Dental Implant Thread Geometry for Bone Densification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dental implants face challenges in achieving reliable primary stability, especially in cases of soft or poor bone quality, where they fail to withstand direct loads due to fragile trabecular structures and inadequate bone integration.
Innovation Solution
A dental implant design featuring a unique thread geometry with a combination of compression and cutting areas, where the thread has an S-shaped or sinusoidal contour, allowing for controlled bone compression and reduction, optimizing torque distribution and bone integration through a balanced cutting and compression mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional self-tapping implant geometries are used in soft bone, then insertion is easier, but the fragile trabeculae are shredded rather than cleanly cut, preventing high primary stability
Solution Approach 1:
The thread is segmented into distinct cutting edges and compression zones along its length. The cutting edges are positioned to engage bone tissue in a controlled sequence, while compression zones follow to densify the bone. This segmentation allows the thread to first cut cleanly through soft bone without shredding trabeculae, then compress the bone to achieve high primary stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting edges perform preliminary bone preparation before the compression zones act on the bone. By first creating clean cuts and removing bone chips, the cutting edges prepare the bone tissue for subsequent compression, ensuring that the compression acts on properly prepared bone rather than shredded tissue.
2Reliability
If torque is applied during screwing in to achieve primary stability, then bone/implant contact increases, but excessive torque may occur in hard bone structures
Solution Approach 1:
The thread geometry dynamically adapts to bone density variations. In softer bone regions, the cutting edges engage more readily and compression zones apply appropriate densification forces. In harder bone regions, the same geometry automatically reduces engagement depth and force application, preventing excessive torque while maintaining sufficient primary stability through the self-regulating nature of the cutting and compression mechanism.
3Productivity
If immediate loading is attempted in soft or poor bone quality, then patient care efficiency improves, but the implant lacks sufficient stability to withstand chewing forces
Solution Approach 1:
The thread's continuous cutting and compression action along its length creates progressive bone densification from the implant apex to cervical region. This continuous action ensures that every portion of the implant thread contributes to stability, creating a cumulative effect that achieves high primary stability quickly, enabling immediate loading even in soft bone.
4Reliability
If the thread compacts bone towards the exterior, then bone/implant contact increases and stability improves, but the bone structure may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the thread have specialized functions: cutting edges in regions requiring bone removal and compression zones in regions requiring densification. The compression zones apply controlled compaction forces that increase bone density without exceeding damage thresholds, while cutting edges handle bone removal. This local specialization ensures bone is compacted to the extent needed for stability without causing structural damage.
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 design enhances primary stability by progressively densifying the bone, reducing the risk of bone shredding, and providing mechanical stability while allowing for optimal bone integration and load distribution, even in challenging bone conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The cutting edge is oriented in such a way that it does not cut during screwing or insertion, but cuts the bone tissue when the implant is rotated in the opposite direction to the insertion direction.
Implementation Method 2
The compaction zone compacts the bone in a defined manner towards the exterior, i.e. normal to the contour outwards, i.e. towards the thread crests, and displaces it into the thread valleys and onto the thread flanks.
Data Source
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AI summary
Dental implant (2) with a prosthetic interface (14) in its cervical region (6), a core (26) and at least one thread (32) extending from the cervical region (6) to an opposite apical region (20), wherein the thread (32) has recesses (36) on which a cutting edge (88) for cutting bone is arranged, the respective cutting edge (88) being arranged in the thread direction on the rear side of the recess (36), wherein the respective recess (36) has a cutting area (86) on which the cutting edge (88) is arranged and a compaction area (90) adjacent to the cutting area (86) for compacting bone tissue.