All-Ceramic Dental Implant with Translucent Polymer Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dental implants, particularly those made of titanium and ceramic materials, face challenges in providing adequate primary and secondary stability, resistance to fracture and fatigue, and aesthetic concerns such as opacity and bacterial trapping, which limit their clinical applications and patient satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
Development of all-ceramic single-stage threaded and press-fit implants with finely detailed surface features formed by injection molding and spark plasma sintering, using yttria-stabilized zirconia and CNT-reinforced ceramic composites, which enhance osseointegration, stability, and translucency, and optionally coated with titanium oxide for improved biocompatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional titanium implants are used, then osseointegration and primary stability are achieved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to opacity and bacterial trapping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining ceramic particles (zirconia, alumina, or hydroxyapatite) with polymer matrix materials to create a core-shell structure. The ceramic core provides osseointegration and primary stability, while the translucent polymer shell improves aesthetic appearance and reduces bacterial trapping, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different material properties to different portions of the implant. The core portion uses ceramic materials for bone integration, while the shell portion uses translucent polymers for aesthetics. This spatial differentiation of material properties allows simultaneous optimization of both osseointegration and aesthetic appearance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional ceramic implants are used, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but resistance to fracture and fatigue deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials with a core-shell structure where the ceramic core provides strength and fracture resistance, while the polymer shell provides translucency. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by combining the complementary properties of both materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different functional requirements to different parts: the core portion is made of strong ceramic materials for fracture resistance, while the shell portion uses translucent polymers for aesthetics. This spatial differentiation allows each region to optimize its specific function.
3Device complexity
If single-stage implants are used, then procedure complexity is reduced, but flexibility in placement deteriorates due to fixed alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the implant into separable components including a bone-anchoring portion, an abutment portion, and a superstructure. This segmentation allows the implant to be placed in two stages: first anchoring to bone, then adding the abutment and superstructure later. This resolves the contradiction by providing placement flexibility while maintaining relative simplicity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the implant components to be assembled in different configurations and orientations. The separable design allows the abutment and superstructure to be adjusted after initial bone anchoring, providing adaptability to various clinical situations while maintaining procedural simplicity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If two-stage implants are used, then flexibility in placement is improved, but device complexity and retention requirements deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the implant into a bone-anchoring portion, abutment portion, and superstructure that can be assembled in a controlled manner. This segmentation provides placement flexibility while reducing retention complexity through standardized connection interfaces and simplified assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing a modular system where the bone-anchoring portion can be combined with various abutment and superstructure configurations. This multi-functional design provides flexibility in placement while reducing retention requirements through standardized, universally applicable connection mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ceramic implants offer improved primary and secondary stability, resistance to fracture and fatigue, and a more aesthetic appearance, while reducing bacterial trapping and gum recession, thus enhancing clinical effectiveness and patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
spark plasma sintering of a powder compact or green body comprising powdered zirconia
Implementation Method 2
at least the bone-engaging surfaces of the implant are surface modified by a PMEDC process to create a strongly bonded titanium oxide layer
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide an osseointegrative implant and related tools, components and fabrication techniques for surgical bone fixation and dental restoration purposes. In one embodiment an all-ceramic single-stage threaded or press-fit implant is provided having finely detailed surface features formed by ceramic injection molding and/or spark plasma sintering of a powder compact or green body comprising finely powdered zirconia. In another embodiment a two-stage threaded implant is provided having an exterior shell or body formed substantially entirely of ceramic and/or CNT-reinforced ceramic composite material. The implant may include one or more frictionally anisotropic bone-engaging surfaces. In another embodiment a densely sintered ceramic implant is provided wherein, prior to sintering, the porous debound green body is exposed to ions and/or particles of silver, gold, titanium, zirconia, YSZ, α-tricalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, carbon, carbon nanotubes, and/or other particles which remain lodged in the implant surface after sintering. Optionally, at least the supragingival portions of an all-ceramic implant are configured to have high translucence in the visible light range. Optionally, at least the bone-engaging portions of an all-ceramic implant are coated with a fused layer of titanium oxide.