A HEALING ABUTMENT, A SCREW AND A METHOD.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a healing abutment for arrangement to a dental implant to prevent growth of tissue into the implant. The invention also relates to a screw for fastening the healing abutment to the implant. In addition, the invention relates to a method for fastening a healing abutment by a screw to an implant.

BACKGROUND ART

Implants for anchoring single or several artificial teeth forming dental bridges and implant bridges, respectively, have been existing during a couple of decades. Currently, there are more than two thousands implants available on the market, which are produced and delivered by a great number of manu- facturers. The implants differ from each other, for example regarding distinguishing construction and design for connecting single artificial teeth or dental bridges.

Before permanently anchoring artificial teeth on implants those must be arranged into and accepted by the bone structure of the oral cavity. Immediately after an implant has been positioned into the bone tissue of the oral cavity, a healing abutment is temporarily arranged to the implant for forming the gingiva duting healing up the implant and for preventing soft tissue and bone tissue to grow into the implant, and hence to facilitate the future permanent arrangement of artificial teeth or dental bridges on the implant.

The main problem with the healing abutments of today is inevitable leakage from the oral cavity. Micro organisms are attaching the proteins of the saliva, which will enter between the healing abutment and the implant forming a layer of bacteria around the implant resulting in affected bone tissue, infec- tion and gingivitis.

A drawback with currently used healing abutments is that they are adapted to a specific construction of implants requiring a large number of healing

abutments of different designs in store. It is essential to chose a healing abutment adapted to the implant, since otherwise leakage may occur between the healing abutment and the implant, which may jeopardize the healing up of the implant. A poor adaptation could result in that the healing abutment become loose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to eliminate at least one of the drawbacks mentioned above, which is achieved by providing a healing abutment according to claim 1.

A healing abutment in accordance with the invention for arrangement to a dental implant, provided with a bore, has a surface for abutting the implant, and at least one compressible sealing integrally made with said surface, the healing abutment being adapted to be fastened to the implant by means of a screw for insertion into the bore of the implant, wherein the screw has a longitudinal recess for discharging fluid from the bore. The healing abutment of a second embodiment has a through channel ending at said surface and is shaped in such way that a shoulder is formed inside said channel, and in that a second compressible sealing is integrally made with said shoulder. The healing abutment of another embodiment has an integrated screw shaped protrusion for insertion into the bore of the implant, wherein the longitudinal recess is arranged in the screw shaped protrusion. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a healing abutment for arrangement to a dental implant, provided with a bore, for preventing growth of tissue into the implant, wherein the healing abutment has a surface provided with a first compressible sealing that is integrally made with the surface abutting the implant. According to a first embodiment the healing abutment has a through channel having a shoulder that is provided with a second compressible sealing. Each sealing has protrusions forming grooves therebetween, which are circular, helical or spiral-shaped. The protrusions are forming an abutment surface that is plane or inclined in relation to the horizontal plane. According to a second embodiment, the

healing abutment has a screw shaped protrusion integrally made with the healing abutment, i.e. an integrated screw shaped protrusion for insertion into the bore of the implant, wherein the screw shaped protrusion may have a longitudinal recess. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a screw for fastening a healing abutment of the first embodiment to a dental implant. The head of the screw has an abutment surface, provided with a first compressible sealing integrally made with the screw, and a stem. The stem in one embodiment has one or several portions having notches therebetween, wherein the several portions are separable at the notches, and, in another embdoiment, has an external longitudinal recess. The screw according to a first embodiment is dimensioned in such way that the abutment surface of the screw is abutting the shoulder of the healing abutment. The screw according to a second embodiment has the stem provided with a shoulder having a second compressible sealing, and the screw is dimensioned in such way that said shoulder of the screw is abutting the shoulder of the healing abutment. Each sealing has protrusions forming grooves therebetween, which are circular, helical or spiral-shaped. The protrusions are forming an abutment surface that is plane or inclined in relation to the horizontal plane.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a method is provided for fastening a healing abutment to a dental implant by using a screw. The method for fastening a healing abutment of the first embodiment to an implant by using a screw of the first embodiment starts by arranging the healing abutment on the implant in such way that the surface of the healing abutment, provided with the first sealing, is abutting the implant and the channel of the healing abutment is arranged over the bore. Then, the screw is inserted into said channel and into said bore in such way that the abutment surface of the screw is abutting the shoulder of the channel.. The healing abutment is fastened to the implant by screwing the screw while the first sealing of the screw is cooperating with the second sealing of the healing

abutment during compression of each sealing, and until the first sealing of the healing abutment is compressed against the implant. The method for fastening a healing abutment of the first embodiment by a screw of the second embodiment to an implant starts by arranging the healing abutment on the implant in such way that the surface, having the sealing, is abutting the implant and the through channel of the healing abutment is arranged over the bore. The screw is inserted into said channel and into said bore in such way that the abutment surface of the screw is abutting the healing abutment, and the shoulder of the screw is abutting the shoulder of said channel. The healing abutment is fastened to the implant by screwing the screw while the second sealing of the screw is cooperating with the second sealing of the healing abutment during compression of each sealing, and until the first sealing of the screw is compressed against the healing abutment and the first sealing of the healing abutment is compressed against the implant. The compressions of and cooperation between the sealing of the screw and the second sealing of the healing abutment provide a leak proof connection between the healing abutment and the screw, and the compression of the first sealing of the healing abutment provides a leak proof connection between the healing abutment and the implant. The method for fastening a healing abutment of a second embodiment having a screw shaped protrusion on an implant starts by arranging the healing abutment on the implant in such way that the surface, having the sealing, is abutting the implant and the screw shaped protrusion is inserted into the bore. The healing abutment is fastened to the implant by screwing the screw shaped protrusion until the first sealing of the healing abutment is compressed against the implant.

A method for discharging fluid from a bore of an implant for mounting a healing abutment, provided with a surface with at least one compressible sealing, to the implant, starts by: providing a screw, which has a stem with an external longitudinal recess; arranging the healing abutment on the implant, in such way that the surface having the sealing is abutting the implant, and the healing abutment is aligned over the bore; inserting the screw into the

bore; and fastening the healing abutment to the implant by screwing the screw while fluid is discharged from the bore through the recess, and until the sealing of the healing abutment is compressed against the implant. An method for discharging fluid from a bore of an implant for mounting a healing abutment, provided with a surface with a first compressible sealing and a through channel having a shoulder with a second compressible sealing, to the implant, starts by: providing a screw, which has a stem provided with an external longitudinal recess; arranging the healing abutment on the implant, in such way that the surface having the sealing is abutting the implant, and the through channel of the healing abutment is arranged over the bore; inserting the screw into said channel and into the bore; and fastening the healing abutment to the implant by screwing the screw while fluid is discharged from the bore through the recess, and until the first sealing of the healing abutment is compressed against the implant. Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description, from the attached drawings as well as from the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to explain the invention, a number of embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig 1 is an exploded perspective view of a healing abutment according to a first embodiment that is to be arranged to an implant by using a screw of a first embodiment, Fig 2 is a cross section of the arrangement in Fig 1 showing the healing abutment arranged to the implant,

Fig 3 shows a cross section of a healing abutment having a sealing with a plane abutment surface,

Fig 4 shows an enlarged view of section B in Fig 3, Fig 5 shows an enlarged view of section C in Fig 3,

Fig 6 shows a cross sectional view of a healing abutment having a sealing with an inclined abutment surface,

Fig 7 shows an enlarged view of section D in Fig 6,

Fig 8 shows an enlarged view of section C in Fig 6,

Fig 9 shows a view from below of the healing abutment with circularly arranged protrusions, Fig 10 shows a view from below of the healing abutment having helically arranged protrusions,

Fig 11 is a schematic side view of a screw according to a first embodiment having a longitudinal recess,

Fig 12 shows an enlarged view of section E in Fig 11 , Fig 13 is an exploded perspective view of a healing abutment of a first embodiment that is to be mounted to an implant by using a screw of a second embodiment,

Fig 14 is a cross section of the arrangement in Fig 13, showing the healing abutment mounted to the implant, Fig 15 is a schematic side view of a screw according to a second embodiment having a longitudinal recess,

Fig 16 shows an enlarged view of section F in Fig 15,

Fig 17 shows an enlarged view of section G in Fig 15,

Fig 18 is an exploded perspective view of a healing abutment having a screw shaped protrusion integrally made with the healing abutment that is to be mounted to an implant,

Fig 19 is a cross section of the arrangement in Fig 18, showing the healing abutment mounted to the implant, and

Fig 20 is a side view of the healing abutment in Fig 18. Same reference numerals have been used to indicate the same parts in the figures to increase the readability of the description and for the sake of clarity. The figures are not made to scale, and the relative dimensions of the illustrated objects may be disproportional.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig 1 shows a healing abutment 1 according to a first embodiment that is to be arranged to an implant 2 by using a screw 3 according to a first embodiment, and Fig 2 shows the healing abutment 1 in position on the implant fastened by the screw 3. Fig 3 shows the healing abutment 1 having a surface 30 provided with a first compressible sealing 31 integrally made with the surface 30. The healing abutment has an external cylindrical shape that may be slightly tapered, wherein an end close to the abutment surface is smaller than an opposite end. The healing abutment has a through channel 32 ending at the surface 30, which has a first diameter forming a first passage, a second diameter forming a second passage and a third diameter forming a third passage. The second diameter is smaller than the first diameter and the third diameter, thus a shoulder 33 is formed between the first passage and the second passage. The shoulder 33 is provided with a second compressible sealing 34, which is integrally made with the shoulder 33.

Figs 4, 7 and Figs 5, 8 show in enlarged scale that the first sealing 31 and the second sealing 34 have protrusions 40, 50 forming grooves 41 , 51 between said protrusions. The protrusions of the first sealing 31 are forming an abutment surface 42 that is plane (Fig 4) or inclined (Fig 7) in relation to the horizontal plane (shown with angle α), which offers flexibility for mounting, and is straight. In an alternate embodiment the abutment surface could be inwardly or outwardly rounded or tapered. These designs could be used in all embodiments of the invention. The protrusions and the grooves of the first sealing 31 are circular, helical or spiral-shaped and are symmetrically arranged, as shown in Fig 9 and Fig 10, respectively. The protrusions of the second sealing 34 are circular, helical or spiral-shaped, and are symmetrically arranged at the shoulder 33. The cross sections of the protrusions may be of any shape, such as triangular, triangular having a rounded or truncated cone, semi circular, semi elliptical, or square. The protrusions are compressible and are deformed

when a force is applied. In an alternate embodiment, the protrusions are compressible but could be resilient, due to the chosen material. The first and second sealing is integrally made with the healing abutment, and is made of the same material as the healing abutment, for example a metal, such as titan, or a polymer, for example of medical grade, or a ceramic material.

Fig 11 shows the screw 3 according to a first embodiment, which has a head 110 having an abutment surface 111 and a stem 112 integrally made with the head. The screw head is plane and has a slot 113 for applying a tool for mounting. The stem is threaded and has a longitudinal recess 114 extending along the stem. The stem has one or several portions 115, and has notches 116 between the portions. It is possible to shorten the stem, for example for adapting the length of the stem to the bore of an implant, by removing one or several portions of the stem, which can be performed by cutting the stem at one of the notches.

The abutment surface 111 of the head 110 is provided with a first compressible sealing 117 integrally made with the abutment surface 111 and is made in the same material as the screw, for example a metal, such as titan. Fig 12 shows in enlarged scale the sealing having protrusions 120 forming grooves 121 between said protrusions, which are circular, helical or spiral-shaped and are symmetrical arranged at the abutment surface 112. The cross sections of the protrusions are triangular, triangular having a rounded or truncated cone, semi circular, semi elliptical, square or of any other shape. The protrusions are forming an abutment surface that is plane or inclined in relation to the horizontal plane. The protrusions are compressible and are deformed when a force is applied.

As seen in Fig 2, the head 110 of the screw 3 is dimensioned to be arranged into the first passage of the healing abutment 1 and is forming a straight line with the top of the healing abutment 1 , when the abutment surface 111 of said head is abutting the shoulder 34. The stem 112 is dimensioned to be arranged into the second passage, wherein one part of the stem fills the second passage and the rest of the stem elongates through the third pas-

sage and protrudes below the surface of the healing abutment 1 for engagement with a threaded bore of the implant. The first sealing 31 , provided at the surface 30 of the healing abutment 1 , is abutting the top of the implant 1. When the stem is completely inserted into the bore, the protrusions of the first sealing are compressed, and the protrusions of the second sealing 33 at the shoulder 34 and the protrusions of the first sealing 117 of the screw 3 cooperate and are compressed. To cooperate involve that the protrusions 50 of the sealing 34 and the protrusions 120 of the sealing 117 interacts, i.e. the protrusions 50 fit into the grooves 121 and the protrusions 120 fit into the grooves 51.

As seen in Fig 4, a space 4 is defined between the healing abutment 1 , the implant 2 and the stem 112, which may be used for application of a germicidal gel. Fig 13 shows a screw 130 according to a second embodiment to be used for mounting the healing abutment 1 to the implant 2, and Fig 14 shows the healing abutment 1 arranged in position on the implant by using the screw 130.

As shown in Fig 15, the screw 130 has a rounded head 131 with a slot 132 and an abutment surface 133, provided with a first compressible sealing 134 integrally made with head, and a stem 135. The slot is used for applying a tool for mounting. The stem has a first segment having a first diameter and a second segment having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter forming a shoulder 136 that is provided with a second compressible sealing 137 integrally made with the shoulder. The second segment of the stem 135 has one or several portions 115 having notches 116 between said portions. A longitudinal recess 114 is provided along the second segment. Each sealing 134 and 135, respectively, has protrusions forming grooves between said protrusions, which are circular, helical and spiral-shaped and are symmetrically arranged at the abutment surface 133 and the shoulder 136, respectively. The cross sections of the protrusions are triangular, triangular having a rounded or truncated cone, semi circular, semi elliptical, square or of any other shape. The protrusions

are forming an abutment surface. The protrusions are compressible and are deformed when a force is applied. The compressions of and cooperation between the sealing of the screw and the second sealing of the healing abutment provide a leak proof connection between the healing abutment and the screw, and the compression of the first sealing of the healing abutment provides a leak proof connection between the healing abutment and the implant.

As seen in Fig 14, the screw head 130 is dimensioned to be arranged with the abutment surface 133 abutting the top of the healing abutment 1 , and with the first segment of the stem 135 arranged into the first passage of the healing abutment 1 , and with one part of the second segment of the stem arranged into the second passage and the rest of the second segment is elongating through the third passage protruding below the surface 31 of the healing abutment. The first sealing 31 , provided at the surface 30 of the healing abutment 1 , is abutting the top of the implant 1. When the stem is completely inserted into the bore, the first sealing 134 of the screw 130 is compressed against the healing abutment, and the first sealing 31 of the healing abutment 1 is compressed against the implant, and the second sealing 34 of the healing abutment 1 and the second sealing 137 of the screw 130 is cooperating and are compressed. To cooperate involve that the protrusions 50 of the sealing 34 and the protrusions 170 of the sealing 137 interacts, i.e. the protrusions 170 fit into the grooves 161 and the protrusions 160 fit into the groove 171. The compressions of and cooperation between the second sealing of the screw and the second sealing of the bridge implant provide a leak proof connection between the healing abutmentt and the screw, and the compression of the first sealing of the healing abutment provides a leak proof connection between the healing abutment and the implant, and the compression of the first sealing of the screw provides a leak proof connection between the screw and the head. Due to the protrusions of each compressible sealing, the healing abutment 1 is flexible and can be arranged to different types of implants.

A space 140 is formed between the healing abutment 1 , the implant 2 and the stem 136 that may be used for application of a germicidal gel. A healing abutment according to a second embodiment 180 has a screw shaped protrusion 201 , which may be provided with a recess 114, 116, e.g. at least one longitudinal recess 114 and/or at least one radial recess/notch 116, which is integrally made with the healing abutment 18O.Thus, a separate screw for fastening the healing abutment to the implant 2 is not required. Fig 18 shows a perspective view of a healing abutment 180 just before arrangement to the implant 2, and Fig 19 shows the healing abutment 180 in position on the implant.

Fig 20 shows the healing abutment 180 having a surface 200 and the screw shaped protrusion 201 integrally made with the healing abutment. The surface has at least one compressible sealing 202 integrally made with the surface. This sealing is made of the same material as the healing abutment 180, for example a metal, such as titan, a polymer or a ceramic material. The sealing 202 has protrusions 210 forming grooves 211 between said protrusions. The protrusions 210 are circular, helical or spiral-shaped and are symmetrically arranged at the surface 200. The cross sections of the protrusions may be of any shape, such as triangular, triangular having a rounded or truncated cone, semi circular, semi elliptical, or square. The protrusions are compressible and are deformed when a force is applied. The screw shaped protrusion 201 is threaded and may have one or several portions 115 having notches 116 between said portions. A longitudinal recess 114 is preferably provided along the screw shaped protrusion 201. A slot 203 is provided at the top of the healing abutment 180, which is used for mounting for example by inserting a tip of a screw driver into the slot 203. As seen in Fig 19, a space 190 is defined between the healing abutment 180 and the implant 2. This space 190 may be used for applying a germicidal gel. The healing abutment 180 is dimensioned to be arranged with the abutment surface 200, provided with the sealing 202, abutting the top of the implant and with the screw shaped protrusion 201 arranged into a bore 2' of the im-

plant. When the screw shaped protrusion 201 is completely inserted into the bore 2', the sealing 202 is compressed.

A method for mounting the healing abutment 1 according to the first embodiment to an implant 2 by using a screw 3 according to the first embodiment starts by arranging the healing abutment 1 on the implant in such way that the surface 30 of the healing abutment, which is provided with the first compressible sealing 31 , is abutting the implant, and the channel 32 of the healing abutment is arranged, i.e. aligned over the bore 2' of the implant. Then, the screw 3 is inserted into said channel and into said bore, in such way that the abutment surface 111 of the screw is abutting the shoulder 33 of the channel. Thereafter the healing abutment is fastened to the implant by screwing the screw, while the first sealing 112 of the screw 3 is cooperating with the second sealing 34 of the healing abutment during compression of each sealing 31 , 34, and until the first sealing of the healing abutment is compressed against the implant.

A method for mounting the healing abutment 1 according to the first embodiment to an implant 2 by using a screw 130 according to the second embodiment starts by arranging the healing abutment 1 on the implant in such way that the surface 30 of the healing abutment, provided with the first sealing 31 , is abutting the implant, and the channel 32 of the healing abutment is arranged/aligned over the bore 2' of the implant. Then the screw is inserted into said channel 32 and into said bore, in such way that the abutment surface 133 of the screw 130 is abutting the top of the healing abutment 1 and the shoulder 136 of the screw, provided with the sealing 137, is abutting the shoulder 33 of the channel 34 of the healing abutment..

Thereafter, the healing abutment is fastened to the implant by screwing the screw while the second sealing 134 of the screw is cooperating with the second sealing 34 of the healing abutment during compression of each sealing 134, 34, and until the first sealing 134 of the screw is compressed against the healing abutment and the first sealing 31 of the healing abutment is compressed against the implant.

The method for fastening a healing abutment 180 according to the second embodiment starts by arranging the healing abutment 180 on the implant 2 in such a way that the surface 200, having the sealing 202, is abutting the implant, and the screw shaped protrusion 201 is inserted into the bore 2'. Then, the healing abutment is fastened to the implant by screwing the screw shaped protrusion 201 until the sealing 202 of the healing abutment is compressed against the implant. Due to the protrusions of each compressible sealing, the healing abutment 1 , 180 is flexible and can be arranged to different types of implants 2 forming leak proof connections between the healing abutment 1 and the screw 3, 130, and the healing abutment 1 and the implant, or between the healing abutment 180 and the implant. Optionally, a germicidal gel may be applied into the cavity 4, 140, 190 formed between the healing abutment 1 , 180, the implant 2 and the screw 3, 130. Currently used screws are of a dimension that is smaller than the corresponding dimension of the bore of implants. This difference in dimensions provides a radial play for enable fluid into the bore to be discharged and to overcome the pressure from the fluid, which is required for mounting. The recess 114 of the screw 3, 130 and of the screw shaped protrusion 201 of the healing abutment 180 makes it possible to use a dimension of the screw that corresponds to the dimension of the bore 2'. The recess 114 enables saliva, blood, water and other fluids to be discharged from the bore of the implant. A dimension of the screw that corresponds to the dimension of the bore of the implant, without a radial play, offers a more stable and stiffer construction of the healing abutment and the implant, which promotes the healing up of the implant to the bone tissue. In an alternate embodiment the bore of the implant may be provided with a longitudinal recess, to make it possible to discharge fluids from the bore, when the dimension of the screw corresponds with the dimension of the bore of the implant. To further improve the leak proof function of the arrangement of a healing abutment fasten to an implant by a screw, it could be possible to arrange a

sealing having protrusions on a surface of the implant abutting the healing abutment.

In the claims, the term "comprises/comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different embodiments, these may possibly be combined in other ways, and the inclusion in different embodiments does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. The terms "a", "an" does not preclude a plurality. Reference signs in the claims are provided merely as a clarifying example and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any way.