Two-part dental abutment with rotatable base for reduced screw channel
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Two-part dental implants face challenges with screw channel width limitations, which weaken the abutment and restrict shape customization, especially in ceramic abutments prone to chipping, due to the need for a basal screw that increases bending forces and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A secondary component design with a head and base part that are directly coupled via a rotatable attachment portion and fastening means, allowing axial joining without additional components, enabling reduced screw channel diameter and increased strength, and allowing for individualized shaping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a basal screw is used to connect the abutment to the implant, then the abutment can be firmly secured, but the screw channel width increases which weakens the abutment and restricts shape customization
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment is divided into two separate parts: a head part with a reduced-diameter through passage and a base part with drive means. This segmentation allows the through passage to be narrowed without compromising the structural integrity, as the base part provides the necessary strength through its direct threaded connection to the implant.
Solution Approach 2:
The base part acts as an intermediary element between the head part and the implant. It features drive means (such as a polygonal passage) that receive torque from a driving tool, enabling the base part to rotate and thread onto the implant's internal bore, thereby securing the entire abutment assembly without requiring a wide screw channel in the head part.
2Power
If a basal screw with standard diameter is used, then sufficient torque transmission is achieved, but the screw channel diameter increases causing increased bending forces and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional mechanical screw channel system is replaced with a direct threaded connection system. The base part contains threads that engage directly with the implant's internal threaded bore, eliminating the need for a separate basal screw and its associated wide-diameter channel, thereby reducing complexity and bending forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection mechanism transitions from a linear screw channel approach to a rotational threading approach. The base part rotates relative to the implant during installation, converting linear insertion motion into rotational engagement, which allows for more efficient torque transmission through the threaded interface rather than through a wide-diameter screw channel.
3Strength
If the screw channel diameter is reduced to increase abutment strength, then material usage is optimized and shape customization is improved, but torque transmission capability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The torque transmission function is extracted from the head part's through passage and relocated to the base part's drive means. The base part contains a dedicated polygonal passage or other torque-receiving feature that is optimized for receiving rotational force from a driving tool, while the head part maintains its reduced-diameter through passage for minimal structural compromise.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A secondary component for connection to a dental implant having an internal bore, said secondary component comprising a head part and a base part, the head part comprising a coronal portion which in use protrudes from the dental implant, and, apical of the coronal portion, an attachment portion, the base part comprising implant connection means for connection to an implant and fastening means, wherein the attachment portion and fastening means can be directly coupled together in a rotatable manner in order to axially join the head and base parts together, while still enabling the base part to be rotated relative to the head part such that the implant 'connection means can engage the implant and secure the secondary component to this, the head part further comprising a through passage extending from the coronal portion to the attachment portion and the base part comprising drive means which, when the head and base parts are coupled together, is in communication with this passage.