Modular Dental Implant Support for Bone Augmentation Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of successfully placing a dental implant in the jawbone is often hindered by bone defects, such as receded or thin jawbones, necessitating bone augmentation with synthetic or autologous bone graft materials, which requires a covering membrane to prevent soft tissue ingrowth and ensure undisturbed bone growth.
Innovation Solution
A dental implant system comprising a connecting element and a support element, designed to temporarily cover the bone graft site, allowing undisturbed bone growth and providing a cavity for bone formation, with modular components for anatomical adaptation, and potentially resorbable materials to avoid additional surgeries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a covering membrane is used to prevent soft tissue ingrowth, then bone growth is protected, but the membrane requires additional fixation elements and surgical steps
Solution Approach 1:
The support element integrates both the covering function and the fixation function into a single component. The support element's struts directly engage with the jawbone to secure the covering membrane, eliminating the need for separate fixation elements and reducing surgical complexity while maintaining reliable bone growth protection
Solution Approach 2:
The support element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the covering membrane, acts as a fixation device through bone engagement, and defines the augmentation site boundaries. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed and simplifies the overall system
2Reliability
If a rigid and dimensionally stable covering membrane is used to provide cavity for bone growth, then bone formation is undisturbed, but the membrane may require removal surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is designed with resorbable materials that change their physical properties over time, transitioning from a rigid structural support during bone formation to a gradually degrading material that is naturally absorbed by the body. This parameter change eliminates the need for surgical removal while maintaining bone formation stability during the critical period
Solution Approach 2:
The support element functions as a temporary, single-use structure that provides necessary support during bone augmentation and then degrades naturally. This disposable approach eliminates the need for removal surgery and associated costs, while still providing reliable bone formation stability during its functional period
3Reliability
If bone augmentation is performed to provide stable anchorage, then implant placement is enabled, but the procedure requires covering membrane and support structures
Solution Approach 1:
The support element merges the functions of boundary definition, membrane support, and structural stabilization into a single integrated component. This consolidation provides reliable implant anchorage through bone engagement while reducing the overall complexity of the augmentation structure compared to using separate components for each function
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3b~3g
AI summary
The present invention relates to a dental implant (100) for supporting, in particular by means of a support structure, a cover element (9). The dental implant (100) according to the invention has a connection element (15) having a first end portion (37) and a second end portion (39) for connecting the implant (100) to an implantation site (41) of a jawbone (3) and a first support element (13) for supporting a cover element (9) of at least one portion of the implantation site (41) after implantation of the implant (100) on the jawbone (3). The first end portion (37) is designed as or has a first connection portion (25). The first support element (13) has a second connection portion (23). The first connection portion (25) and the second connection portion (23) are designed to be connectable to each other. The second end portion (39) is designed as or has an implantation portion for temporary implanting of the connection element (15) on or in the implantation site (41) of the jawbone (3). The present invention furthermore relates to a set, comprising a dental implant (100) according to the invention, furthermore having at least one additional support element (13), wherein the first support element (13) and the second support element (13) differ in at least one geometric feature.