Improved Self-tapping Dental Implants

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dental implant (1) comprising an implant body (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (II) between a coronal end (2a) and an apical end (2b), the implant body (2) comprising a core (3) along which extends a helical thread (4) having at least one thread (F1, F2), the core (3 tapering towards the apical end (2b) over at least one section (T2, T3, T4) of the length of the dental implant (1), wherein: at least two tapping grooves (R1, R3) are arranged in the thread (4), the grooves being such that the at least one thread (F1, F2) is threaded in a series of continuous thread arms; - at least one thread (F1, F2) is interrupted so as to include an arc (AF); - each thread arc (AF) includes an apical surface (SA) directed towards the apical end (2b) of the dental implant (1) and a coronal end surface (SC) directed towards the coronal end (2a) of the dental implant (1); - a peripheral outer surface (SLR) connects the apical surface (SA) and the coronal end surface (SC) of the thread arc (AF); - in said at least one section (T2, T3, T4) of the dental implant (1) where the core (3) is tapered, at least one thread arc (AF) has a radial offset (RR).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of dental implantology, and in particular to self-tapping dental implants. [Background technology]

[0002] When placing an implant into a patient's maxilla or mandible, it is important to obtain the best possible post-implant stability (called primary stability) so that said implant can be inserted as quickly or immediately as possible, i.e. before the bone has time to colonize the endosteal surface of the implant.

[0003] The primary stability of an implant depends, inter alia, on the density of the bone in which the implant is placed.

[0004] In the case of low bone density (conventionally a density of D3 or D4 according to the Misch classification), a cylindrical hole is drilled in the maxilla or mandible, into which an intraosseous part of a dental implant is then inserted, the volume of which is greater than the volume of the hole drilled in the bone. For example, it is possible to use known dental implants, which include an implant body extending along a longitudinal axis between a coronal end and an apical end, said implant body having a core along which a helical thread having at least one thread extends, said core tapering in the direction of the apical end over at least one segment of the implant's length. Such dental implants are described, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,399,363. Dental implants generally have an apical end with a cross section substantially equal to the cross section of the cylindrical hole. During its insertion, the dental implant gradually compresses the bone around the hole drilled in the bone, so that the primary stability is improved.

[0005] However, if this type of dental implant is inserted into a bone of higher density (conventionally D1 or D2 density according to the Misch classification), the bone density makes the bone less compressible, so that the penetration of the dental implant requires a much higher screwing torque, which may be too high to be supported without damage by the dental implant (especially at the level of connection that allows the screwing of the dental implant by a rotational drive). Therefore, prior to the introduction of the dental implant into the hole drilled in the bone, it is generally necessary to provide the bone with an internal thread that substantially corresponds to the external thread of the dental implant, using a tap.

[0006] However, the use of taps is time-consuming and delicate. In fact, taps should only be driven at a very low rotational speed (approximately 50 revolutions per minute) while drills previously used to make cylindrical holes were driven at over 1000 revolutions per minute. It is therefore important for the practitioner to change the speed of the tool so as not to accidentally penetrate the maxilla or mandible with the tap. The tapping step is made time-consuming due to the low rotational drive speed of the tap, and is further complicated because the tap must be driven in one direction and then the other to tap alternately gradually through the bone without breaking it.

[0007] To avoid the need to use taps, it has been proposed to provide the dental implant itself with at least one tapping groove.

[0008] However, the insertion torque during screwing remains relatively high or too high. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] EP 1,624,826 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The problem addressed by the present invention is to make available a dental implant that can be inserted into low density bone by compressing the bone to obtain good primary stability, but also into denser bone, without having to resort to a preliminary action of tapping a hole drilled in the bone. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To achieve these and other objects, the invention proposes a dental implant comprising an implant body extending along a longitudinal axis between a coronal end and an apical end, said implant body having a core along which extends a helical thread having at least one thread, said core tapering in the direction of the apical end over at least one segment of the length of the dental implant, - at least two tapping grooves are formed in the thread and interrupt said at least one thread, whereby said at least one thread has a series of continuous thread arcs, a thread arc being separated from a subsequent thread arc by one of said at least two tapping grooves; - each thread arc has an apical end face oriented towards the apical end of the dental implant and a coronal end face oriented towards the coronal end of the dental implant; - each thread arc has a peripheral lateral surface which connects the apical and coronal end faces of said thread arc and which extends from its leading edge to its terminal edge; According to the invention, in said at least one segment of the dental implant having a tapered core, at least one thread arc has a radial setback, whereby the peripheral outer surface of said at least one thread arc having a radial setback is at all points located at a distance from the longitudinal axis that is shorter than the maximum distance from the longitudinal axis of the peripheral outer surface of a thread arc following said at least one thread arc having a radial setback.

[0012] When a dental implant is screwed into a hole drilled in bone, due to the radial setback on its peripheral outer surface, the peripheral outer surface of said thread arc with radial setback will not rub against the bone material previously rubbed by the peripheral outer surface of the following and immediately preceding thread arc penetrating into the hole, thereby reducing the insertion torque when screwing into bone, but not affecting the tapping and screwing functions in bone.

[0013] Of course, this reduction in insertion torque is enhanced by providing some thread arcs with radial setback, and thus said at least one thread may advantageously have alternating thread arcs with radial setback and thread arcs without radial setback.

[0014] In order to facilitate a good orientation of the dental implant during its insertion by screwing into the hole, it can preferably be prepared as follows: - the dental implant includes a plurality of thread arcs having radial setbacks; - The thread arcs having radial setback are distributed in a balanced manner all around the longitudinal axis.

[0015] This therefore facilitates orientation of the dental implant such that the longitudinal axis of the dental implant is substantially coaxial with the axis of extension of the hole drilled in the bone.

[0016] For simplified manufacture by machining, the at least one thread arc may advantageously have a radial setback such that all points of its peripheral outer surface are located substantially the same distance from the longitudinal axis.

[0017] Good results have been obtained by providing that the setback of said at least one thread arc having a radial setback is advantageously not more than 30% of the maximum height (obtained in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis) of the apex face near the end or tip of the thread arc following said at least one thread arc having a radial setback.

[0018] This type of setback is a good compromise to limit friction around the implant against the bone (thus reducing the insertion torque when screwed in) while at the same time providing good support of the implant on the bone material by the apical and coronal surfaces of the thread arc.

[0019] Advantageously, it can be prepared as follows: - in a portion of the thread length of the dental implant, the dental implant has an apical segment extending from the apical end in the direction of the coronal end, - The apex segment does not have a thread arc with radial setback.

[0020] This kind of apical segment provides good contact with the bone around the hole (or even good penetration into the hole) so as to obtain good advancement of the dental implant by screwing into the hole.

[0021] Preferably, the screw may include multiple threads, preferably two threads.

[0022] For good dental implant balance, three tapping grooves can be advantageously provided to be formed on the screw.

[0023] Advantageously, said at least two tapping grooves extend over more than half the thread length of the dental implant, thus making it possible to provide, over more than half the dental implant, alternating thread arcs with radial setback and thread arcs without radial setback, which makes it possible, when screwing the implant, to reduce the insertion force over more than half of its screwing path.

[0024] Preferably, said at least two tapping grooves may extend helically. Such a tapping groove shape allows a more uniform distribution of alternating thread arcs with radial setback and thread arcs without radial setback. The dental implant then benefits from a better balance between its insertion by screwing.

[0025] Advantageously, the core may be tapered at a conical angle.

[0026] Advantageously, the thread may be tapered, preferably with a conical angle, over all or part of the length of the dental implant. Alternatively or additionally, the thread may be cylindrical over all or part of the length of the dental implant. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of specific embodiments thereof, which is given with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a particular embodiment of a dental implant according to the present invention in a first orientation about a longitudinal axis. [Diagram 2] 2 is a side view of the dental implant of FIG. 1 in a second orientation about the longitudinal axis. [Diagram 3] 2 is a side view of the dental implant of FIG. 1 in a third orientation about the longitudinal axis. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dental implant of FIG. 1. [Diagram 5]FIG. 4 is a diagram from FIG. 3 in which the dashed lines illustrate the outer coating of the dental implant with no radial setback on the thread arcs. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the thread arc of the dental implant of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the dental implant of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] 1 to 7 illustrate a particular embodiment of a dental implant 1 according to the invention.

[0029] As illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the dental implant 1 comprises an implant body 2 extending along a longitudinal axis II between a coronal end 2a and an apical end 2b. The implant body 2 has a core 3 along which extends a helical thread 4 having at least one thread. In this case, the thread 4 here comprises two threads F1 and F2.

[0030] In Fig. 5, dashed lines are used to illustrate the outer coating 5 of the implant body 2, or the coating of the peripheral outer surfaces of the threads F1 and F2. The coating of the core 3 is also illustrated by dashed lines. It can thus be seen that the implant body 2 comprises five segments T1 to T5 from its coronal end 2a to its apical end 2b.

[0031] In segment T1, the core 3 is substantially cylindrical and the thread 4 is conical tapering towards the coronal end 2a. The height of the threads F1 and F2 (taken in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis II) therefore decreases in the direction of the coronal end 2a. The gradual decrease in the cross section of the dental implant 1 near its coronal end 2a makes it possible to take into account, for the aesthetic integration of the dental implant 1, the reduced bone volume near the osseous crest of the maxilla or mandible in the vestibular-palatal direction.

[0032] In segment T2, the core 3 tapers in the direction of the apex 2b, being conical tapering towards the apex 2b, and the thread 4 is substantially cylindrical, so that the height of the threads F1 and F2 (taken in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis II) increases in the direction of the apex 2b.

[0033] In segment T3, the core 3 is also conical. Its taper is the same as in segment T2. The thread 4 also tapers in the direction of the apex 2b and is conical tapering towards the apex 2b. The change in height of the thread 4 depends on the relationship between the cone angles A3 and A4 of the core 3 and the thread 4, respectively: - if the cone angle A3 of the core 3 is greater than the cone angle A4 of the thread 4, the height of the thread 4 increases in the direction of the apex 2b, - if the cone angle A3 of the core 3 is equal to the cone angle A4 of the thread 4, the height of the thread 4 is substantially constant in the direction of the apical end 2b, If the cone angle A3 of the core 3 is smaller than the cone angle A4 of the thread 4, the height of the thread 4 decreases in the direction of the apex 2b.

[0034] In the particular embodiment illustrated in the figures, cone angles A3 and A4 are substantially equal.

[0035] In segment T4, the core 3 remains conical and tapers towards the apical end 2b, the taper being the same as in segments T2 and T3. The thread 4 is partially rounded and has a height of practically zero at the junction of segments T4 and T5.

[0036] Segment T5 is convex in the form of a semi-lens and is completely arbitrary.

[0037] The core 3 therefore tapers in the direction of the apical end 2b over at least one segment of the length of the dental implant 1, in this case over segments T2 to T4.

[0038] As can be seen from figures 1 to 3, which show the dental implant 1 in three different orientations, at least two tapping grooves are formed in the thread 4. In this case, there are three tapping grooves R1 to R3, interrupting the threads F1 and F2. The threads F1 and F2 therefore each have a series of continuous thread arcs AF, which are separated from the following thread arcs AF by one of said at least two tapping grooves R1, R2 or R3. In the figures, only a part of the thread arcs is indicated by the reference AF, so as not to affect the clarity of the description.

[0039] The tapping grooves R1 to R3 extend over more than half the thread length of the dental implant 1 (in this case, about 85%).

[0040] The grooves R1 to R3 are not linear but extend helically along the dental implant 1 about the longitudinal axis II.

[0041] As can be better seen in Fig. 6, each thread arc AF has an apical surface SA oriented towards the apical end 2b of the dental implant 1 and has a height HSA (taken in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis II). Each thread arc AF also has a coronal end surface SC oriented towards the coronal end 2a of the dental implant 1 and has a height HSC (taken in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis II). Each thread arc AF has a peripheral outer side surface SLP connecting the apical surface SA and the coronal end surface SC of this thread arc AF.

[0042] As can be better seen in Fig. 7, the peripheral outer surface SLP of the thread arc AF develops in a spiral shape from the leading end EA to the trailing end EF. The leading end EA is intended to penetrate the bone initially during insertion of the dental implant 1 by screwing it into the bone and is intended to cut into the bone to form a tap in the bone.

[0043] In segments T2 and T3 of the dental implant 1 in which the core 3 is tapered, the thread arc AF (whose peripheral outer surface SLP is colored black to identify the thread arc AF) has a radial setback RR, whereby the peripheral outer surface SLP (black) of said thread arc AF having radial setback RR is at all points located at a distance from the longitudinal axis II that is shorter than the maximum distance from the longitudinal axis II of the peripheral outer surface SLP of the thread arc AF following the thread arc having radial setback RR.

[0044] The radial setback RR of some thread arcs is clearly indicated in FIG. 5 by the outer coating 5 of the dental implant 1 .

[0045] This feature is better illustrated in Figure 7 using three thread arcs AF1, AF2, and AF3 located in segment T2. Thread arcs AF1 and AF2 are separated from each other by tapping groove R1, and thread arcs AF2 and AF3 are separated from each other by tapping groove R2. Thus, thread arcs AF1 and AF3 are continuous with thread arc AF2.

[0046] The thread 4 is cylindrical in the segment T2, with the peripheral outer surface SLP of the thread arcs AF1 and AF3 located at a constant distance from the longitudinal axis II equal to the radius R of the cylindrical segment T2. For its part, the thread arc AF2 has a radial setback RR, which means that its peripheral outer surface SLP (shown in black for the reader's ease of understanding) is located at a distance less than the radius R relative to the longitudinal axis II at all points. More precisely, the thread arc AF2 has a radial setback such that all the points of its peripheral outer surface SLP are located at substantially the same distance R' from the longitudinal axis II, which is less than R.

[0047] Thus, during insertion of the dental implant 1 by screwing into a hole drilled in the bone, the thread cuts into the bone, compresses it away from the longitudinal axis II, and leaves behind a helical path into which the thread arc AF2 then penetrates due to the rotation of the dental implant 1. Due to its radial setback, the peripheral outer side surface SLP of the thread arc AF2 does not rub against the bone previously formed by the peripheral outer side surface SLP of the thread arc AF1. Thus, the insertion torque of the dental implant 1 into the bone is reduced.

[0048] In contrast, the apical and coronal end surfaces of the thread arc AF2 will rub against the bone previously shaped by the apical and coronal end surfaces of the thread arc AF1, thus maintaining good stability of the dental implant along the longitudinal axis II.

[0049] A similar arrangement having a radial setback RR is provided on a portion of segment T3, where the radial setback RR is relative to the outer cladding 5, which is frusto-conical.

[0050] For a good compromise between stability of the dental implant along the longitudinal axis II and reduced insertion torque, the radial setback RR of the thread arc AF2 is less than 30% of the maximum HSA height of the apical surface SA near the end EF of the following thread arc AF1 or less than 30% of the maximum HSA height of the apical surface SA near the end EA of the following thread arc AF3.

[0051] To provide a radial setback RR on the thread arc AF, it is possible to remachine said thread arc AF, for example using a milling cutter which radially trims the thread arc AF.

[0052] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, threads F1 and F2 have alternating thread arcs AF with radial setback RR and thread arcs AF without radial setback RR, in other words, each thread arc AF with radial setback RR is preceded and followed by a thread arc AF without radial RR setback.

[0053] It should be noted that the dental implant 1 includes a plurality of thread arcs AF with radial setbacks RR, the thread arcs AF with radial setbacks being distributed in a balanced manner all around the longitudinal axis II, which promotes good coaxial alignment of the longitudinal axis II of the dental implant 1 with the drill axis of the hole drilled in the bone.

[0054] 5, it is noted that the dental implant 1 includes an apical segment TA that does not have a thread arc AF extending in the direction from the apical end 2b to the coronal end 2a and has a radial setback RR, where the apical segment TA includes the entire segments T4 and T5, and also includes a portion of segment T3.

[0055] The invention is not limited to the embodiments explicitly described, but includes various variants and generalizations thereof that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. A dental implant comprising an implant body extending along a longitudinal axis between a coronal end and an apical end, said implant body having a core along which extends a helical thread having at least one thread, said core tapering in the direction of said apical end over at least one segment of the length of said dental implant; at least two tapping grooves are formed in the thread, interrupting the at least one thread in such a way that the at least one thread has a series of successive thread arcs, the successive thread arcs belonging to the same thread and following one another along the helix of the helical thread, a thread arc being separated from the succeeding thread arc by one of the at least two tapping grooves, each thread arc has an apical face oriented towards the apical end of the dental implant and a coronal face oriented towards the coronal end of the dental implant; each thread arc has a peripheral outer surface connecting the apical end surface and the coronal end surface of said thread arc and extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge; 1. A dental implant, comprising: at least one segment of said dental implant in which said core is tapered, said at least one thread arc having a radial setback, whereby said peripheral outer surface of said at least one thread arc having a radial setback is at all points located at a distance from said longitudinal axis that is less than a maximum distance from said longitudinal axis of a peripheral outer surface of a thread arc following said at least one thread arc having a radial setback.

2. 2. The dental implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one thread has alternating thread arcs each having radial setback and thread arcs without radial setback.

3. - said dental implant comprises a plurality of thread arcs with radial setback; - the thread arcs having radial setback are distributed in a balanced manner around the longitudinal axis such that the thread arcs having radial setback alternate with thread arcs having no radial setback; 3. Dental implant according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is

4. 4. The dental implant according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thread arc has a radial setback such that all points of its circumferential outer surface are located at substantially the same distance from the longitudinal axis.

5. 5. The dental implant according to claim 1, wherein the radial setback of the at least one thread arc having a radial setback is less than or equal to 30% of the maximum height of the apical face near the end or tip of the thread arc following the at least one thread arc having a radial setback.

6. - in a portion of the thread length of the dental implant, the dental implant has an apical segment extending from the apical end in the direction of the coronal end, - the apex segment does not have a thread arc with radial setback A dental implant according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is

7. 7. A dental implant according to claim 1, wherein the screw comprises a plurality of threads.

8. A dental implant as described in claim 7, characterized in that the screw has only two threads.

9. 9. Dental implant according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that three tapping grooves are formed in the thread.

10. 10. Dental implant according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two tapping grooves extend over more than half the thread length of the dental implant.

11. 11. Dental implant according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two tapping grooves extend in a spiral manner.

12. 12. Dental implant according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the core is tapered with a conical angle.

13. 13. Dental implant according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thread is tapered.

14. The dental implant of claim 13, wherein the screw is tapered at a cone angle.

15. 13. Dental implant according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thread is cylindrical.

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