Range of posts for digital dental impression taking by digital imaging

Abstract

Range of posts for digital dental impression taking by digital imaging, said range of posts comprising several corono-radicular scanning posts (1) respectively provided with a head (10) extended by an anchoring keel (11) and which are characterized dimensionally and respectively by a keel diameter (D1) with which a specific identification color is associated and by a size (T1; T2) with which a specific geometric shape of the corresponding head (10) is associated, so that said several corono-radicular scanning posts (1) have distinct identification colors according to their respective keel diameters and have heads (10) having distinct geometric shapes according to their respective sizes. The invention applies to the field of corono-radicular reconstruction. Abstract figure: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Range of posts for taking digital dental impressions using digital imaging Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a range of posts for taking a digital dental impression by digital imaging, comprising several coronal-radicular scanning posts.

[0002] The invention lies in the field of coronal-radicular reconstruction carried out on a patient and allowing the restoration of permanent teeth presenting coronal destruction while preserving its natural roots. Prior art

[0003] In a known manner, a digital dental impression taken by digital imaging, called a preoperative scan, is carried out after insertion of a coronal-radicular scanning post (also called a "post scan") into the root of the tooth to be restored. Conventionally, several models of coronal-radicular scanning posts are available in order to cover the different cases induced by the anatomy of the human dentition.

[0004] Then, a so-called "inlay-core" prosthesis is made by a prosthetist using this digital dental impression of the situation in the mouth, in which the coronal-radicular scanning post is visible. In practice, the prosthetist has a library of coronal-radicular scanning posts in a software program, which will allow, thanks to dedicated functions of this software, to design the prosthesis by superimposing the post from the library on the post visible on the digital images.

[0005] And finally, the dental surgeon seals the “inlay-core” prosthesis in the root of the tooth to be restored using various sealing materials.

[0006] Coronal-radicular scanning posts generally have a head extended by a keel characterized dimensionally by a keel diameter and a post size. Coronal-radicular scanning posts are conventionally made by machining from a biocompatible plastic material, such as polyetheretherketone (or PEEK), to be reusable, and are therefore expensive; not to mention the costs inherent in the necessary sterilization cycles.

[0007] Furthermore, the coronal-radicular scanning posts are available in different sizes and different keel diameters. Also, to identify the size and keel diameter of the posts, the latter are conventionally provided with a laser marking at the level of their respective heads.

[0008] However, digital cameras, allowing the production of dental impressions digital imaging, have difficulty transcribing such laser markings. Furthermore, this laser marking fades and eventually disappears following the mandatory cleaning and sterilization steps before any reuse.

[0009] Also, there is a risk that the prosthetist will make a mistake in the choice of post to make the “inlay-core” prosthesis. In other words, conventional posts do not allow formal identification of the post model based on the digital dental impression of the situation. In this sense, the “inlay-core” prosthesis transmitted by the prosthetist to the dental surgeon may sometimes be unsuitable for the tooth to be restored. Summary of the invention

[0010] The invention aims to solve all or part of the problems mentioned above, by proposing a range comprising several coronal-radicular scanning posts, which improves the identification of the post by the prosthetist based on the digital dental impression received.

[0011] To this end, the invention proposes a range of posts for taking a digital dental impression by digital imaging, said range of posts comprising several coronal-radicular scanning posts respectively provided with a head extended by an anchoring keel and which are characterized dimensionally and respectively by a keel diameter with which a specific identification color is associated and by a size with which a specific geometric shape of the corresponding head is associated, so that said several coronal-radicular scanning posts have distinct identification colors according to their respective keel diameters and have heads having distinct geometric shapes according to their respective sizes.

[0012] Thus, the dimensional characteristics are formally identifiable by digital imaging of the situation in the mouth; the keel diameters being identifiable from the color of the post, and the sizes being identifiable from the geometric shape of the head. Thus, no marking (such as laser marking) needs to be provided on the posts to identify their dimensional characteristics (keel diameter and size).

[0013] For the same keel diameter there are several sizes, and for example two sizes, where the size is a function of a length of the tenon. For example, considering two sizes for the same diameter, a first size is associated with a first length of the tenon and a second size is associated with a second length of the tenon, where the second length is greater than the first length; thus the first size can be called small size, and the second size can be called large size. Therefore, for the same diameter, the tenons have the same identification color and on the other hand they are distinguished by the geometric shape of their heads according to their sizes respective.

[0014] If we consider two sizes (a first size and a second size), a tenon having a first diameter and the first size and a tenon having a second diameter and also the first size, have the same geometric shape for their respective heads.

[0015] Thus, each keel diameter corresponds to a unique identification color and, for the same diameter, each size corresponds to a unique geometric shape of the head. These characteristics (colors and geometric shapes) chosen to identify the tenons will be correctly transcribed by the digital images, so that the risk of error in the manufacture of the “inlay-core” prosthesis is considerably reduced, or even eliminated.

[0016] According to one feature, at least three distinct keel diameters are provided for the plurality of coronal-radicular scanning posts, such that said plurality of coronal-radicular scanning posts have at least three distinct identification colors according to their respective keel diameters.

[0017] According to one possibility, the at least three distinct keel diameters comprise three or four distinct keel diameters, such that the plurality of coronal-radicular scanning posts have three or four distinct identification colors according to their respective keel diameters.

[0018] According to another possibility, the at least three distinct keel diameters are between 1.0 and 2.0 millimeters and the difference between two successive keel diameters is between 0.1 and 0.2 millimeters.

[0019] By way of non-limiting example, four keel diameters are possible such as 1.2 millimeters, 1.4 millimeters, 1.6 millimeters and 1.7 or 1.8 millimeters.

[0020] According to another possibility, the several coronal-radicular scanning tenons are entirely made in the identification color associated with their corresponding keel diameter.

[0021] In a particular embodiment, at least two distinct sizes are provided for the plurality of coronal-radicular scanning posts, such that said plurality of coronal-radicular scanning posts have heads having at least two distinct geometric shapes according to their respective sizes.

[0022] In a particular embodiment, the at least two distinct geometric shapes comprise at least a first geometric shape defined by a cylindrical shape having two adjacent flats, and a second geometric shape defined by a cylindrical shape having two opposite flats.

[0023] Of course, other geometric shapes for the heads are conceivable within the framework of the present invention.

[0024] According to one possibility, the two adjacent flats of the first geometric shape form a right angle, and the two opposite flats of the second geometric shape are parallel.

[0025] In an advantageous embodiment, the several coronal-radical scanning pins are each made of a plastic material.

[0026] Advantageously, the several coronal-radicular scanning posts are each produced by injection of the plastic material.

[0027] The choice of injection of the plastic material is advantageous for single use and a reduction in manufacturing costs.

[0028] According to one characteristic, the plastic material is composed at least partially of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

[0029] This material is inexpensive and easily injectable, while accepting an adjuvant so as to confer the required radiopaque property.

[0030] According to another characteristic, the several coronal-radicular scanning tenons are each made of the plastic material tinted in the mass to the corresponding identification color. Brief description of the drawings

[0031] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description below, of a non-limiting example of implementation, made with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0032] [Fig-1] is a schematic view of the first two tenons of a range of tenons and having a first keel diameter, with a first large tenon (at the top) and a first small tenon (at the bottom);

[0033] [Fig.2] is a schematic view of two second tenons of the range of tenons and having a second keel diameter greater than the first keel diameter, with a second large tenon (at the top) and a second small tenon (at the bottom);

[0034] [Fig.3] is a schematic view of two third tenons of the tenon range and having a third keel diameter greater than the second keel diameter, with a third large tenon (top) and a third small tenon (bottom);

[0035] [Fig.4] is a schematic view of two fourth tenons of the tenon range and having a fourth keel diameter greater than the third keel diameter, with a large fourth tenon (top) and a small fourth tenon (bottom).

[0036] [Detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention]

[0037] With reference to the figures, a range of tenons according to an exemplary embodiment comprises several coronal-radicular scanning tenons 1 (hereinafter called tenons) provided respectively with a head 10 extended by an anchoring keel 11 and which are characterized dimensionally and respectively by a keel diameter to which a specific identification color is associated and by a size to which a specific geometric shape of the corresponding head is associated, with two sizes in the illustrated example being a small size T1 and a large size T2 (the large size T2 being associated with a greater length compared to the small size T1, the length corresponds to a dimension measured along a longitudinal extension axis of the anchor keel 11).

[0038] In the example illustrated, the range of tenons includes: - two first tenons 1 (see [Fig.l]) having a first keel diameter DI (for example 1.2 millimeters) associated with a first identification color (for example yellow), with a first tenon 1 of large size T2 (at the top) and a first tenon 1 of small size Tl (at the bottom); - two second tenons 1 (see [Fig.2]) having a second keel diameter D2 (for example 1.4 millimeters) associated with a second identification color (for example pink), with a second tenon 1 of large size T2 (at the top) and a second tenon 1 of small size Tl (at the bottom), where the second keel diameter D2 is greater than the first keel diameter DI; - two third tenons 1 (see [Fig.3]) having a third keel diameter D3 (for example 1.6 millimeters) associated with a third identification color (for example blue), with a third tenon 1 of large size (at the top) and a third tenon 1 of small size Tl (at the bottom), where the third keel diameter D3 is greater than the second keel diameter D2; - two fourth tenons 1 (see [Fig.3]) having a fourth keel diameter D4 (for example 1.7 or 1.8 millimeters) associated with a fourth identification color (for example gray), with a fourth tenon 1 of large size T2 (at the top) and a fourth tenon 1 of small size T1 (at the bottom), where the fourth keel diameter D4 is greater than the third keel diameter D3.

[0039] Thus, the keel diameters D1, D2, D3, D4 of the tenons 1 are identifiable by the identification colors.

[0040] The small size T1 (that of the four small-sized tenons 1) is associated with a first specific geometric shape of the corresponding head 10, which is defined by a cylindrical shape having two adjacent flats 12, 13 forming a right angle.

[0041] The large size T2 (that of the four large tenons 1) is associated with a second specific geometric shape of the corresponding head 10, which is defined by a cylindrical shape having two opposite and parallel flats 14, 15.

[0042] Thus, for the same diameter, the sizes T1, T2 of the tenons 1 are identifiable by the geometric shapes of their heads 10.

[0043] It would have been possible to provide other sizes, such as for example a third size (for example an intermediate size associated with an intermediate length between the length of the small size and the length of the large size), associated with a third geometric shape of the head 10.

[0044] Preferably, the tenons 1 are single-use and are each made of a plastic material tinted in the mass to the corresponding identification color and incorporating a radiopaque adjuvant, and for example by injection of plastic material composed at least partially of medical grade polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

Claims

Claims

1. Range of posts for digital dental impression taking by digital imaging, said range of posts comprising several coronal-radicular scanning posts (1) respectively provided with a head (10) extended by an anchoring keel (11) and which are characterized dimensionally and respectively by a keel diameter (DI; D2; D3; D4) with which a specific identification color is associated and by a size (Tl; T2) with which a specific geometric shape of the corresponding head (10) is associated, so that said several coronal-radicular scanning posts (1) have distinct identification colors according to their respective keel diameters and have heads (10) having distinct geometric shapes according to their respective sizes.

2. A range of posts according to claim 1, wherein at least three distinct keel diameters (DI; D2; D3; D4) are provided for the plurality of coronal-radicular scanning posts (1), such that said plurality of coronal-radicular scanning posts (1) have at least three distinct identification colors according to their respective keel diameters.

3. A range of posts according to claim 2, wherein the at least three distinct keel diameters comprise three or four distinct keel diameters (DI; D2; D3; D4), such that the plurality of coronal-radicular scanning posts (1) have three or four distinct identification colors according to their respective keel diameters.

4. A range of tenons according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the at least three distinct keel diameters are between 1.0 and 2.0 millimeters, and the gap between two successive keel diameters is between 0.1 and 0.2 millimeters.

5. A range of posts according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of coronal-radicular scanning posts (1) are integrally made in the identifying color associated with their corresponding keel diameter.

6. Range of posts according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two distinct sizes (T1; T2) are provided for the plurality of coronal-radicular scanning posts (1), such that said plurality of coronal-radicular scanning posts (1) have heads (10) having at least two distinct geometric shapes according to their respective sizes.

7. Range of tenons according to claim 6, in which the at least two distinct geometric shapes comprise at least a first geometric shape defined by a cylindrical shape having two adjacent flats (12, 13), and a second geometric shape defined by a cylindrical shape having two opposite flats (14, 15).

8. A range of tenons according to claim 7, wherein the two adjacent flats (12, 13) of the first geometric shape form a right angle, and the two opposite flats (14, 15) of the second geometric shape are parallel.

9. A range of posts according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of coronal-radicular scanning posts (1) are each made of a plastic material.

10. Range of posts according to claim 9, in which the several coronal-radicular scanning posts (1) are each produced by injection of the plastic material.

11. A range of posts according to claim 10, wherein the plastic material is composed at least partially of polybutylene terephthalate.

12. Range of posts according to any one of claims 9 to 11, in which the several coronal-radicular scanning posts (1) are each made of the plastic material tinted in the mass to the corresponding identification color.

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