One step dental implant delivery system

Abstract

A dental implant healing screw formed from two pieces: a threaded shaft and a collar. The healing screw functions as a conventional healing cap to protect the coronal end of the dental implant and as a driver to drive the dental implant during the implantation procedure.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A healing screw for engaging with a dental implant and a dental driving tool, the healing screw comprising: 
 a shaft having an elongated cylindrical configuration, a proximal end with a smooth outer surface portion, and a distal end with external threads;    a collar having a cylindrical shape with a central opening extending through the collar, a distal end with a first engaging region for directly contacting and engaging the dental implant, and a proximal end with a second engaging region for directly contacting and engaging the dental driving tool; and    wherein the shaft extends through the central opening and the collar extends around the smooth outer surface portion of the shaft, and the shaft can rotate within the central opening while the collar is connected to the shaft.    
     
     
         2 . The healing screw of  claim 1  in which the shaft and collar are made from two different materials.  
     
     
         3 . The healing screw of  claim 2  in which the shaft is made of titanium and the collar is made of a polymer.  
     
     
         4 . The healing screw of  claim 1  in which the shaft and the collar are formed as two separate and distinct components.  
     
     
         5 . The healing screw of  claim 1  in which the first engaging region engages a coronal end of the dental implant simultaneously while the second engaging region engages a distal end of the driving tool.  
     
     
         6 . The healing screw of  claim 5  in which collar transfers torque directly to the dental implant.  
     
     
         7 . The healing screw of  claim 5  in which driving tool applies torque to the second engaging region while the first engaging region transfers said torque to the dental implant.  
     
     
         8 . The healing screw of  claim 1  in which shaft can rotate within the collar while the collar is engaged with the dental implant.  
     
     
         9 . The healing screw of  claim 1  in which the first engaging region includes a polygonal recess and the second engaging region includes a polygonal projection.  
     
     
         10 . The healing screw of  claim 9  in which the first engaging region is a hexagonal recess and the second engaging region is a hexagonal projection.  
     
     
         11 . A dental healing screw for engaging with both a dental implant and a dental driving tool, the healing screw comprising: 
 a collar having a central opening, a distal end with a first engaging region for engaging the dental implant, and a proximal end with a second engaging region for engaging the dental driving tool; and    a shaft extending through the central opening, being able to rotate with the collar, and having a proximal end with an engaging feature and a distal end with external threads.    
     
     
         12 . The dental healing screw of  claim 11  in which the shaft has a lip extending around the proximal end for abutting the proximal end of the collar.  
     
     
         13 . The dental healing screw of  claim 11  in which the engaging feature of the shaft has a proximal end with a wrench engaging surface and a distal end with an enlarged area having a diameter larger than the wrench engaging surface.  
     
     
         14 . The dental healing screw of  claim 11  in which the first engaging region is a polygonal recess and the second engaging region is a polygonal projection.  
     
     
         15 . The dental healing screw of  claim 14  in which both polygons are hexagons.  
     
     
         16 . The dental healing screw of  claim 11  in which the second engaging region is a plurality of rectangular recesses circumferentally spaced around the proximal end of the collar.  
     
     
         17 . The dental healing screw of  claim 11  in which the first engaging region is a plurality of rectangular projections circumferentally spaced around the distal end of the collar.  
     
     
         18 . The dental healing screw of  claim 11  in which the first engaging region is a plurality of rectangular projections circumferentally spaced around the distal end of the collar, and the second engaging region is a plurality of rectangular recesses circumferentally spaced around the proximal end of the collar.  
     
     
         19 . The dental healing screw of  claim 11  in which the shaft can rotate within the central opening while the collar is stationary.  
     
     
         20 . A two-piece dental healing screw for engaging with both a dental implant and a dental driving tool, the healing screw comprising: 
 a collar having a central opening with a central axis, a distal end with a first engaging region for directly contacting and engaging the dental implant, a proximal end with a second engaging region for directly contacting and engaging the dental driving tool, and wherein the first engaging region and the second engaging region intersect in a common plane that is perpendicular to the central axis; and    a shaft rotatable within the central opening, and having an annular flange seated against the collar and having a distal end with external threads to threadably engage with the dental implant.