Dental Abutment Taper Locking Structure Against Screw Loosening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental implant systems face issues with the loosening of fixing screws, leading to damage and costly replacement of restorations due to applied forces.
Innovation Solution
An abutment design with a tapering opening and a locking element that secures the fixing screw, preventing loosening by wedging against the implant body and utilizing a mating thread for a stable, positive-locking connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixing screw is used to connect the abutment to the implant body, then the abutment can be securely fixed, but the fixing screw may loosen due to applied forces causing damage to restorations
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into multiple functional components: the fixing screw for initial attachment, the taper opening for wedge-locking, and the locking element with mating thread for final securing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function, preventing screw loosening while maintaining connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The taper opening is pre-formed in the abutment before the fixing screw is installed. This preliminary geometric feature ensures that when the fixing screw is inserted, it automatically creates a wedge-locking effect against the taper, preventing loosening before the locking element is even engaged.
2Reliability
If the screw head contacts the taper area, then wedging action prevents loosening, but the screw head occupies space that could be used for other components
Solution Approach 1:
The taper opening provides a localized wedge-locking function at the screw head contact area, while the rest of the opening volume remains available for the locking element. This local application of the wedge principle ensures anti-loosening action without compromising the space needed for other critical components.
3Reliability
If a locking element with mating thread is added to prevent loosening, then connection reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element combines multiple functions into a single component: it has the mating thread for engagement with the abutment's threaded section, provides additional mechanical locking, and can be inserted through the same opening as the fixing screw. This merging reduces the need for separate locking mechanisms while maintaining high reliability.
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 solution effectively prevents the loosening of the fixing screw, ensuring a secure connection and reducing the risk of restoration damage, thereby minimizing replacement costs.
Implementation Method 1
The opening of the abutment has a taper from the insertion end towards the exit end, so that a screw head of the fixing screw can be brought into contact with the area of the taper
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
Abutment (1) for dental prosthetics, wherein the abutment (1) can be locked to an implant body by means of a fixing screw (2), wherein the abutment (1) has an opening (9) with an insertion end (9a) and an exit end (9b), wherein the fixing screw (2) can be inserted through the insertion end (9a) of the opening (9), and wherein the screw section (21) of the fixing screw (2) projects from the exit end (9b), and wherein the screw section (21) can be screwed into a threaded part of the implant body for locking, characterized in that the opening (8) of the abutment (1) has a taper (10) from the insertion end (9a) towards the exit end (9b), such that a screw head (22) of the fixing screw (2) can be brought into contact with the area of the taper (10), wherein the upper end (23) of the screw head (22) in the locked state has a distance (d) to the insertion end (9a), wherein the abutment (1) has at least one threaded section (3),wherein a locking element (4) has a mating thread (5) corresponding to the threaded section (3) for the detachable connection of the locking element (4) with the abutment (1), wherein the locking element (4) can be inserted into the opening (9) via the insertion end (9a) and can be detachably connected to the threaded section (3) via the mating thread (5).