Dental Abutment Tapered Locking Structure Against Screw Loosening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental implant systems face issues with fixing screw loosening, leading to restoration damage and costly replacements due to inadequate connection mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An abutment design with a tapered opening for the fixing screw, featuring a threaded portion and a locking element that securely locks to the implant body, preventing unscrewing and ensuring a stable connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional fixing screw connection is used between abutment and implant body, then the assembly is simple and easy to manufacture, but the connection becomes loose under force effects leading to restoration damage
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment is divided into multiple functional sections: a tapered opening section for wedge engagement, a threaded portion for the locking element, and a head section. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function - the tapered section prevents loosening through wedge action, while the threaded section provides secure anchoring for the locking element.
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered opening is pre-formed in the abutment structure before final assembly. When the fixing screw is inserted and tightened, the tapered geometry automatically engages in a wedge action that pre-loads and secures the connection, preventing loosening before it can occur under operational forces.
2Reliability
If the opening is tapered to allow screw head engagement and prevent loosening, then connection reliability improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The opening geometry is changed from a conventional cylindrical shape to a tapered configuration. This parameter change enables the wedge action mechanism where the screw head engages the tapered walls, converting rotational tightening force into axial clamping force that prevents loosening while maintaining manufacturability through standard tapering processes.
3Reliability
If a locking element with mating thread is added to prevent screw loosening, then connection reliability improves, but device complexity and assembly steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element integrates multiple functions into a single component: it threads into the abutment's threaded portion for secure anchoring, extends through the abutment body, and engages with the fixing screw head to prevent loosening. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate locking mechanisms while maintaining ease of assembly through a single element installation.
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 abutment design effectively prevents screw loosening, maintaining a stable connection and minimizing restoration damage, while allowing for easy assembly and disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
The opening of the abutment has a tapering from the introduction end towards the exit end so that a screw head of the fixing screw can be brought to abut, wherein in the locked state, the upper end of the screw head is at a distance from the introduction end
Data Source
AI summary
An abutment for dental build-up. The abutment is lockable to an implant body. The abutment has an opening with an introduction end and an exit end. A fixing screw in introducible via the introduction end. The screw portion of the fixing screw projects from the exit end. The screw portion is screwable with the implant body for locking. The opening has a tapering from the introduction end towards the exit end. In the locked state, the upper end of the screw head is at a distance from the introduction end. The abutment has a threaded portion. A locking element has a mating thread corresponding to the threaded portion for releasably connecting the locking element to the abutment. The locking element can be introduced into the opening via the introduction end and is releasably connectable to the threaded portion via the mating thread.