Improved guide splint for dental procedures in fully or partially edentulous patients

Abstract

The invention relates to an improved guide splint (1) for dental procedures in fully or partially edentulous patients, having a lower face (1a) with an anatomical shape designed to rest on a jaw of the patient and comprising at least one through hole (2) configured to serve as a reference for a dental procedure. The splint (1) of the invention also comprises at least one recess (3) on the lower face of same configured for snap-fit engagement with at least one lug (T) protruding from the gum.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Improved guide splint for dental procedures in totally or partially edentulous patients.

[0003] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention belongs to the field of dentistry, and more particularly to the field of dental implantology.

[0005] The object of the invention is a guide splint equipped with an improved system for attaching it to the patient's mouth, which facilitates the performance of various dental procedures in totally or partially edentulous patients.

[0006] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Dental implants are a solution for replacing missing or damaged teeth. A dental implant is a device inserted into the jawbone, onto which a crown or prosthesis is later placed, replacing the appearance and function of the missing or damaged tooth.

[0008] Typically, dental implant surgery is a manual procedure where the precision and trajectory of the final implant position depend heavily on the dentist's skill and experience. This involves first studying the path the implant will take in the jawbone, then drilling the hole, and finally inserting the dental implant into it.

[0009] The hole in the jawbone is drilled using a bur, usually a drill bit, attached to a motorized tool, which is operated by the dentist's skilled hand. However, a manual process can be imprecise and dangerous if human error occurs. Therefore, to reduce the risks associated with manual surgery, there are assistance systems available on the market to guide the tools during surgery and the placement of dental implants.

[0010] The most well-known guidance systems are those that use 3D radiographic images of the patient's teeth and jaws. With the help of an intraoral scanner of the tooth surface, the treatment and the ideal implant position are virtually planned and calculated. From this virtual plan, a guide splint is generated with holes in the predefined directions where the dental implant must be inserted. The guide splint serves to guide the drilling process in the correct direction, as well as to prepare the implant site in the bone and insert the implant.

[0011] Application EP23382107, filed by the applicant of this application, describes such a guidance system, which includes a splint as described above. Figure 1 shows the splint (F) manufactured from 3D data of the patient's anatomy, such that it fits perfectly over the patient's teeth adjacent to the area where the implant is to be placed. The splint (F) has at least one hole (A), specifically two cylindrical holes (A) in the example shown in Figure 1, whose position coincides precisely with that of the hole to be drilled in the patient's jawbone. In the system of application EP23382107, the holes (A) of the splint (F) serve as guides for bushings (C) that limit the longitudinal travel of the bur (FR), which, driven by the head (CB) of a tool (H), moves within them.In guidance systems prior to application EP23382107, the holes (A) of the splint (F) served directly as a guide for the bur (FR) which ultimately drills the hole in the patient's jaw.

[0012] In either case, a problem arises when the patient is edentulous. An edentulous patient is one who lacks teeth altogether, or has only a few, which in any case are insufficient to provide adequate support for the splint. When this occurs, the entire lower surface of the guide splint, or at least most of it, finds support only in the gum tissue itself, which, being soft tissue with flexible contours, provides a weak and inflexible hold that greatly reduces the precision and quality of the procedure.

[0013] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] To solve the problem posed, the present invention provides a solution consisting of the guide splint having on its lower face housings for the coupling of pins similar to those used in removable dental prostheses on implants.

[0015] Indeed, there are currently different types of dental prostheses depending on how they are attached to the patient's jaw: fixed prostheses, removable prostheses, and implant-supported prostheses. Each of these is briefly described below.

[0016] Fixed prostheses are attached to the patient's jaw by means of fixed fasteners, such as screws or similar, effectively creating a fixed dental piece comparable to natural teeth.

[0017] Removable prostheses are attached to the patient's jaw using adhesive elements, and are normally removed at night for disinfection (this is essentially the classic "dentures").

[0018] Removable implant-supported dentures are fixed to the patient's jawbone using attachments, like protrusions (T) that extend from the gums. These protrusions (T), as shown in Fig. 2, are firmly attached to the patient's bone structure by implants (I) to provide anchor points for the denture (P). To achieve this, the denture (P) has recesses (CA) on its underside with a shape complementary to that of the protrusions (T). For example, if the ends of the protrusions (T) are spherical, the recesses (CA) on the underside of the denture (P) can also be spherical, but with an opening slightly smaller than that of the protrusions (T) to create a click-lock effect when the prosthesis (T) fits into the recess (CA).Thus, to fix the prosthesis (P), the user only has to place the prosthesis (P) in its position and press towards the gum, thus making the pegs (T) enter the corresponding cavities (CA).

[0019] Well, the inventor of the present invention proposes to use a mechanism similar to that of temporary fixation of removable prostheses on implants for the fixation of the guide splint used in various dental procedures, such as the drilling of holes for implants.

[0020] Thus, to firmly secure the guide splint, pre-existing pegs could be used, for example, if the patient has previously used a removable implant-supported prosthesis. Alternatively, the pegs could be placed on existing dental implants. It would also be possible to place temporary implants to support dedicated pegs. Naturally, any remaining teeth the patient may have will also help to properly anchor the splint. The splint will also have reference holes useful for certain dental procedures, such as drilling implant holes.

[0021] The guide splint of the present invention, therefore, has a lower surface with an anatomical shape adapted to rest on the patient's jaw. The jaw may be completely edentulous, in which case the lower surface of the splint will simply be shaped like the negative of the patient's gingiva. If the patient retains any isolated teeth, the lower surface of the splint will be shaped like the negative of the gingiva including said isolated tooth or teeth, as this will aid in securing the splint.

[0022] The splint of the invention further comprises at least one through-hole configured to serve as a reference point in a dental procedure. In this context, a through-hole is one that passes completely through the splint so that, once installed in position, it allows access to the area of ​​the gum located beneath it. The through-hole may have various shapes depending on the dental procedure for which it is designed.

[0023] For example, to guide a drilling process through the gum, the hole may be cylindrical in shape to guide a drill bit during the drilling of an implant hole. This guidance may be provided directly by the drill bit through the hole, or alternatively, if a system such as that described in patent EP23382107 is used, the hole may have a slightly larger diameter to allow the insertion of one of these guides. In another preferred embodiment, the hole may be shaped like a tooth, for example, a prosthetic tooth to be installed in that position.

[0024] Up to this point, the characteristics of the described guide splint correspond essentially to those of the splint described in document EP23382107. However, the guide splint of the present invention differs from that one in that it also comprises at least one cavity on its lower face configured for its pressure coupling with at least one stud that protrudes from the gum.

[0025] This cavity can be blind, meaning it does not completely pass through the splint. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the cavity is through-the-mouth. In either case, the opening of the cavity on the underside of the splint will be narrower than the internal opening, so that the pin can be engaged by pressure. In principle, the number of cavities on the underside of the splint can be any number, provided it ensures a firm fixation of the guide splint to the gingiva. This number will be directly related to the number of isolated teeth the patient may have, since, considering a splint whose underside is adapted to the few available teeth, the more teeth available, the fewer cavities are required.In any case, although the minimum number of cavities is one, preferably the guide splint will comprise three or more cavities, since three is the minimum number of support points that provide a firm hold of the splint in case of total absence of teeth.

[0026] The cavities could be oriented in any direction as long as they allow for a firm and secure fit with the protruding gingival pins. However, according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal axis of each cavity is essentially parallel to an axis of the holes. That is, the holes and cavities will be oriented in a direction that coincides with the natural direction of hypothetical natural teeth anchored to the gingiva. This is advantageous because, during its use in a drilling process, the splint will be pushed in the direction of the drilling. Since the direction of the push coincides with the longitudinal direction of the cavities, the possibility of the pins dislodging from their corresponding cavities is reduced, as the push will only tend to further insert the pins into their cavities.

[0027] Furthermore, although the cavities are essentially parallel to the holes, they can have slight differences in orientation to achieve varying interference with the corresponding studs, thus improving the joint's rigidity. These small differences in orientation can be, for example, up to 2-3°. These differences can be absorbed by the elasticity of the guide ferrule and contribute to improving the joint's rigidity and security.

[0028] Regarding its position, it should be mentioned again that the positions can vary as long as a firm fix is ​​achieved. In particular, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, especially useful in the case of guide holes for drilling, the guide ferrule comprises at least one cavity on each side of each hole. Providing a cavity on each side of each hole is advantageous because it ensures a firm fix during drilling through all the holes.

[0029] Furthermore, the shape of the cavities can be any shape as long as it allows for a proper press fit between the cavities and the pins. The main concept is that the pin, and therefore also the cavity, has a transverse enlargement that prevents its removal unless sufficient extraction force is applied. For example, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the cavities are essentially spherical, with an inlet opening whose diameter is slightly smaller than that of the sphere's equator. However, other shapes are also possible, such as convex shapes that are not necessarily spherical, provided they ensure that the pin enters and exits with controlled forces and has clearance in its working position.

[0030] The guide splint of the invention can cover only a portion of the patient's gingiva. For example, the guide splint can cover the right or left half of the patient's gingiva if the dental procedure in question is to take place only in that area. However, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, especially useful for drilling procedures, the anatomical shape of the underside is adapted to rest on the entire gingiva of one of the patient's jaws. A larger contact surface results in a firmer fit and, therefore, greater precision during a drilling procedure.

[0031] The guide splint of the invention may be made of one or more materials. For example, the cavities could be formed by a sleeve of another material that is inserted into a housing in the splint material. However, preferably the splint is made entirely of a single material.

[0032] Regarding the manufacturing process, the splint is preferably manufactured using 3D printing from images of the patient's gums and bone structure obtained through one or more of the following techniques: CT scan, MRI, and 3D scanning. In particular, 3D scanning is useful for obtaining the topography of the patient's gums along with any pre-existing indentations. For their part, techniques such as CT scans, MRI, or similar technologies provide the geometry of the underlying bone structure. Combining both techniques provides sufficient information to proceed with the manufacture of the guide splint using 3D printing techniques.

[0033] The guide splint can be made of any 3D-printed material that is sufficiently rigid and biocompatible for medical use. For example, the guide splint can be made of one or more of the following materials: PLA, ABS, and light-cured resin. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a guiding system for a drilling process for the installation of dental implants according to the previous technique.

[0035] Figure 2 schematically shows a removable implant-supported prosthesis according to the previous technique.

[0036] Figures 3 and 4 show a first example of a splint according to the present invention configured to guide the drilling of a hole for an implant.

[0037] Figures 5 and 6 show a second example of a splint according to the present invention configured to show the volume of dental pieces to be installed.

[0038] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0039] Two examples of splints (1) according to the present invention are described below with reference to the attached figures.

[0040] First example

[0041] Figures 3 and 4 show a first example of a splint (1) specially designed to guide the drilling process of implant holes.

[0042] As can be seen, the splint (1) has a lower surface (1a) and a higher surface (1b). The lower surface (1a) is designed to fit perfectly over the gum of the lower jaw of a completely edentulous patient. The lower surface (1a) was therefore manufactured from images obtained by 3D scanning of the patient's gum.

[0043] The underside (1a) of the splint (1) also has four essentially spherical cavities (3). These four cavities (3) are positioned to accommodate four pegs (T) previously installed in the patient's gingiva. Note that, although this document refers only to pegs (T), each peg (T) will have an underlying structure ultimately anchored to an implant. To partially illustrate this underlying structure, the peg (T) on the right is shown only partially in place in Fig. 3. As mentioned previously, the pegs (T) can be installed on provisional implants or they can be supported by pre-existing implants.

[0044] The splint (1) is secured by firmly pushing it towards the gum in a position where the cavities (3) face the pegs (T). Each peg (T) thus fits into its corresponding cavity (3). Although the cavities (3) have a spherical internal shape, their entry channel is slightly narrower than the equator of the inner cavity, so the pegs (T) are pressed in due to the elasticity of the material that makes up the splint (1). As a result, once a minimum pushing force is reached, the peg (T) enters the cavity (3) and cannot be removed unless a predetermined minimum extraction force is applied. The splint (1) is then firmly anchored to the patient's gum.

[0045] The splint (1) in this example also has a series of guide holes (2) for drilling holes in the patient's gum for the placement of dental implants. These are four cylindrical holes (2) on one side of the jaw and three more cylindrical holes (2) on the other side. Naturally, both the position of these holes (3) and the position of the cavities (2) were determined from medical images of the underlying bone structure of the patient's jaw, as well as the position of the prongs (T).

[0046] Second example

[0047] Figures 5 and 6 show a second example of a splint (1) specially designed to provide the dentist with a reference for the volume occupied by prosthetic teeth to be installed in certain positions.

[0048] The splint (1) in this second example has a configuration similar to that described above with regard to the cavities (3) designed to fit into the pre-existing studs (T) in the patient's jaw.

[0049] However, unlike the previous example, in this case the holes (2) are not cylindrical, but rather shaped to match the tooth that will be placed in those positions. Furthermore, since the patient retains three teeth (D), at least three of these holes (2) are configured to fit those teeth (D), providing greater stability to the bond between the splint (1) and the patient's gum.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An improved guide splint (1) for dental procedures in totally or partially edentulous patients, having a lower surface (1a) with an anatomical shape adapted to rest on a patient's jaw and comprising at least one through-hole (2) configured to serve as a reference in some dental procedure, characterized in that it further comprises at least one cavity (3) on the lower face configured for its pressure coupling with at least one stud (T) protruding from the gum.

2. Guide splint (1) according to claim 1, comprising three or more cavities (3).

3. Guide ferrule (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an axis of the cavities (3) is essentially parallel to an axis of the holes (2).

4. Guide splint (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cavities (3) have slight differences in orientation from each other to achieve different interferences with the corresponding studs (T) and thus improve the rigidity of the joint.

5. Guide splint (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising at least one cavity (3) on each side of each hole (2).

6. Guide splint (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cavities (3) have an essentially spherical shape.

7. Guide splint (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the holes (2) have a cylindrical shape suitable for guiding a bur during drilling an implant hole.

8. Guide splint (1) according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the holes (2) are shaped like a tooth.

9. Guide splint (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the anatomical shape of the lower surface (1a) is adapted to rest on the entirety of the patient's gum.

10. Guide splint (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which is made entirely of a single material.

11. Guide splint (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which is manufactured by 3D printing from images of the patient's gum and bone structure obtained by one or more of the following techniques: CT, MRI, and 3D scanning.

12. Guide splint (1) according to claim 11, which is made of one of the materials in the following list: PLA, ABS, and photopolymerizable resin.

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