the tooth implant 12. In this case, the positioning body 26 is aligned on the tooth implant 12 and fastened to the latter.The tooth crown base body 24 is then brought into a desired position and spatial orientation relative to the positioning body 26 and held. This can be done, for example, with the aid of the positioning holders 52 (see FIGS. 4 aand 6 ). In a fifth step (v), a filling compound is filled into an intermediate space 49 between the positioning body 26 and the second through-opening 32 of the tooth crown base body 24. The filling compound connects the tooth crown base body 24 to the positioning body 26 The filling compound is cured in the subsequent sixth step (vi). This can be effected, for example, under the action of UV radiation. In the hardened state, the filling compound permanently fixes the tooth crown base body 24 to the positioning body 26. Since the positioning body 26 is fastened to the tooth implant 12, the tooth crown base body 24 is also fixed in space relative to the tooth implant 12.In a further subsequent optional seventh step (vii), a part of the superstructure 14 is removed which the patient does not require for functioning the dental prosthesis or which would interfere with use as a dental prosthesis. For example, the first coupling element 28, the part of the positioning body 26 that protrudes toward the oral cavity from the second through-opening 32 of the tooth crown base body 24, and / or the positioning holder 52 are removed.The removal can be effected, for example, by a machining production method such as, for example, milling, sawing or grinding.It is understood that the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures merely show exemplary embodiments of the superstructure according to the invention, of the dental prosthesis according to the invention and of the method according to the invention for producing the dental prosthesis, which are intended to illustrate the advantages of the superstructure according to the invention, of the dental prosthesis according to the invention and of the method according to the invention. Various modifications may be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.For example, the coupling device can have a plurality of first coupling elements and / or a plurality of second coupling elements with a corresponding plurality of third coupling elements. The number of first coupling elements can be independent of the number of second coupling elements or the number of third coupling elements. For example, a coupling device can have four first coupling elements, a second coupling element and a corresponding third coupling element.One or more of a plurality of the coupling devices can be designed differently. For example, the plurality of coupling devices can differ in terms of the type and the number of coupling elements and / or their arrangement.It is understood that the shape and the size of the coupling elements and their position on the positioning body or on the tooth crown base body can be varied. As a result, for example, the component rigidity of the first coupling element, of the second coupling element and / or of the third coupling element can be varied.The arrangement of the first coupling element can be dependent on or independent of the arrangement of the second coupling element or of the third coupling element. For example, the first coupling element and the second coupling element or the third coupling element can be arranged one above the other along the longitudinal axis of the positioning body or can be offset relative to one another in the circumferential direction of the positioning body.Furthermore, the first coupling element, the second coupling element and / or the third coupling element can also be fastened to the positioning body or in the tooth crown base body instead of being configured integrally with the positioning body or the tooth crown base body.

Claims

Superstructure (14) for a dental prosthesis (10), comprising: - a tooth crown base body (24) which carries at least one artificial tooth crown (30), - a positioning body (26) with a through-opening (42) for receiving a fastening means (16) for indirectly or directly fastening the superstructure (14) to a dental implant (12), and - a coupling device which couples the positioning body (26) to the tooth crown base body (24) in a captive manner and is configured to enable a relative movement of the positioning body (26) relative to the tooth crown base body (24).Superstructure (14) according to claim 1, wherein the tooth crown base body (24) has a second through-opening (32), in which the positioning body (26) is arranged.Superstructure (14) according to claim 2, wherein the positioning body (26) extends through the second through-opening (32) and protrudes therefrom at least on one side.Superstructure (14) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein an inner wall (36) of the tooth crown base body (24) defining the second through-opening (32) surrounds the positioning body (26) at least partially and is spaced apart from an outer wall (44) of the positioning body (26) in such a way that the positioning body (26) has play in the second through-opening (32).The superstructure (14) according to claim 4, wherein an annular gap is formed between the inner wall (36) and the outer wall (44).Superstructure (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning body (26) has a hollow cylinder (38) which defines the through-opening (42).Superstructure (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the through-opening (42) runs along a longitudinal axis (40) and has in its interior a contact surface (46) running transversely to the longitudinal axis (40).Superstructure (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling device (28) has a coupling element (48) which is formed integrally with the tooth crown base body (24) and / or the positioning body (26).Superstructure (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling device (28) has a first coupling element (48), which connects the tooth crown base body (24) and the positioning body (26) to one another in a spring-elastic manner.Superstructure (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling device (28) has a second coupling element (54) and a third coupling element (56), wherein the second coupling element (54) is formed on the positioning body (26) and the third coupling element (56) is formed on the tooth crown base body (24), wherein the second coupling element (54) and the third coupling element (56) cooperate to form a bearing by which the positioning body (26) is movably mounted on the tooth crown base body (24).Superstructure (14) according to one of the preceding claims, having: - a further positioning body (26) which has a further through-opening (32) for receiving a further fastening means (16) for indirectly or directly fastening the superstructure (14) to the tooth implant (12), and - a further coupling device (28) which couples the further positioning body (26) to the tooth crown base body (24) in a captive manner and is configured to enable a relative movement of the further positioning body (26) relative to the tooth crown base body (24).Dental prosthesis (10) comprising: - the superstructure (14) according to any one of claims 1-11, - a dental implant (12), and - a fastening means (16) configured to be inserted into the dental implant (12) through the through hole to connect the superstructure (14) to the dental implant (12).Method (60) for producing a dental prosthesis (10), comprising: - providing a superstructure (14) having a tooth crown base body (24) which carries at least one artificial tooth crown (30), a positioning body (26) having a through-opening (42) for receiving a fastening means (16) for indirectly or directly fastening the superstructure (14) to a dental implant (12), and a coupling device (28) which couples the positioning body (26) to the tooth crown base body (24) in a captive manner and is configured to enable a relative movement of the positioning body (26) relative to the tooth crown base body (24), - providing a dental implant (12), - providing a fastening means (16) which is configured to fasten the superstructure (14) indirectly or directly to the dental implant (12), and - fastening the superstructure (14) to the tooth implant (12) with the aid of the fastening means (16).Method (60) according to claim 13, comprising: - filling a filling compound into an intermediate space (49) between the positioning body (26) and a second through-opening (32) of the tooth crown base body (24), in which the positioning body (26) is arranged.The method (60) of claim 13 or 14, wherein providing the superstructure (14) comprises producing the superstructure (14) by means of an additive manufacturing method.

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