DENTAL PROSTHETIC DEVICE COMPRISING A DEFORMABLE CONNECTING PIECE

Abstract

Dental prosthetic device comprising a deformable connecting pieceThe invention relates in particular to a dental prosthetic device (1') comprising a rigid dental prosthesis frame (2') and a connecting system for fixing the latter to dental implants (3'), the connecting system comprising at least one deformable connecting piece (5') allowing adjustment of a position and / or a relative orientation between the frame and at least one of the dental implants by deformation of the deformable connecting piece during fixing of the frame to the dental implants, and a means (6') for relative immobilization of the deformable connecting piece and the frame in a deformed configuration of the deformable connecting piece.Dental prosthetic devices.Figure for abstract: Fig. 3.

Description

Title of the invention: DENTAL PROSTHETIC DEVICE COMPRISING A DEFORMABLE CONNECTING PIECE

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of dental prosthetic devices, implemented in the context of dental restoration procedures, and to the technical field of computer-assisted planning methods for dental restoration procedures.

[0002] The invention relates more specifically to a dental prosthetic device comprising a rigid dental prosthesis framework and a connecting system for fixing said dental prosthesis framework to a plurality of dental implants. The invention also relates to a computer-implemented method for planning a dental restoration procedure using such a dental prosthetic device.

[0003] Dental implantology is a surgical discipline practiced by dental surgeons, invented in Sweden in the 1980s, and which consists of placing one or more dental implants in the bone of a patient's maxilla or mandible, as part of a dental restoration procedure, in order to support a dental prosthesis intended to replace one or more missing natural teeth. The dental prosthesis can be single, when it aims to replace a single natural tooth. It can then be fixed on a single dental implant. Alternatively, the dental prosthesis can be multiple, when it aims to replace several natural teeth. In this case, the dental prosthesis needs to be supported by a plurality of dental implants.

[0004] For some patients, in the total absence of natural teeth in the maxilla and / or mandible, it may be considered to carry out a dental restoration by fitting a complete dental prosthesis for the upper arch and / or the lower arch. The dental prosthesis can then typically take the general shape of a prosthetic “horseshoe” supported by a plurality of dental implants (generally between 4 and 8 dental implants for one arch). Such a dental restoration treatment is also carried out when it is necessary to extract all of a patient’s natural teeth. Historically, the use of a temporary removable denture was the only possible technical alternative.

[0005] The concept of immediate loading was devised to serve such dentate patients who are to be edentulous. This consists of carrying out as concomitantly as possible, typically in a dental office, the steps of extracting the natural teeth, placing the dental implants, and then placing a fixed temporary dental prosthesis supported by the dental implants, so that the patient can immediately immediately have a temporary denture while waiting for the manufacture and fitting of a permanent (or "definitive") dental prosthesis. This surgical procedure, which generally lasts between 4 and 6 hours, remains, however, trying for patients. Wearing the temporary dental prosthesis generally lasts around 6 months, the time required to obtain complete healing of the operated gum and good osseointegration of the dental implants. Then, around 6 months after this procedure, the temporary dental prosthesis is removed and an impression of the actual position of the dental implants in the mouth is taken to allow the manufacture and fitting of a permanent dental prosthesis.

[0006] In order to facilitate the placement of the dental prosthesis, it is generally sought to define a single axis of fixation of the dental prosthesis on the dental implants. However, given a certain number of anatomical constraints to be respected, it is generally not possible to place the dental implants in the patient's jaw so that the anchoring directions of the dental implants are perfectly parallel to each other so as to define a single axis of fixation of the dental prosthesis on the dental implants. Prosthetic abutments with a conical head, possibly angled, are often used in combination with the dental implants, in order to attempt to best define a single axis of fixation of the dental prosthesis to the dental implants, by compensating for such a lack of voluntary parallelism of the anchoring directions of the dental implants.However, such prosthetic pillars do not always allow ideal compensation for the lack of parallelism of dental implants.

[0007] A number of computer solutions currently exist in dentistry to best plan such a dental restoration procedure. The combination of some of them, within a digital dental flow, thus makes it possible to improve the aesthetic quality of the temporary prosthesis while reducing the duration of the surgical intervention. The main stages of such a digital dental flow are generally the following: - definition of the patient's future smile using a specific photomontage in order to define a prosthetic project in two dimensions; - scanning the patient's arches with an intraoral scanner, to obtain three-dimensional images, on which the bone volumes and the prosthetic project in volume are associated. The dental implants are then positioned computer-based, according to the best compromise between these different elements; - a temporary dental prosthesis, resulting from the three-dimensional prosthetic project, is then manufactured, generally by a dental prosthesis laboratory. A surgical guide (or "drilling template") is also manufactured to allow the dental implants to be placed in the patient's body during the surgical procedure in a position as close as possible to that previously planned by computer.

[0008] Despite the high precision allowed by the implementation of such a digital flow and the use of a surgical guide for drilling the bone mass in which the dental implants are to be anchored, it is nevertheless technically impossible to place all the necessary dental implants in a perfectly superimposable manner with the position previously planned by computer. Indeed, bone is an inhomogeneous material and the hand of the dental surgeon, however experienced, necessarily induces a certain degree of inaccuracy in the positioning of the dental implants.

[0009] Furthermore, the possible implementation of prosthetic pillars with a conical and / or angled head in association with dental implants, the planning of which is done manually, outside of a digital flow, using a plaster model made from an impression taken of the dental implants after the latter have been anchored in the patient's body, may also be subject to a risk of inaccuracy linked to the manual intervention of the dental surgeon, both during planning and during placement in the patient's oral cavity.

[0010] Thus, it proves necessary to succeed in compensating in the most effective manner possible for any defects or inaccuracies in the relative arrangement of the dental implants and the dental prosthesis to be fixed to the latter, in order to allow effective, rapid and precise installation of the dental prosthesis.

[0011] The objects assigned to the invention therefore aim to provide a response to the aforementioned needs and problems, and to propose in particular a new dental prosthetic device allowing efficient, rapid and precise fitting of a dental prosthesis, in particular a temporary dental prosthesis, within the framework of a dental restoration procedure.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to propose a new dental prosthetic device which makes it possible to give a dental prosthesis optimal fixation and support ensuring good transfer to the bone mass of the mechanical forces applied to the dental prosthesis when the latter is used by the patient.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to propose a new dental prosthetic device which makes it possible to reduce the intervention time for fitting a dental prosthesis, and to reduce the discomfort generated for the patient.

[0014] Another object of the invention is to propose a new dental prosthetic device of particularly simple and robust design.

[0015] Another object of the invention aims to propose a new dental prosthetic device of a design which is particularly practical to implement.

[0016] Another object of the invention aims to propose a new prosthetic device dental which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to propose a new method for planning a dental restoration procedure allowing optimal implementation of such a new dental prosthetic device in the context of such a dental restoration procedure, and to allow immediate loading of a dental prosthesis, and in particular of a temporary dental prosthesis.

[0018] The objects assigned to the invention are achieved by means of a dental prosthetic device comprising a rigid dental prosthesis framework and a connecting system for fixing said dental prosthesis framework to a plurality of dental implants, said connecting system comprising: - at least one deformable connecting piece allowing adjustment of a position and / or a relative orientation between the dental prosthesis framework and at least one of the dental implants by deformation of said deformable connecting piece during attachment of said dental prosthesis framework to said dental implants, and - a means of relative immobilization of the deformable connecting piece and the dental prosthesis framework in a deformed configuration of the deformable connecting piece.

[0019] The objects assigned to the invention are also achieved using a computer-implemented method for planning a dental restoration procedure using a dental prosthetic device capable of conforming to the invention, said method comprising the steps of - definition of a three-dimensional virtual model of at least a portion of an oral cavity of a patient and of a jaw defining said oral cavity, using imaging data of an anatomical situation of said oral cavity and of said jaw; - definition, from said three-dimensional virtual model, of a preoperative virtual surgical plan comprising data on positions and spatial orientations of a plurality of dental implants to be anchored in the patient's jaw; - automatic determination, for each of said dental implants, from said spatial position and orientation data, of an angular difference between the respective anchoring direction of said dental implants and a predefined reference direction; - automatic determination, for each of said dental implants, from a library of three-dimensional digital models of a plurality of prosthetic pillars, including rotating prosthetic pillars angulated according to a plurality of different angulations, and preferably also at least one non-angulated prosthetic pillar, of a three-dimensional digital model of a corresponding prosthetic pillar and of an angular spatial orientation of the head of said prosthetic pillar by relative to the anchoring direction of the dental implant which lead, once the prosthetic abutment is fixed to said dental implant, to a minimal angular deviation between an average extension direction of the head of the prosthetic abutment and said predefined reference direction; - definition of a three-dimensional virtual model in which each of the three-dimensional digital models of prosthetic pillars thus determined is positioned fixed to the corresponding dental implant according to said determined angular spatial orientation of the head of said prosthetic pillar, then - definition of a virtual key for positioning and spatial orientation of said prosthetic pillars in the patient's oral cavity.

[0020] Other features and advantages of the invention will appear and emerge in more detail on reading the description given below, with reference to the appended drawings, given solely as illustrative and non-limiting examples, among which:

[0021] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] illustrates, schematically and in a sectional view truncated, an example of an embodiment of a prosthetic dental device according to the invention, in which the dental prosthesis framework and the connection system are designed and configured to provide fixation of the dental prosthesis framework to the dental implants by transfixation of the dental prosthesis framework. The connection system is illustrated here in a pre-assembled state to the dental prosthesis framework, and the dental prosthesis framework is illustrated connected in a pre-fixed state to the dental implants. In order to highlight certain particular characteristics of this embodiment, the scales are not necessarily respected and the angulations may be exaggerated;

[0022] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] illustrates, schematically and in a truncated sectional view, the prosthetic dental device of [Fig.l]. The connection system is illustrated in a state assembled to the dental prosthesis framework, and the dental prosthesis framework is illustrated connected in a state fixed to the dental implants by means of the connection system. In order to highlight certain particular characteristics of this variant of fixation by transfixation, the scales are not necessarily respected and the angulations may be exaggerated;

[0023] [Fig. 3] [Fig. 3] illustrates, schematically and in a truncated sectional view, an example of another embodiment of a prosthetic dental device according to the invention. The connection system is illustrated in a state assembled to the dental prosthesis framework, and the dental prosthesis framework of the prosthetic dental device is shown connected in a fixed state, here according to a friction cone variant, to the dental implants by means of the connection system. In order to highlight certain particular characteristics of this friction cone fixing variant, the scales are not necessarily respected and angulations may be exaggerated.

[0024] The invention relates, firstly, to a dental prosthetic device 1, 1' comprising a rigid dental prosthesis frame 2, 2' and a connecting system for fixing said dental prosthesis frame 2, 2' to a plurality of dental implants 3, 3'. Said dental prosthetic device 1, 1' is advantageously intended to be implemented in the context of a surgical dental restoration procedure in a patient, who is typically at least partially edentulous. Even more advantageously, the dental prosthetic device 1, 1' is intended to be implemented in the context of a computer-planned dental restoration procedure.Said dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' constitutes a rigid structural support part of a dental prosthesis typically comprising a dental prosthesis base bearing a plurality of prosthetic teeth, and intended to be placed in the oral cavity of a patient as part of a dental restoration procedure. It is understood here that this is a so-called "fixed" dental prosthesis, unlike a so-called "removable" dental prosthesis (or "denture") which is not supported by, and fixed to, dental implants, and which the patient can therefore remove at will. Typically, the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' is (or is at least intended to be) at least partially embedded in a resin (forming a plurality of prosthetic teeth (not illustrated in the figures). Preferably, said dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' is monolithic, that is to say that it is formed in a single piece.The dimensions and shape of the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' may depend in particular on the number and position of natural teeth that the dental prosthesis is intended to replace. The dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' may thus form an implant bar (or "implant suprastructure"), more or less arched, and for example in a "horseshoe" shape, depending on the number of natural teeth to be replaced. Typically, the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' has an occlusal face 2A, 2A' (or "coronal face"), intended to be oriented towards an occlusal plane (or "dental occlusion plane") of the patient, and an opposite apical face 2B, 2B', therefore intended to be oriented towards the bone of a corresponding maxilla (or "upper maxilla") or mandible (or "lower maxilla"). Advantageously, the dental prosthesis frame 2, 2' can have lateral faces (i.e.a lingual face (internal face), intended to be oriented opposite the patient's tongue and / or an opposite vestibular face (external face), intended to be oriented opposite a lip of the patient), which connect said occlusal face 2A, 2A' to said apical face 2B, 2B'.

[0025] The dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' is preferably metallic (for example made of a chromium and cobalt alloy (CrCo) or titanium), and for example made by sintering metal powder(s) or by machining. Alternatively, the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' could be made of a ceramic material, for example zirconia. Ty stitching, the 2, 2' dental prosthesis framework is custom-made for the patient concerned.

[0026] The dental implants 3, 3' concerned are typically endosseous implants, intended to be surgically inserted into the bone mass of a maxilla or a mandible of a patient, in order to ensure the retention and stability of the dental prosthesis by fixing the latter to said maxilla or to said mandible by means of said dental implants 3, 3'. The connecting system thus has the function of ensuring the fixing, the attachment, of the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' to each of the dental implants 3, 3' of said plurality of dental implants 3, 3', once the latter are anchored in the patient's body.Typically, said dental implants 3, 3' each comprise a dental implant body 4, 4' which extends longitudinally between an occlusal end 4A, 4A' (or "coronal") and an opposite apical end 4B, 4B' in a mean longitudinal extension direction which advantageously defines a direction A-A' for anchoring the dental implant 3, 3' in the patient's body. Preferably generally conical or frustoconical in shape, tapering from the occlusal end 4A, 4A' towards the apical end 4B, 4B', the body 4, 4' of the dental implants 3, 3' is advantageously provided with an anchoring means (not shown in the figures in order to simplify the latter) in the bone mass of a maxilla or a mandible, such as for example an external thread or retention fins.Alternatively, but less advantageously in terms of anchoring robustness, the body 4, 4' of the dental implants 3, 3' could be intended to be anchored in the bone mass by impaction, and would therefore be devoid of external threading or other retention fins.

[0027] According to the invention, the system for connecting the dental prosthesis frame 2, 2' to the dental implants 3, 3' comprises at least one deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B, 5' allowing (i.e. designed and configured to allow) an adjustment of a relative position and / or orientation between the dental prosthesis frame 2, 2' and at least one of the dental implants 3, 3' by deformation of said deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B, 5' during a fixing of said dental prosthesis frame 2, 2' to said dental implants 3, 3'.Said deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B, 5' is therefore capable of evolving from an initial configuration which is a non-deformed configuration, to a deformed configuration, during the fixing of the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' to said dental implants 3, 3' using the connecting system, in order to thus allow an adjustment of a position and / or a relative orientation between the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' and at least one of the dental implants 3, 3'. Here, the term "deformable" is advantageously understood to mean a capacity of the deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B, 5' to deform, plastically and / or elastically, in particular in compression and / or in torsion and / or even in . flexion, under the effect of a mechanical force exerted (typically by a dental surgeon or any other dental health professional carrying out the dental restoration procedure) against said deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B, 5' during a fixing of the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' to the dental implants 3, 3'. In comparison, the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' is rigid, as mentioned above, and therefore advantageously substantially non-deformable under the effect of said mechanical force exerted against said deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B, 5' during a fixing of the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' to said dental implants 3, 3'.In any event, the deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B, 5' has a greater deformability than a deformability that the dental prosthesis frame 2, 2' could possibly have respectively, under the effect of said mechanical force exerted during a fixing of the dental prosthesis frame 2, 2' to the dental implants 3, 3'. It is understood in this respect that the deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B, 5' is advantageously distinct from the dental prosthesis frame 2, 2'.

[0028] The connecting system advantageously further comprises a means 6, 6' for relative immobilization of the deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B, 5' and the dental prosthesis frame 2, 2' in said deformed configuration of the deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B, 5', and therefore for fixing, for maintaining fixed, the relative position and / or orientation(s) between the dental prosthesis frame 2, 2' and at least one of said corresponding dental implants 3, 3' thus adjusted. Said relative immobilization means 6, 6' is advantageously distinct from the deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B, 5' on the one hand, and from the dental prosthesis frame 2, 2' on the other hand.Thus, once deformed under the effect of a mechanical force exerted against it during the fixing of the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' to said dental implants 3, 3', the deformable connecting part 5A, 5B, 5' is immobilized, in a deformed configuration if necessary, relative to the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2'. For example, said relative immobilization means 6, 6' may comprise at least one screw, and / or an adhesive substance, and / or a hardenable substance (i.e. a substance which, being initially in a fluid state, can be hardened, for example a self-hardening health resin).

[0029] Thus, thanks to the dental prosthetic device 1, 1' and its connection system, it becomes possible to easily and effectively compensate for a possible lack (voluntary or not) of parallelism of the directions A-A' of anchoring of said dental implants 3, 3' and / or a possible defect (or "imprecision") of positioning of the occlusal ends 4A of said dental implants 3, 3' in a vertical direction, in particular with respect to a theoretical arrangement of the dental implants 3 predefined by computer upstream of the placement of the dental implants 3 in the patient's body., by adjusting a relative position and / or orientation between the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' and at least one of the dental implants 3, 3' by deformation of the deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B, 5'. Immobilization of the latter, using the immobilization means 6, 6', then makes it possible to ensure that the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' thus adjusted is held in position. Thus, the dental prosthetic device 1, 1' allows for efficient, rapid and precise fitting of a dental prosthesis. The intervention time is thus advantageously reduced, which makes the intervention less stressful for the patient, but also for the dental surgeon.In particular, it thus advantageously becomes possible to manufacture a custom-made dental prosthesis, prior to its placement in the patient's oral cavity, which can then be placed immediately during the same surgical operation during which the dental implants 3, 3' are placed in the patient's body, without requiring any particular operation to modify or adapt the dental prosthesis in the patient's oral cavity. Furthermore, it advantageously becomes possible to suture the patient's gum, after placement of the dental implants 3, 3', directly around the dental prosthesis thus placed during the same surgical operation, which allows optimal healing of the gum in a shape perfectly adapted to the dental prosthesis.The particular connection system of the dental prosthetic device 1,1' according to the invention also advantageously makes it possible to provide the dental prosthesis with optimal support ensuring good transfer to the bone mass of the mechanical forces applied to the dental prosthesis when the latter is used by the patient. This advantageously contributes to the mechanical reliability of the dental prosthesis in the mouth and to optimal restoration of the patient's mastication functions, while respecting the latter's anatomy.

[0030] Preferably, said at least one deformable connecting part 5A, 5B, 5' is made of biocompatible polymer material, and more preferably polyetheretherketone (PEEK), such a material offering an excellent compromise in terms of deformability properties and mechanical robustness. Optionally, said biocompatible polymer material can be filled.

[0031] Preferably, the connecting system is detachably attachable to said dental implants 3, 3'. In other words, said connecting system is designed and configured to attach the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' to the dental implants 3, 3' in a detachable, reversible manner. In this way, the dental prosthetic device 1, 1' can in particular be advantageously implemented for the production and fitting (advantageously immediate) of a temporary dental prosthesis (temporary dental prosthetic device 1, 1'), for example while waiting for the tissues to heal, for the manufacture and fitting of a so-called "use" dental prosthesis (or sometimes called “definitive”).

[0032] Preferably, as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the connection system comprises a plurality of prosthetic pillars 7, 7', 7", each designed and configured to be respectively fixed to one of said dental implants 3, 3', said at least one deformable connection piece 5A, 5B, 5' then advantageously allowing an adjustment of a position and / or a relative orientation between the dental prosthesis frame 2, 2' and at least one of said prosthetic pillars 7, 7', 7" by deformation of said deformable connection piece 5A, 5B, 5' during a fixing of said dental prosthesis frame 2, 2' to said dental implants 3, 3' by means of said prosthetic pillars 7, 7', 7". Each of the prosthetic pillars 7, 7', 7" therefore constitutes a intermediate prosthetic element ensuring (or at least contributing to ensuring) a junction between one of the dental implants 3, 3' and the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2'.

[0033] Advantageously, each of said prosthetic pillars 7, 7', 7” comprises a head 7A, 7A', 7A” (or “occlusal part”, or “coronary part”), which defines an occlusal end and an occlusal surface 8, 8', 8” (or “coronary end / surface”) of said prosthetic pillar 7, 7', 7”. The head 7A, 7A', 7A” of said prosthetic pillars 7, 7', 7” typically extends in a direction B-B' of average extension towards said occlusal end of the prosthetic pillar 7, 7', 7”.In the case where, as illustrated as an example in the figures, the prosthetic pillars 7, 7', 7” are distinct from the dental implants 3, 3', and therefore do not each form a monolithic part with one of the corresponding dental implants 3, 3', each of said prosthetic pillars 7, 7', 7” advantageously comprises a connection base 7B, 7B', 7B”, connected to the head 7A, 7A', 7A” of said prosthetic pillar 7, 7', 7”, to connect said prosthetic pillar 7, 7', 7” to one of the corresponding dental implants 3, 3'.Said connection base 7B, 7B', 7B”, which defines an apical end of said prosthetic abutment 7, 7', 7”, can be designed and configured - either to be received in the corresponding dental implant 3, 3', according to a so-called internal connection, the connection base 7B, 7B', 7B” of the prosthetic abutment 7, 7', 7” forming a male connection part intended to fit into a corresponding female connection part that respectively comprises the corresponding dental implant 3, 3', as illustrated as an example in the figures, - or on the contrary to receive the corresponding dental implant 3, 3', according to a so-called external connection, the connection base 7B, 7B', 7B” of the prosthetic abutment 7, 7', 7” forming a female connection part intended to receive a corresponding male connection part that respectively comprises the corresponding dental implant 3, 3'.

[0034] Advantageously, the connecting system further comprises a means of ver locking 9, 9' for locking each of the prosthetic abutments 7, 7', 7” relative to one of the corresponding dental implants 3, 3' in a connected state of said prosthetic abutment 7, 7', 7” to said dental implant 3, 3', and thus preventing a disconnection (and therefore a separation) of the latter in normal use of the dental prosthetic device 1, 1' (“locked connected state”, as opposed to a “non-locked connected state” in which the prosthetic abutment 7, 7', 7” is connected to one of the corresponding dental implants 3, 3' while maintaining mobility relative to the latter).Typically, as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, said locking means 9, 9' may comprise a fixing screw, which passes at least partly through the fixing base 7B, 7B', 7B” of the prosthetic abutment 7, 7', 7”, and of which a thread is provided to cooperate with a corresponding tapping which the body 4, 4' of the dental implant 3, 3' has respectively.

[0035] According to a variant, implemented in the embodiment illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the dental prosthesis frame 2 and the connection system are advantageously designed and configured to ensure fixing of said dental prosthesis frame 2 to at least one of said dental implants 3, and preferably to each of the latter, by transfixation of said dental prosthesis frame 2.

[0036] In this respect, at least one of said prosthetic pillars 7 is a transfixation prosthetic pillar, that is to say a pillar for fixing the dental prosthesis framework 2 by transfixation. The dental prosthesis framework 2 advantageously has at least one transfixation orifice 10, which typically opens on the one hand via the occlusal face 2A and on the other hand via the opposite apical face 2B of the dental prosthesis framework 2. The dental prosthetic device 1, and in particular the connection system thereof, advantageously comprises at least one transfixation screw 11 for fixing the dental prosthesis framework 2 to said prosthetic pillar 7 via said transfixation orifice 10. Said transfixation screw 11 is therefore intended to transscrew the dental prosthesis framework 2 (so-called transscrewing fixation). Typically, the transfixation screw 11 comprises a head 1 IA, which is extended by a rod 1 IB.The transfixation screw 11 thus extends, in a longitudinal extension direction, between a first end defined by said head 11A and a second opposite end defined by the rod 11B. Said rod 11B is provided with a thread (not shown in order to simplify the figures) over at least part of its length. In return, the prosthetic transfixation abutment 7 and / or the corresponding dental implant 3 advantageously have(s) a threaded hole 12 designed and configured to cooperate with the thread of the transfixation screw 11. Advantageously, the transfixation screw 11 is distinct from the aforementioned locking means 9, which facilitates the implementation of the dental prosthetic device 1. Another suitable transfixation means could possibly be envisaged instead of said at least one screw 11. transfixation. Such a transfixation means would typically have at least one head and one attachment member intended to cooperate with a suitable complementary attachment member (in place of the aforementioned tapped hole 12) respectively carried by said at least one prosthetic transfixation abutment 7 and / or by one of the corresponding dental implants 3. This being the case, the implementation of a screw-type transfixation means proves preferable, in terms of practicality and robustness in particular. In addition, the implementation of a screw-type transfixation means advantageously makes it possible to make the connection system detachably fixable to said dental implants 3, or at least to one of said dental implants 3.

[0037] The dental prosthesis frame 1 can thus be connected to the dental implants 3 by screwing the transfixation screw(s) 11, firstly in a pre-fixed state, then in a fixed state. Said pre-fixed state, illustrated as an example in [Fig.l], advantageously corresponds to a state in which the (or at least one of the) transfixation screws 11 is connected to the (or at least one of the) corresponding transfixation prosthetic pillar(s) 7, the dental prosthesis frame 2 nevertheless retaining mobility relative to the corresponding dental implant(s) 3. Said fixed state, illustrated as an example in [Fig.2], in return advantageously corresponds to a state in which the (or at least one of the) transfixation screws 11 is connected to the (or at least one of the) corresponding transfixation prosthetic pillar(s) 7, the dental prosthesis frame 2 being immobilized relative to the corresponding dental implant(s) 3.

[0038] At least in a pre-assembled state or in an assembled state of the connection system to the dental prosthesis framework 2, said at least one deformable connection part 5A, 5B is then advantageously crossed by the transfixation screw 11 and is arranged (at least in part): - either between the head 1 IA of the transfixation screw 11 and an occlusal support portion 13A defined by the occlusal face 2A of the dental prosthesis framework 2, in which case the head 11A of the transfixation screw 11 is therefore arranged occlusally relative to the dental prosthesis framework 2 (i.e. arranged on the side of the occlusal face 2A of the dental prosthesis framework 2); - either between an apical support portion 13B defined by the apical face 2B of the dental prosthesis frame 2 and said prosthetic transfixation pillar 7, and more specifically between said apical support portion 13B and the occlusal surface 8 defined by the head 7A of said prosthetic transfixation pillar 7.

[0039] Said deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B can advantageously form a washer, that is to say a piece of generally annular shape, and preferably of generally circular shape. However, such a washer could have an oval, rectangular or other annular shape. Possibly, but less advantageously, it could be a split washer, that is to say a part of generally annular shape not completely closed on itself. In any event, said at least one deformable connecting part 5A, 5B advantageously has an axial through hole, preferably of circular section, by means of which the transfixing screw 11 passes right through the deformable connecting part 5A, 5B.

[0040] Preferably, in the fixed state of the dental prosthesis frame 2, said at least one deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B is thus arranged in contact on the one hand with the head 11A of the transfixation screw 11 and on the other hand with the occlusal support portion 13A defined by the occlusal face 2A of the dental prosthesis frame 2 or, respectively, in contact on the one hand with the apical support portion 13B of the dental prosthesis frame 2 and on the other hand with the transfixation prosthetic pillar 7, and in particular with the occlusal surface 8 of the head 7A of said transfixation prosthetic pillar 7.

[0041] Advantageously, said transfixation orifice 10 defines a passage section for the transfixation screw 11 which has a diameter at least equal to 1.1 times, preferably between 1.1 times and 1.7 times, and for example equal to approximately 1.6 times, a respective maximum diameter of the rod 11B of the transfixation screw 11, which advantageously allows radial movement and / or angular movement of the transfixation screw 11 through the dental prosthesis frame 2.

[0042] As in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, it is advantageous for several of said prosthetic pillars 7, and even more advantageously each of said prosthetic pillars 7, to be one or more transfixation pillars as described above. In this case, the dental prosthesis frame 2 then advantageously has a plurality of said transfixation orifices 10, and a plurality of said transfixation screws 11 for fixing the dental prosthesis frame 2 to each of said transfixation prosthetic pillars 7 via one of said corresponding transfixation orifices 10. The connection system then advantageously comprises, for each pair of transfixation prosthetic pillars 7 and transfixation screws 11, at least one deformable connection piece 5A, 5B, as described above.

[0043] Thus, during a fixing of said dental prosthesis framework 2 to said dental implants 3, and therefore in particular during a passage of said dental prosthesis framework 2 from said pre-fixed state to said fixed state, a screwing of the transfixation screw(s) 11 to the corresponding prosthetic abutment(s) 7 of transfixation causes a pinching of the (or each of the) deformable connecting piece(s) 5A, 5B between the head 11A of the transfixation screw 11 concerned and the occlusal support portion 13A of the dental prosthesis framework 2 or, respectively, between the apical support portion 13B of the dental prosthesis framework 1 and the prosthetic abutment 7 of transfixation concerned. The pinching force thus applied to the connecting piece(s) deformable(s) 5A, 5B is capable of generating a deformation of the latter(s) thus allowing an adjustment of a position and / or a relative orientation between the dental prosthesis framework 2 and the dental implant 3 concerned, the deformation of the deformable connecting part(s) 5A, 5B thus making it possible to absorb at least partially, in a simple and effective manner, a possible lack (voluntary or not) of parallelism of the directions A-A' of anchoring of said dental implants 3 and / or a possible defect (or "imprecision") of positioning of the occlusal ends 4A of said dental implants 3 in a vertical direction, in particular with respect to a theoretical arrangement of the dental implants 3 predefined by computer prior to the placement of the dental implants 3 in the patient's body.

[0044] Even more preferably, as in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the connection system comprises, for at least one of said prosthetic transfixation pillars 7 and more preferably for each of the latter, a plurality of said deformable connection pieces 5A, 5B, and in particular at least one pair of said deformable connection pieces 5A, 5B, - a first of said deformable connecting parts 5A, 5B, advantageously forming a first washer (or “occlusal washer”), which - at least in a pre-assembled state or in an assembled state of the system for connecting to the dental prosthesis framework 2 - is crossed by the transfixation screw 11 and is arranged between the head 11A of the transfixation screw 11 and the occlusal support portion 13A of the dental prosthesis framework 2, and - a second of said deformable connecting parts 5A, 5B, advantageously forming a second washer (or "apical washer"), which - at least in a pre-assembled state or in an assembled state of the connection system to the dental prosthesis framework 2 - is preferably also traversed by the transfixation screw 11 and is arranged between the apical support portion 13B of the dental prosthesis framework 2 and the transfixation prosthetic pillar 7, and more specifically between the apical support portion 13B of the dental prosthesis framework 2 and the occlusal surface 8 defined by the head 7A of the transfixation prosthetic pillar 7.

[0045] In other words, the connection system advantageously comprises, for a given transfixation prosthetic pillar 7, and preferably for each of the latter, at least one pair of deformable connection pieces 5A, 5B consisting of a first deformable connection piece 5A (or “occlusal deformable connection piece”) and a second deformable connection piece 5B (or “apical deformable connection piece”), which are respectively arranged as indicated above (figures 1 and 2).

[0046] Preferably, in the fixed state of the dental prosthesis framework 2 ([Fig.2]), for a given transfixation prosthetic pillar 7 (and more preferably for each of these last), said first deformable connecting piece 5A is arranged in contact on the one hand with the head 1 IA of the corresponding transfixation screw 11 and on the other hand with the occlusal support portion 13A defined by the occlusal face 2A of the dental prosthesis framework 2. Preferably, in the fixed state of the dental prosthesis framework 2 ( [Fig.2]), for a given transfixation prosthetic pillar 7 (and more preferably for each of said transfixation prosthetic pillars 7), the second deformable connecting piece 5B is arranged in contact on the one hand with the apical support portion 13B of the dental prosthesis framework 2 and on the other hand with the corresponding transfixation prosthetic pillar 7, and in particular with the occlusal surface 8 of the head 7 A of said transfixation prosthetic pillar 7.

[0047] Thus, during a fixing of said dental prosthesis framework 2 to said dental implants 3, and therefore in particular during a passage of said dental prosthesis framework 2 from said pre-fixed state ([Fig. 1]) to said fixed state ([Fig. 2]), a screwing of the transfixation screw(s) 11 to the corresponding transfixation prosthetic pillar(s) 7 simultaneously causes a pinching of the first deformable connecting piece 5A between the head 11A of the transfixation screw 11 and the occlusal support portion 13A of the dental prosthesis framework 2 and a pinching of the second deformable connecting piece 5B between the apical support portion 13B of the dental prosthesis framework 2 and the corresponding transfixation prosthetic pillar 7. The dental prosthesis frame 2 is thus sandwiched between said first and second deformable connecting pieces 5A, 5B.

[0048] The implementation of such a pair of deformable connecting parts 5A, 5B makes it possible to absorb even more effectively a possible lack (voluntary or not) of parallelism of the directions A-A' of anchoring of the dental implants 3 and / or a possible defect (or "imprecision") of positioning of the occlusal ends 4A of the dental implants 3 in a vertical direction, in particular with respect to a theoretical arrangement of the dental implants 3 predefined by computer upstream of the placement of the dental implants 3' in the patient's body.

[0049] In the case of a plurality of deformable connecting pieces 5A, 5B, the latter can advantageously have identical deformability characteristics, which facilitates the implementation of the dental prosthetic device 1 and reduces the manufacturing cost. For example, the first deformable connecting pieces 5A of each of the pairs of deformable connecting pieces 5A, 5B are identical to each other, and the second deformable connecting pieces 5B of each of the pairs of deformable connecting pieces 5A, 5B are identical to each other. Alternatively, said deformable connecting pieces 5A, 5B may have different deformability characteristics (for example, for the first and second deformable connecting pieces 5A, 5B of the same pair), which makes it possible to adjust in a particular manner litterally fine the position and / or the relative orientation between the dental prosthesis frame 2 and at least one of the dental implants 3. Alternatively or additionally, for similar reasons, said deformable connecting parts 5A, 5B may have dimensions (and in particular thicknesses) which are identical to each other or on the contrary different.

[0050] In this variant in which the dental prosthesis frame 2 is intended to be fixed (at least partially) by transfixation, and in particular therefore by transscrewing, said relative immobilization means 6 of the (or each of the) deformable connecting part(s) and of the dental prosthesis frame 2 in a deformed configuration of the (or at least one of the) deformable connecting part(s) 5A, 5B therefore advantageously comprises said transfixation screw 11 (or at least one of said transfixation screws 11). Indeed, when the fixed state of the dental prosthesis frame 2 is reached following screwing of the transfixation screw(s) 11 ([Fig.2]), the deformable connecting part(s) 5A, 5B deformed where appropriate under the resulting fixing force is (are) thus kept immobilized relative to the dental prosthesis frame 2 by means of said transfixation screw(s) 11.Optionally, it could be envisaged that the relative immobilization means 6 of the (or each of the) deformable connecting part(s) 5A, 5B and of the dental prosthesis framework 2 further comprise a hardenable substance, at least partially covering the (or each of the) deformable connecting part(s) 5A, 5B and thus contributing to ensuring, once hardened, a relative immobilization of the (or each of the) deformable connecting part(s) 5A, 5B and of the dental prosthesis framework 2.

[0051] Still according to a principle of fixing the prosthesis framework 2 by transfixation, it is alternatively conceivable (but not illustrated), although less preferably, that the connection system is devoid of a prosthetic transfixation abutment, and that said at least one transfixation screw is provided to fix the dental prosthesis framework directly to one of the corresponding dental implants via said at least one transfixation orifice. In such a case, the dental implant concerned then comprises a tapping designed and configured to cooperate with the thread of the transfixation screw to thus allow a so-called “direct-implant” transfixation of the dental prosthesis framework to said dental implant. Said at least one deformable connection part is then crossed by said transfixation screw and is arranged: - either between the head of the transfixation screw and the occlusal support portion defined by the occlusal face of the dental prosthesis framework, - either between said apical support portion defined by the apical face of the dental prosthesis framework and the occlusal end of said dental implant.

[0052] In a similar manner to what has been described above with regard to a transfixation of the dental prosthesis framework 2 by means of one or more prosthetic transfixation pillars 7, the connection system can then advantageously comprise a plurality of said deformable connection pieces, - a first of said deformable connecting pieces, advantageously forming a first washer, which is crossed by said transfixation screw and which is arranged between the head of the transfixation screw and said occlusal support portion 13A of the dental prosthesis framework 2, and - a second of said deformable connecting pieces, advantageously forming a second washer, which is preferably also crossed by said transfixation screw, and which is arranged between the apical support portion 13B of the dental prosthesis framework 2 and the corresponding dental implant 3, and more specifically between said apical support portion 13B and the occlusal end 8 of said dental implant.

[0053] Thus, what has been described previously with regard to a transfixation of the dental prosthesis framework 2 by means of one or more transfixation prosthetic pillars 7 can advantageously be applied mutatis mutandis to this alternative, the occlusal end and occlusal surface 8 of the transfixation prosthetic pillar 7 then being advantageously replaced by the occlusal end 4A and an occlusal surface of one of the corresponding dental implants 3.

[0054] Advantageously, in a pre-fixed state (as defined previously) of the dental prosthesis frame 2 to said prosthetic transfixation pillar(s) 7, said at least one deformable connecting part 5A, 5B is arranged to be mobile in translation. - either opposite, and parallel to, said occlusal support portion 13A defined by the occlusal face 2A of the dental prosthesis frame 2, - either opposite, and parallel to, said apical support portion 13B defined by the apical face 2A of the dental prosthesis frame 2,

[0055] to thus allow an adjustment of a position and / or a relative orientation between the dental prosthesis frame 2 and at least one of the corresponding dental implants 3, by relative displacement along a trajectory parallel to said occlusal support portion 13A and / or to said apical support portion 13B, of the deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B and of the transfixation screw 11 which passes through the latter.

[0056] In this respect, as schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the occlusal bearing portion 13A of the dental prosthesis framework 2 can advantageously define an occlusal bearing surface which is flat, said at least one deformable connecting piece 5A (and in particular said first deformable connecting piece 5A in the preferred case of a pair of deformable connecting pieces 5A, 5B) having an apical contact face 14B which is flat, and, in said pre-fixed state, said part of deformable connection 5A is then arranged to be movable in translation relative to and parallel to said occlusal bearing surface, said apical contact face 14B being preferentially in direct contact with said occlusal bearing surface. As schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the apical bearing portion 13B of the dental prosthesis frame 2 can advantageously define an apical bearing surface which is flat, said at least one deformable connecting piece 5B (and in particular said second deformable connecting piece 5B in the preferential case of a pair of deformable connecting pieces 5A, 5B) having an occlusal contact face 15A which is flat, and, in said pre-fixed state, said deformable connecting piece 5B is then arranged to be movable in translation relative to and parallel to said apical bearing surface, said occlusal contact face 15A preferably being in direct contact with said apical bearing surface.

[0057] It is understood here that, as introduced previously, the passage section for the transfixation screw 11, defined by said at least one corresponding transfixation orifice 10 of the prosthesis frame 2, has a diameter which is advantageously sufficiently greater than a respective diameter of the rod 11B of the transfixation screw 11 to allow at least radial, and preferably also angular, movement of the transfixation screw 11 through the dental prosthesis frame 2 when the deformable connecting part(s) 5A, 5B move(s) in translation in accordance with the above. As previously envisaged, said transfixation orifice 10 thus preferably defines a passage section for the transfixation screw 11 which has a diameter at least equal to 1.1 times, more preferably between 1.1 times and 1.7 times, and for example equal to approximately 1.6 times, a respective maximum diameter of the rod 11B of the transfixation screw 11.

[0058] Thus, in said pre-fixed state, said at least one connecting piece formable 5A, 5B has at least one degree of freedom in parallel translation relative to said occlusal support portion 13A or to said apical support portion 13B, and this preferably according to at least two translation directions which are intersecting.Such an adjustment, which can thus be advantageously complementary to an adjustment of a position and / or a relative orientation between the dental prosthesis frame 2 and at least one of the corresponding dental implants 3 by deformation of said deformable connecting part 5A, 5B, can thus advantageously contribute to absorbing at least partially a possible lack (voluntary or not) of parallelism of the directions A-A' of anchoring of said dental implants 3 and / or a possible defect (or "imprecision") of positioning of the occlusal ends 4A of the dental implants 3 in a vertical direction, in particular with respect to a theoretical arrangement of the dental implants 3 predefined by computer upstream of the placement of the dental implants 3 in the patient's body. Then, in a fixed state (such . as defined previously) of the dental prosthesis frame 2 to said prosthetic transfixation pillar(s) 7, said position and / or a relative orientation thus adjusted by translational displacement is then advantageously kept fixed by said relative immobilization means 6 of the deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B and the dental prosthesis frame 2.

[0059] In the case where said at least one deformable connecting piece 5B is arranged between the head 1 IA of the transfixation screw 1) and the occlusal support portion 13A defined by the occlusal face 2A of the dental prosthesis framework 2, the latter preferably comprises at least one occlusal housing 16, a bottom of which defines said occlusal support portion 13A, and within which said deformable connecting piece 5A is arranged at least partially ([Fig.l]). Said occlusal housing 16, which opens at least through the occlusal face 2A of the dental prosthesis framework 2. This contributes to further facilitating the implementation of said deformable connecting piece 5A and more generally of the dental prosthetic device 1.In addition, the implementation of such an occlusal housing 16 advantageously makes it possible to facilitate overmolding of the dental prosthesis framework 2 with a resin, with a view to forming a plurality of prosthetic teeth, with a limited risk of the presence of resin in the transfixation orifice 10 (a temporary plug can, for example, be inserted into the occlusal housing 16 during overmolding).

[0060] As illustrated in the figures, the transfixation orifice 10 then opens through the occlusal face 2B of the dental prosthesis frame 2 via the occlusal housing 16. Advantageously, said occlusal housing 16 is delimited by a side wall which extends from the bottom of the occlusal housing 16, and which is closed on itself along a periphery of said bottom, so that said translational mobility of the deformable connecting piece 5A is therefore limited by said side wall in all directions parallel to said occlusal support portion 13A. For example, the deformable connecting piece 5A is circular in shape, and said occlusal housing 16 is also circular in shape.

[0061] In the case where said at least one deformable connecting piece 5A is arranged to be movable in translation opposite and parallel to said occlusal support portion 13A defined by the occlusal face 2A of the dental prosthesis framework 2, said occlusal housing 16 is therefore advantageously provided to be wider than said deformable connecting piece 5A to be received, so that the latter can therefore effectively move within the occlusal housing 16 in translation parallel to said occlusal support portion 13A. The deformable connecting piece 5A is thus arranged to be movable in translation parallel to the occlusal support portion 13A within the occlusal housing 16, but according to a stroke limited by the side wall of the occlusal housing 16.

[0062] Advantageously, the side wall extends from the bottom of the occlusal housing 16 over a sufficient height so that the deformable connecting piece 5A can be fully received in the occlusal housing 16, in the pre-fixed state as in the fixed state of the dental prosthesis framework. Optionally, even more advantageously in terms of compactness, said side wall can extend from the bottom of the occlusal housing 16 over a sufficient height so that the deformable connecting piece 5A and the head 11A of the transfixation screw 11 are both fully received in the occlusal housing 16, at least in the fixed state of the dental prosthesis framework 2.

[0063] In the case where said at least one deformable connecting piece 5B is arranged between the apical support portion 13B defined by the apical face 2B of said dental prosthesis frame 2 and said prosthetic transfixation abutment 7, said dental prosthesis frame 2 may optionally comprise (according to a variant not illustrated in the figures) at least one apical housing (or “apical recess”), a bottom of which defines said apical support portion 13B, and within which said deformable connecting piece 5B is arranged at least partially. Such an apical housing, which then opens at least through the apical face 2B of the dental prosthesis frame 2. This can contribute to further facilitating the implementation of said deformable connecting piece 5B and more generally of the dental prosthetic device 1. The transfixation orifice 10 then opens through the apical face 2B of the dental prosthesis framework 2 via the apical housing.

[0064] In the case where said at least one deformable connecting piece 5B is arranged to be movable in translation opposite and parallel to said apical support portion 13B defined by the apical face 2B of the dental prosthesis frame 2, said apical housing is then advantageously provided to be wider than said deformable connecting piece 5B to be received, so that the latter can therefore effectively move within the apical housing in translation parallel to said apical support portion 13B.

[0065] When the dental prosthetic device connection system 1 advantageously comprises at least one pair of first and second deformable connection pieces 5A, 5B as described previously (and preferably as many pairs of first and second deformable connection pieces 5A, 5B as there are prosthetic transfixation pillars 7 and dental implants 3), it is thus advantageous that, in a pre-fixed state of the dental prosthesis framework 2 to said prosthetic transfixation pillar(s) 7, - said first deformable connecting part 5A is arranged to be movable in translation opposite, and parallel to, said occlusal support portion 13A defined by the occlusal face 2A of the dental prosthesis frame 2, and / or that - said second deformable connecting part 5B is arranged to move in translation opposite, and parallel to, said apical support portion 13B defined by the apical face 2B of the dental prosthesis frame 2.

[0066] Even more advantageously, as in the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.l], said (and preferably each of the) first deformable connecting piece(s) 5A is arranged to be movable in translation opposite and parallel to said occlusal support portion 13A defined by the occlusal face 2A of the dental prosthesis frame 2, and the dental prosthesis frame 2 comprises at least one occlusal housing 16 (and preferably a plurality of said occlusal housings 16), as described above, the bottom of which defines said occlusal support portion 13A, and within which (which) is arranged at least partially (and preferably entirely) said first deformable connecting piece 5A (or one of said corresponding first deformable connecting pieces 5A).

[0067] Alternatively or additionally, said (and preferably each of the) second deformable connecting piece(s) 5B is arranged to be movable in translation opposite and parallel to said occlusal support portion 13A defined by the occlusal face 2A of the dental prosthesis frame 2, and the dental prosthesis frame 2 may optionally comprise at least one apical housing (and preferably a plurality of said apical housings), as described above, the bottom of which defines said apical support portion 13B, and within which (which) is arranged at least partially (and preferably entirely) said second deformable connecting piece 5A (or one of said corresponding second deformable connecting pieces 5B).

[0068] Preferably, as illustrated by example in Figures 1 and 2, said at least one transfixation screw 11 is a flat-headed transfixation screw, that is to say that the head 1 1A of the transfixation screw 11 has a sub-face which extends substantially in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal extension direction of the transfixation screw 11. In return, said first deformable connecting piece 5A (or at least said at least one deformable connecting piece 5A which is arranged between the head 1 1A of the transfixation screw 11 and the occlusal support portion 13A defined by the occlusal face 2A of the dental prosthesis framework 2) has an occlusal contact face 14A, opposite the aforementioned apical contact face 14B, which is advantageously flat.The implementation of such a flat-headed transfixing screw 11, rather than a countersunk-headed transfixing screw in particular, advantageously makes it possible to limit a risk of damage, by the head 11A of the transfixing screw 11 when screwing the latter, to the deformable connecting part 5A, in particular when the latter forms a washer.

[0069] Alternatively, according to a variant not illustrated, it could nevertheless be envisaged, according to the inherent mechanical strength of said first deformable connecting piece 5A (or at least of said deformable connecting piece 5A which is arranged between the head of the transfixation screw and said occlusal support portion 13A of the dental prosthesis framework 2), that said at least one transfixation screw is a countersunk head transfixation screw, that is to say that the head of the transfixation screw has an underside which is oblique relative to the longitudinal extension direction of the transfixation screw.In return, the occlusal contact face of the first deformable connecting piece 5A (or at least said at least one deformable connecting piece which is arranged between the head of the transfixation screw and the occlusal support portion 13A of the dental prosthesis framework 2) can then optionally define a cup to receive the oblique underside of the head of the transfixation screw, therefore in contact against the surface of said cup, and this at least during the fixing of the dental prosthesis framework 2 to the dental implants 3. For example, the oblique underside of the head of the transfixation screw can have a generally truncated cone shape, and said cup can in return have a generally conical or truncated cone shape or even a spherical shape.The implementation of such a bowl can advantageously make it possible to guide the placement of the transfixation screw through the (first) deformable connecting piece, as well as the screwing of the transfixation screw. It can also advantageously make it possible to create a ball-and-socket type connection between the head of the transfixation screw and the (first) deformable connecting piece, when the latter are in contact during the fixing of the dental prosthesis framework 2 to the dental implants 3.This can advantageously facilitate the adjustment of a position and / or a relative orientation between the dental prosthesis frame 2 and at least one of the dental implants 3 and thus absorb in particular a possible lack (voluntary or not) of parallelism of the directions A-A' of anchoring of the dental implants 3 by pivoting the head of the transfixation screw, and this without having to resort to an additional intermediate part between the head of the transfixation screw and the (first) deformable connecting part 5A.

[0070] Advantageously, as illustrated by example in Figures 1 and 2, said at least one prosthetic transfixation pillar 7 (and preferably each of said prosthetic transfixation pillars 7) comprises a head 7A which is of generally conical or frustoconical shape, that is to say typically defined by generatrices forming an angle with an axial extension direction of the head 7A. This advantageously contributes to facilitating the fixing, along a single fixing axis (or “insertion axis”), of the dental prosthesis framework 2, and / or subsequently of a dental prosthesis framework in use in place of said dental prosthesis framework 2 when the latter belongs to a temporary dental prosthesis, and this despite a possible lack of parallelism of the directions A-A' of anchoring of the dental implants 3. Said at least one prosthetic transfixation pillar 7 (and preferably each of said prosthetic transfixation pillars 7) further advantageously comprises a shoulder 7C (or “plate”) from which said head 7A extends, therefore in the direction of the occlusal end of the prosthetic transfixation pillar 7. In return, it is advantageous that said second deformable connecting piece 5B (or at least said deformable connecting piece which is arranged between the apical support portion 13B of said dental prosthesis frame 2 and said corresponding transfixation prosthetic pillar 7) has an apical contact face 15B, which is provided with a recess 17 for receiving said head 7A, conical or frustoconical, of the transfixation prosthetic pillar 7, with said shoulder 7C advantageously arranged in contact with an area of the apical contact face 15B located at the periphery of said recess 17 (figures 1 and 2).Thus, when fixing the prosthesis frame 2 to said dental implants 3, said second deformable connecting piece 5B (or at least said at least one deformable connecting piece which is arranged between the apical support portion 13B of the dental prosthesis frame 2 and said corresponding transfixation prosthetic pillar 7) is advantageously pinched between, on the one hand, the apical support portion 13B of the dental prosthesis frame 2 and, on the other hand, the shoulder 7C of the transfixation prosthetic pillar 7. The conical or truncated head 7A of the transfixation prosthetic pillar 7 is then advantageously fully received in said recess 17 provided in the apical contact face 15B of the second deformable connecting piece 5B, as visible as an example in FIGS. 1 and 2.In other words, said recess 17 is advantageously sized to fully receive within it said conical or frustoconical head 7A of the prosthetic transfixation pillar 7. This in particular advantageously makes it possible to facilitate a relative translational movement of said second deformable connecting part 5B and of the apical support portion 13B of the dental prosthesis frame 2, as mentioned previously, by “erasing” the conical or frustoconical character of the head 7A of the prosthetic transfixation pillar 7.Furthermore, the contact between the shoulder 7C of the prosthetic transfixation pillar 7 advantageously ensures good transmission of the forces exerted during the fixing of the dental prosthesis framework 2 to the dental implants 3, and further contributes to guaranteeing excellent recovery of the occlusal forces when the dental prosthesis is used by the patient, with a limited risk of damage to the second deformable connecting part 5B.

[0071] According to another variant, implemented in the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 3], the dental prosthesis frame 2' and the connection system are designed and configured to ensure attachment of said dental prosthesis frame 2' to at least one of said dental implants 3', and preferably to each of the latter, by friction cone between said connection system and at least one (and preferably each) of said prosthetic pillars 7', 7” (so-called “Morse taper” fixation). In this other variant, at least one of said prosthetic pillars 7', 7” (and preferably, each of said prosthetic pillars 7', 7”) has a head 7A', 7A” which is conical or frustoconical, that is to say which is typically defined by generatrices forming between them an angle 0 (and therefore each forming a half angle 0 with the direction B-B' of average extension of the head 7A', 7A”). The dental prosthetic device 1', and in particular the connection system thereof, advantageously comprises at least one counterpart 18 (or “cap”) having a recess 19 which is conical or frustoconical, of a shape adapted to the conical or frustoconical head 7A', 7A” of said prosthetic pillar 7', 7”, to ensure frictional retention of said head 7A', 7A” in said recess 19.The direction B-B' of average extension of the conical or frustoconical head 7A', 7A” of the prosthetic abutment 7', 7” advantageously defines an axis of insertion of said head 7A', 7A” in the recess 19 of said corresponding counterpart 18. The conical or frustoconical shape of the recess 19 of the counterpart 18 is typically defined by generatrices forming between them an angle 0' (and therefore each forming a half angle 0' with a direction of axial extension of said counterpart 18). In other words, the head 7A', 7A” of said prosthetic abutment 7', 7” and the recess 19 of the counterpart 18 have conjugate conical or frustoconical shapes, and of sufficiently low conicity to allow retention by friction of said head 7A', 7A” in said recess 19, by contact of the head 7A', 7A” of the prosthetic abutment 7', 7” against an internal wall of the recess 19 of the counterpart 18.In this respect, said angles 0, 0' formed between them by the generatrices of the general conical or truncated conical shapes of the head 7A', 7A” of said prosthetic pillar 7', 7” and of the recess 19 of the counterpart 18 are advantageously between 4° and 8°, and are for example equal to approximately 5° or approximately 6°.

[0072] According to this other variant, the dental prosthesis frame 2' is further provided with at least one apical housing 20, which therefore opens through the apical face 2B' of the dental prosthesis frame 2', to receive said counterpart 18. Said apical housing 20 is larger on all sides than said counterpart 18 to be received. The apical housing 20 is thus shaped and dimensioned to allow an arrangement of said counterpart 18 inside said apical housing 20 without contact between an internal wall 21 of said apical housing 20 and an external surface 22 of said counterpart 18. Said deformable connecting part 5' advantageously forms a ring which is arranged between, and in contact with, a portion of the internal wall 21 of said apical housing 20 and a portion of the external surface 22 of said counterpart 18 during a fixing of said dental prosthesis frame 2' to said dental implants 3'.Said ring is preferably monolithic and closed on itself. In other words, said deformable connecting piece 5' is arranged at least by . entially, and preferably entirely, inside the apical housing 20 of the dental prosthesis frame 2', and is designed and configured to mechanically connect the counterpart 18 to the dental prosthesis frame 2', when the counterpart 18 is received in the apical housing 20 of the dental prosthesis frame 2' during attachment of the latter to said dental implants 3'. Preferably, as illustrated as an example in [Fig.3], the internal wall 21 of said apical housing 20 has a groove 23 for receiving a portion of said ring, which forms said deformable connecting piece 5'. At least a portion of a wall of said groove 23 thus forms said portion of the internal wall 21 of the apical housing 20 in contact with which said ring is arranged. More preferably still, said groove 23 preferably forms a groove for retaining said ring in said apical housing 20.Typically, said deformable connecting piece 5' can then be installed by force in said groove 23, for example by elastic deformation of said deformable connecting piece 5'.

[0073] Thus, when fixing the dental prosthesis frame 2' to said dental implants 3', said counterpart 18 is advantageously fitted onto the conical or frustoconical head 7A', 7A” of the prosthetic pillar A', 7”, preferably after the latter has been connected and locked to one of the corresponding dental implants 3', so that said counterpart 18 is held firmly by friction between the head 7A', 7A” of the prosthetic pillar 7', 7” and the internal wall of the conical or frustoconical recess 19 of the counterpart 18, the occlusal surface 8', 8” of the head 7A', 7A” of the prosthetic pillar 7', 7” being in contact against the internal wall of said conical or frustoconical recess 19.Then, the dental prosthesis frame 2', of which said apical housing 20 is preferably previously equipped with the deformable connecting piece 5', is attached to the subassembly comprising the dental implant 3', the prosthetic abutment 7', 7” with conical or truncated head 7', 7” and the counterpart 18, so as to introduce said counterpart 18 into the corresponding apical housing 20 of the dental prosthesis frame 2.This thus advantageously results in contacting the external surface 22 of the counterpart 18 with the deformable connecting part 5', which can then deform, typically in torsion and / or in bending, under the effect of a force exerted against it by the counterpart 18, to allow an adjustment of a position and / or a relative orientation between the dental prosthesis framework 2 and the dental implant 3' concerned, and thus absorb at least partially any possible lack (voluntary or not) of parallelism of the directions A-A' of anchoring of said dental implants 3' and / or any possible defect (or "imprecision") of positioning of the occlusal ends 4A' of said dental implants 3' in a vertical direction, in particular with respect to a theoretical arrangement of the dental implants 3' predefined by computer upstream of the setting in. Places dental implants 3' into the patient's body.

[0074] Then the relative position and / or orientation(s) thus adjusted is then advantageously fixed, kept fixed, by said means 6' for relative immobilization of the deformable connecting piece 5' and the dental prosthesis frame 2'. Advantageously, said means 6' for relative immobilization of the deformable connecting piece 5' and the dental prosthesis frame 2' also allows immobilization of the counterpart 18 relative to said prosthesis frame 2'.

[0075] Preferably, said means 6' for relative immobilization of the deformable connecting part 5' and the dental prosthesis framework 2' comprises a hardened substance (typically liquid or pasty in an initial state), which is introduced inside said apical housing 20. Said hardenable substance is preferably a self-hardening substance, typically by polymerization and / or crosslinking, so that no external technical hardening device is necessary to ensure the hardening of said hardenable substance. For example, said hardenable substance may thus be a self-hardening acrylic or composite resin (for example a bis-acrylic or bis-glycol-dimethacrylate (bis-GMA) composite resin or urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA)), as conventionally used in dentistry for the installation of temporary crowns and bridges.Said hardenable substance may optionally be introduced inside said apical housing 20 before the introduction of the dental prosthesis framework 2' into the patient's oral cavity. However, it is preferable, particularly in terms of practicality, for said hardenable substance to be introduced inside said apical housing 20 after the framework 2' has been attached to the subassembly comprising the dental implant 3' in question, the prosthetic abutment 7', 7” with a conical or truncated head 7A', 7A” and the counterpart 18, and therefore once the counterpart 18 is arranged in the apical housing 20.

[0076] In this respect, said dental prosthesis frame 2' preferably has at least one channel 24A, 24B, which opens on the one hand into said at least one apical housing 20, and on the other hand to the outside of said dental prosthesis frame 2', to allow an introduction of said hardenable substance into said apical housing 20, for example using a syringe or any other suitable introduction system. Preferably, said channel 24A, 24B opens to the outside of said dental prosthesis frame 2' via the occlusal face 2A' of the latter, which facilitates the introduction of said hardenable substance into said apical housing 20, in particular when the dental prosthesis frame 2' is already arranged in the patient's oral cavity.

[0077] More preferably still, as in the example of [Fig.3], the dental prosthesis frame 2' has a plurality of channels 24A, 24B, namely: - at least one first channel 24A, which opens on the one hand into said at least one apical housing 20, and on the other hand outside said dental prosthesis frame 2', to allow introduction of said hardenable substance into said apical housing 20, and - at least one second channel 24B, which opens on the one hand into said apical housing 20, and on the other hand to the outside of the dental prosthesis frame 2', to also allow an introduction of the hardenable substance into said apical housing 20, and / or to allow an evacuation of air present in the apical housing 20 and / or of an excess of hardenable substance during the introduction of the latter via the first channel 24A.

[0078] Preferably, as in the example of [Fig. 3], said first channel 24A and said second channel 24B open to the outside of said dental prosthesis frame 2' via the occlusal face 2A' of the latter. Advantageously, still as in the example of [Fig. 3], the dental prosthesis frame 2' is on the other hand devoid of a channel, or other orifice, which opens on the one hand into said at least one apical housing 20, and on the other hand to the outside of said dental prosthesis frame 2' via one of said lateral faces of the latter.

[0079] In addition to its function in absorbing a possible lack (voluntary or not) of parallelism of the directions A-A' of anchoring of said dental implants 3' and / or a possible defect (or "imprecision") of positioning of the occlusal ends 4A' of said dental implants 3' in a vertical direction, said ring (deformable connecting part 5') advantageously plays at least partially a role of seal between the internal wall 21 of the apical housing 20 and the external surface 22 of the counterpart 20 arranged in the latter. This advantageously limits a risk of deposit of hardenable substance on an underlying gum of the patient.

[0080] Alternatively or additionally, but less advantageous in terms of practicality and cost of implementation, said means 6' for relative immobilization of the deformable connecting piece 5' and the dental prosthesis framework 2' could comprise one or more screws (or any other suitable mechanical means) passing through the dental prosthesis framework 2', to immobilize the counterpart 18 in position in the apical housing 20, and therefore immobilize the deformable connecting piece 5', in contact with the counterpart 18, relative to the dental prosthesis framework 2', in the deformed configuration.

[0081] Preferably, as mentioned above and as in the embodiment schematically illustrated in [Fig. 3], the dental prosthesis frame 2' and the connecting system are designed and configured to ensure attachment of said dental prosthesis frame 2' to each of said dental implants 3', and preferably to each of the latter, by friction cone between the connecting system and each of said prosthetic pillars 7', 7”. As such, each of said prosthetic pillars 7', 7” therefore has a head 7A', 7A” which is conical or frustoconical, and the dental prosthetic device 1' comprising a plurality of said counterparts 18, each having a recess 19 which is conical or frustoconical of a shape adapted to the conical or frustoconical head 7A', 7A” of one of said corresponding prosthetic pillars 7', 7” to ensure frictional retention of said head 7A', 7A” in said recess 19. The conical or frustoconical head 7A', 7A” of each of said prosthetic pillars 7', 7” then defines an axis of insertion of said conical or frustoconical head 7A', 7A” in the recess 19 of one of the corresponding counterparts 18. In return, the dental prosthesis frame 2' is therefore advantageously provided with a plurality of said apical housings 19 to each receive one of said corresponding counterparts 18, in the manner described above.

[0082] The implementation of such a connection system ensuring a fixation of the framework 2' of the dental prosthesis to the dental implants 3' by friction cone, advantageously makes it possible to make the connection system detachably fixable to said dental implants 3', or at least to one of said dental implants 3', in a simpler manner than in the case of a transfixation, as presented in the above. Such a connection system also has the advantage of being particularly inexpensive to design and manufacture.

[0083] That being said, it should be noted here that the “friction cone” (or “Morse cone” fixation) variant described above may possibly be compatible with the “transfixation” fixation variant, described previously, insofar as it is conceivable that the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' and the connection system are designed and configured to ensure fixation of the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' on the one hand to at least one of the dental implants 3, 3' by transfixation, and on the other hand to at least one other of said dental implants 3, 3' by friction cones. Such a design would nevertheless prove relatively complex and expensive to implement in practice.Compared to the “transfixation” variant described previously, such a “friction cone” fixing variant has the advantage in particular of being less expensive to implement, and of allowing temporary fixing, then subsequent, simpler and faster removal of the dental prosthesis framework 2' to the dental implants 3', in the case therefore where said dental prosthesis framework 2' belongs to a temporary dental prosthesis.

[0084] Regardless of the fixing method implemented by the connection system, and in particular therefore regardless of the “by transfixation” or “by friction cone” variant chosen, - said prosthetic pillars may each be a so-called straight prosthetic pillar 7', 7', i.e. a prosthetic pillar whose direction B-B' of average extension of the head 7A, 7A' is inclined colinear with the direction A-A' of anchoring of the dental implant 3, 3' corresponding when the prosthetic abutment 7.7' is fixed to said corresponding dental implant 3.3'; or - said prosthetic pillars may each be a 7” prosthetic pillar known as angled, i.e. a prosthetic pillar whose direction B-B' of average extension of the head 7A” is inclined by an angle O (non-zero) relative to the direction A-A' of anchoring of the corresponding dental implant 3’ when the prosthetic pillar 7” is fixed to said corresponding dental implant 3’ (as illustrated as an example in [Fig.3]); or - some of said prosthetic pillars may be straight prosthetic pillars 7, 7’, and at least one other of said prosthetic pillars may be a 7” angled prosthetic pillar.

[0085] The implementation of at least one of the prosthetic pillars 7, 7', 7” which is an angled prosthetic pillar 7” makes it possible to advantageously contribute to compensating for a possible lack (voluntary or not) of parallelism of the directions A-A' of anchoring of the dental implants 3, 3'. Typically, the 7” angled prosthetic pillar(s) may have an angulation that is between 5° and 30° (and for example equal to 7.5°, 15°, 18°, 22° or even 30°). When several of said prosthetic pillars 7, 7', 7” are 7” angled prosthetic pillars, at least one of the latter may advantageously have an angulation different from that of the other 7, 7', 7” angled prosthetic pillars (cp angles of different values).

[0086] According to a variant (not illustrated), the (or at least one of the) angled prosthetic pillar(s) is a so-called indexed angled prosthetic pillar, i.e. an angled prosthetic pillar whose connection base, provided for connecting said angled prosthetic pillar to one of the dental implants, is designed to substantially prevent rotation of the head of said angled prosthetic pillar along the anchoring axis of the dental implant concerned in an unlocked connected state (as already defined previously) of said angled prosthetic pillar to said dental implant (rotation angle equal to 0° ± 5°)

[0087] According to another variant (illustrated as an example in [Fig. 3], and transposable where appropriate to Figures 1 and 2), the (or at least one of the) angled prosthetic pillar(s) 7” is a so-called rotating angled prosthetic pillar (or “non-indexed” angled prosthetic pillar), that is to say an angled prosthetic pillar 7” whose connection base 7B”, is on the contrary designed to allow a rotation (preferably 360°) of the head 7A” of said angled prosthetic pillar 7” along the anchoring axis A-A' of the dental implant 3' concerned in a non-locked connected state (as already defined previously) of said angled prosthetic pillar 7” to said dental implant 3'. Such a possibility of rotation of the 7” angled prosthetic pillar(s) advantageously allows greater finesse in terms of compensation for a possible lack of parallelism of the A-A' directions of anchoring of the 3' dental implants.

[0088] In particular, in the case of the variant described above of fixing the frame 2' of dental prosthesis by “friction cone”, the connection system of the dental prosthetic device 1’ can thus advantageously comprise a plurality of said prosthetic pillars 7’, 7” with conical or truncated head 7A’, 7A”, at least one of the latter - having a connection base 7B” for connecting said prosthetic abutment 7” with a conical or frustoconical head 7A” to one of the corresponding dental implants 3', said connection base 7B” allowing rotation (preferably 360°) of the head 7A” of the prosthetic abutment 7” with a conical or frustoconical head 7A” along the anchoring axis A-A' of said dental implant 3' in an unlocked connected state of the prosthetic abutment 7” with a conical or frustoconical head 7A” to said dental implant, and - being angled so that the insertion axis of said conical or frustoconical head 7A” in the recess 19 of said corresponding counterpart 18 is inclined, by an angle ¢, relative to the anchoring axis A-A' of said dental implant 3' in a connected state (locked or unlocked) of said prosthetic abutment 7” with conical or frustoconical head 7A” to said dental implant 3'.

[0089] The invention further relates, as such, to a computer-implemented method for planning a dental restoration procedure, i.e. a method for computer-assisted planning of a dental restoration procedure, thus aiming to prepare for carrying out such a procedure, and in particular a procedure for fitting a dental prosthesis into the oral cavity of a patient.

[0090] Advantageously, the planning method may comprise, firstly, a step E0 of defining a prosthetic project specifically adapted to the patient, representative of the desired result, in particular from an aesthetic point of view, of the dental restoration to be carried out (design of the patient's future smile). For example, this step of defining the prosthetic project may be carried out digitally in two dimensions using a montage of photographs taken of the patient, to thus define a digital prosthetic project.

[0091] The planning method comprises a step E1 of defining a three-dimensional virtual model of at least a portion of the patient's oral cavity and of the latter's jaw defining said oral cavity, using imaging data of an anatomical situation of said oral cavity and of said jaw. For example, said imaging data can be obtained using: - an intraoral (or "intra-oral") camera or an intraoral (or "intra-oral") laser scanner, using a so-called "direct" or "optical impression" method, which advantageously allows color digital images to be obtained and provides certain information concerning the patient's soft tissues (mucogingival line, appearance of the gum, periodontal biotype), and - by cone beam volumetric imaging (or “Cone beam computed to- mography (CBCT), a computed tomography technique using a cone beam of X-rays to obtain one or more digital radiographs of the patient's anatomical bone situation, and thus define the corresponding bone volumes.

[0092] Advantageously, the predefined prosthetic project mentioned above can then be digitally associated in volume with this three-dimensional virtual model.

[0093] The planning method then comprises a step E2 of defining, from said three-dimensional virtual model, a preoperative virtual surgical plan comprising data on the positions and spatial orientations of a plurality of dental implants to be anchored in the jaw (i.e. in the bone mass of a maxilla (or "upper maxilla") or a mandible (or "lower maxilla")) of the patient.Typically carried out using suitable implantology computer software executable by a computer, and from a library of three-dimensional digital models of dental implants (for example constructed from three-dimensional digital models provided by one or more dental implant manufacturers), step E2 thus aims in particular to define the theoretical arrangement in relation to each other of the dental implants to be anchored, taking into account the anatomical specificities and the available bone volumes of the patient. At the end of step E2, it is then advantageously possible to obtain a digital file in STL format, containing at least the relative spatial position of the dental implants (for example in the form of vectors).

[0094] The planning method also comprises a step E3 of automatically determining, for each of said dental implants, from said data of positions and spatial orientations of the dental implants to be anchored, an angular difference between a respective anchoring direction of said dental implants, as virtually positioned during step E2, and a predefined reference direction. The predefined reference direction may advantageously correspond to a desired direction of attachment of the dental prosthesis framework to the dental implants in the patient's oral cavity. Typically, step E3 is carried out using an automatic determination computer algorithm executed by a computer.

[0095] In addition, the planning method comprises a step E4 of automatic determination, for each of said dental implants, - a three-dimensional virtual model of a prosthetic pillar (and therefore a particular angulation, possibly zero) and - an angular spatial orientation of the head of said prosthetic pillar relative to the anchoring direction of the dental implant, which lead, once the prosthetic abutment is fixed to said dental implant, to a minimal angular deviation between a direction of average extension (such as previously defined) of the head of said prosthetic pillar and said predefined reference direction.

[0096] This step E4 is advantageously carried out from a library (or database) of three-dimensional digital models of a plurality of prosthetic pillars, said plurality of prosthetic pillars including at least a plurality of rotating prosthetic pillars angulated according to a plurality of different angulations (i.e. a certain number of rotating angulated prosthetic pillars, each angulated according to a different angulation; angles O of different values), and preferably at least one non-angulated prosthetic pillar (angle O of zero value, advantageously also rotating), as defined above. Optionally, said plurality of prosthetic pillars, three-dimensional digital models of which are contained in such a library, may advantageously include prosthetic pillars whose heads have different heights, etc.Obviously, these are three-dimensional digital models of prosthetic abutments adapted to the dental implants in question, i.e. compatible and fixable to them. Typically, such a library of three-dimensional digital models of prosthetic abutments can be built from three-dimensional digital models provided by one or more prosthetic abutment manufacturers.

[0097] Thus, step E4 consists of automatically identifying, for each of said dental implants, a corresponding prosthetic abutment (thus from a three-dimensional digital model of the latter) and automatically defining an angular spatial orientation in which the respective heads of the identified prosthetic abutments must be arranged to ensure the most precise theoretical alignment possible of the directions B-B' of average extension of the heads of the prosthetic abutments parallel to the predefined reference direction. Typically, step E4 is carried out using an automatic determination computer algorithm executed by a computer.

[0098] The planning method then comprises a step E5 of defining a three-dimensional virtual model in which each of the three-dimensional digital models of prosthetic pillars thus determined is positioned fixed to the corresponding dental implant according to said determined angular spatial orientation of the head of said prosthetic pillar (i.e. with the respective head of said prosthetic pillars which is arranged according to said determined angular spatial orientation), and therefore advantageously in the theoretical final position in the patient's oral cavity.

[0099] Then, the planning method then comprises a step E6 of defining, from this three-dimensional virtual model, a virtual key for positioning and spatial orientation of said prosthetic pillars, thus determined, in the patient's oral cavity. Said virtual key for positioning and spatial orientation of the prosthetic pillars can then advantageously be exported in the form of a computer file, for example in STL format, for the purpose of manufacturing (for example by 3D printing) a corresponding physical key for positioning and spatial orientation of said prosthetic pillars. The planning method can then advantageously comprise a step E7 of manufacturing (for example, by 3D printing) a physical key for positioning and spatial orientation of said prosthetic pillars, therefore from said virtual key for positioning and spatial orientation of the prosthetic pillars.This physical key can thus be advantageously used by the dental surgeon (or any other dental health professional) during the dental restoration procedure, in order to quickly and precisely place and fix the prosthetic pillars on the corresponding dental implants previously anchored in the patient's body, according to an optimal orientation of the B-B' directions of average extension of the heads of the prosthetic pillars.

[0100] Thanks to the method according to the invention, it becomes in particular advantageously possible to integrate, in a simple, rapid and efficient manner, into a digital flow in dental implantology, the manufacture and implementation of a dental prosthetic device according to the invention, in the particular case where the connection system of the latter comprises one or more rotating angled prosthetic pillar(s). In this sense, the method according to the invention is therefore advantageously a computer-implemented method for planning a dental restoration procedure using a dental prosthetic device 1,1' according to the invention in which the connection system of the latter comprises one or more rotating angled prosthetic pillar(s), as described in the above in connection with the dental prosthetic device 1,1'.

[0101] The method according to the invention in fact advantageously makes it possible in particular to eliminate the need to implement potentially long and costly intermediate manual phases, and potentially sources of error and inaccuracy, - taking impressions of the dental implants after anchoring them in the patient's body, - manufacturing a plaster model with analogues of said dental implants, - and manually aligning the position of one or more rotating angled prosthetic abutment(s) on analogues of said dental implants, with a view to subsequent transfer into the patient's oral cavity of the rotating angled prosthetic abutment(s) thus aligned, using a repositioning key.

[0102] As explained previously in connection with the description of the dental prosthetic device 1,1' according to the invention, a possible residual defect in parallelism of the anchoring directions of the dental implants and / or a possible residual defect in positioning of the occlusal ends of the dental implants, may be corrected if necessary. if necessary by adjusting a position and / or a relative orientation between the dental prosthesis framework and at least one of the dental implants by deformation of the deformable connecting part(s) of the connecting system, during attachment of the dental prosthesis framework to said dental implants.

[0103] According to a particularly advantageous variant, the method according to the invention is a computer-implemented method for planning a dental restoration procedure using a dental prosthetic device 1' according to the invention in a variant thereof according to which, as envisaged in the above, the dental prosthesis framework 2' and the connecting system are designed and configured to ensure attachment of said dental prosthesis framework 2' to the dental implants 3' by friction cone between the connecting system and each of said prosthetic pillars 7', 7" respectively attached to said dental implants 3'.In this case, the prosthetic pillars concerned by the method are therefore prosthetic pillars 7', 7” whose head 7A', 7A” is conical or frustoconical, and which are each intended to cooperate with a corresponding counterpart 18 having a recess 19 which is conical or frustoconical, of a shape adapted to the conical or frustoconical head 7A', 7A” of said prosthetic pillar 7', 7”, to ensure retention by friction of said head 7A', 7A” in said recess 19.

[0104] For example, said steps E3 and E4 can be carried out using a computer program product comprising instructions which, when said program is executed by a computer, cause the latter to implement the following operations: - Search for all the mesh elements, each corresponding to one of the dental implants, from a three-dimensional digital model of each of said dental implants; - For each of said dental implants, a) Search for a main direction of the dental implant (or “direction vector”, advantageously corresponding, as mentioned previously, to the average longitudinal extension direction of the body of said dental implant which advantageously defines a direction of anchoring of the dental implant in the patient’s body), b) Search for the ends of the dental implant along the direction vector, and in particular therefore the occlusal end of the body of said dental implant, as a potential position of the prosthetic abutment. - For each of said dental implants, determination of the position of the connection point (i.e. the position of the occlusal end of the body of the dental implant) between the dental implant and the prosthetic abutment intended to be fixed to the latter, - Search among said dental implants for a so-called “main” dental implant, whose direction vector has a spatial orientation closest to (i.e. most parallel to) said predefined reference direction; - For said main dental implant, identification and selection from the library of three-dimensional digital models of prosthetic abutments of a three-dimensional digital model of a non-angulated prosthetic abutment; - For each of the other dental implants, non-primary and therefore called secondary, a) Calculation of an angular difference existing between the direction vector (anchoring direction) of the secondary dental implant and said predefined reference direction; b) Identification in the library of three-dimensional digital models of prosthetic abutments of a three-dimensional digital model corresponding to a prosthetic abutment having an angulation (i.e. an angle value O) most suitable for minimizing said angular deviation; c) Determination of the angular spatial orientation of the head of the prosthetic abutment thus identified, relative to the anchoring direction of the secondary dental implant (angle of rotation of the prosthetic abutment according to the direction vector / the anchoring direction of the secondary dental implant), which minimizes an angular deviation between the average extension direction of the head of the prosthetic abutment (or "output direction" of said abutment) and said predefined reference direction.

[0105] Optionally, the computer program product may further comprise instructions which, when said program is executed by a computer, cause the latter to implement one and / or the other following additional operations, which may advantageously contribute to facilitating the performance of one and / or the other of said steps E3, E4, E5, E5 and E6: - Sorting of dental implants to provide each of them with a unique identifier and to define and memorize an order of spatial arrangement of the dental implants thus identified in relation to each other; - Determination of whether the dental implants are intended to be placed in a lower jaw or an upper jaw.

[0106] Advantageously, step E6 of defining said virtual key for positioning and spatial orientation of said prosthetic pillars in the patient's oral cavity may comprise the following operations: - Construction, for each of said prosthetic pillars, of a complementary negative support, intended to form part of the key supporting the prosthetic pillar; - Construction of one or more mechanical links connecting the complementary negative supports together, in order to obtain a monolithic and advantageously rigid key.

[0107] In this respect, step E6 can be carried out using a computer program product comprising instructions which, when said program is executed by an or- diner, lead the one to the carrying out of the aforementioned construction operations.

[0108] The planning method can further advantageously comprise, after step E2, - a step E8 of defining a virtual drilling template to carry out the drilling of the patient's bone mass and anchor the dental implants there in accordance with the spatial position and orientation data of the preoperative virtual surgical plan - a step E9 of manufacturing a physical drilling template (for example by 3D printing), from said virtual drilling template, which physical drilling template can thus be used during the dental restoration procedure for the aforementioned purposes.

[0109] If, as indicated in the foregoing, the planning method according to the invention can be advantageously implemented to plan a dental restoration procedure using a dental prosthetic device according to the invention, and therefore comprising as such at least one deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B, 5' allowing an adjustment of a position and / or a relative orientation between the dental prosthesis framework 2, 2' and at least one of the dental implants 3, 3' by deformation of said deformable connecting piece 5A, 5B, 5', it will be noted that said method can nevertheless find an advantageous application in the context of a dental restoration procedure carried out using a dental prosthetic device which would not comprise such a deformable connecting piece.

[0110] As such, therefore, more generally, a separate invention is a computer-implemented method for planning a dental restoration procedure using a dental prosthetic device comprising a rigid dental prosthesis framework and a connection system for fixing said dental prosthesis framework to a plurality of dental implants, said connection system comprising a plurality of prosthetic pillars, each designed and configured to be respectively fixed to one of said dental implants, at least one of said prosthetic pillars being a so-called rotary angled prosthetic pillar (i.e. comprising a connection base for connecting said angled prosthetic pillar to one of the corresponding dental implants,said connection base allowing rotation of a head of the angled prosthetic pillar along an anchoring axis of said dental implant in an unlocked connected state of the angled prosthetic pillar to said dental implant), said method comprising steps E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6 as described above.

[0111] Such a planning method could further comprise step E0, and / or step E7, and / or steps E8 and E9, as also described above.

Claims

Claims

1. A dental prosthetic device (1) comprising a rigid dental prosthesis frame (2) and a connecting system for fixing said dental prosthesis frame (2) to a plurality of dental implants (3), said connecting system comprising - at least one deformable connecting piece (5B) allowing adjustment of a position and / or a relative orientation between the dental prosthesis frame (2) and at least one of the dental implants (3) by deformation of said deformable connecting piece (5B) during attachment of said dental prosthesis frame (2) to said dental implants (3), - and a means (6) for relative immobilization of the deformable connecting piece (5B) and the dental prosthesis frame (2) in a deformed configuration of the deformable connecting piece (5B), said device being characterized in that said connecting system comprises a plurality of prosthetic pillars (7), each designed and configured to be respectively fixed to one of said dental implants (3), said deformable connecting piece (5B) allowing an adjustment of a position and / or a relative orientation between the dental prosthesis frame (2) and at least one of said prosthetic pillars (7) by deformation of said deformable connecting piece (5B) during a fixing of said dental prosthesis frame (2) to said dental implants (3) by means of said prosthetic pillars (7), at least one of said prosthetic pillars (7) is a transfixation prosthetic pillar (7), the dental prosthesis frame (2) having at least one transfixation orifice (10),said device (1) comprising at least one transfixation screw (11) for fixing the dental prosthesis framework (2) to said transfixation prosthetic pillar (7) via said transfixation orifice (10), said connecting piece, formable (5A, 5B) being crossed by said transfixation screw (11) and being arranged between an apical support portion (13B) defined by an apical face (2B) of said dental prosthesis frame (2) and said transfixation prosthetic pillar (7), said deformable connecting piece (5A, 5B) being, in a pre-fixed state of the dental prosthesis frame (2) to said transfixation prosthetic pillar (7), arranged to be movable in translation opposite and parallel to said apical support portion (13B), said at least one transfixation prosthetic pillar (7) comprising a head (7A) of generally conical or truncated shape, said deformable connecting piece (5B) having an apical contact face (15B) provided with a recess (17) for receiving said head (7A) of the transfixation prosthetic pillar (7).

2. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the deformable connecting part (5B) is made of biocompatible polymer material, preferably polyetheretherketone PEEK.

3. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting system comprises at least one pair of said deformable connecting pieces (5A, 5B), - a first of said deformable connecting pieces (5A) being traversed by the transfixation screw (11) and being arranged between the head of the transfixation screw (11) and an occlusal bearing portion (13A) defined by an occlusal face (2A) of the dental prosthesis framework (2), and - a second of said deformable connecting pieces (5B) being said deformable connecting piece traversed by the transfixation screw (11) and arranged between said apical bearing portion (13B) of the dental prosthesis framework (2) and said transfixation prosthetic abutment (7).

4. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, in said pre-fixed state of the dental prosthesis framework (2) to said transfixation prosthetic abutment (7), said first deformable connecting part (5A) is arranged to be movable in translation opposite and parallel to said occlusal support portion (13A).

5. Device (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, in which the dental prosthesis frame (2) comprises at least one occlusal housing (16), a bottom of which defines said occlusal support portion (13A), and within which said deformable connecting piece (5A) is arranged.

6. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one prosthetic transfixation abutment (7) which comprises a head (7A) of generally conical or frustoconical shape, further comprises a shoulder (7C) from which said head (7A) extends, said recess (17) being designed to receive said head (7A) of the prosthetic transfixation abutment (7) with said shoulder (7C) arranged in contact with an area of said apical contact face (15B) located at the periphery of said recess (17).

7. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said prosthetic pillars (7) is a so-called rotary angled prosthetic pillar, comprising a connection base for connecting said angled prosthetic pillar to one of the corresponding dental implants (3), said connection base allowing rotation of a head of the angled prosthetic pillar along an axis (A-A') of anchoring said dental implant (3) in an unlocked connected state of the angled prosthetic pillar to said dental implant (3).

8. A computer-implemented method for planning a dental restoration procedure using a dental prosthetic device according to claim 7, said method comprising the steps of - definition of a three-dimensional virtual model of at least a portion of an oral cavity of a patient and of a jaw defining said oral cavity, using imaging data of an anatomical situation of said oral cavity and of said jaw; - definition, from said three-dimensional virtual model, of a preoperative virtual surgical plan comprising data on the positions and spatial orientations of a plurality of dental implants to be anchored in the patient's jaw; - automatic determination, for each of said dental implants, from said spatial position and orientation data, of an angular deviation between the respective anchoring direction of said dental implants and a predefined reference direction; - automatic determination, for each of said dental implants, from a library of three-dimensional digital models of a plurality of prosthetic abutments, including rotating prosthetic abutments angled according to a plurality of different angulations, and preferably also at least one non-angulated prosthetic abutment, of a three-dimensional digital model of the corresponding prosthetic abutment and of an angular spatial orientation of the head of said prosthetic abutment relative to the anchoring direction of the dental implant which lead, once the prosthetic abutment is fixed to said dental implant, to a minimum angular deviation between a direction B-B' of average extension of the head of the prosthetic abutment and of said predefined reference direction; definition of a three-dimensional virtual model in which each of the three-dimensional digital models of prosthetic pillars thus determined is positioned fixed to the corresponding dental implant according to said determined angular spatial orientation of the head of said prosthetic pillar, then definition of a virtual key for positioning and spatial orientation of said prosthetic pillars in the patient's oral cavity.

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