Natural implant system

Abstract

A dental implant for supporting a dental prosthesis comprises a body portion and an abutment portion. The dental implant including a roughened surface. When the dental implant is installed into a patient's jawbone, the roughened surface extends above a crest of the jawbone. In one arrangement, the roughened surface extends at least 2 millimeters above the crest. In another arrangement, the roughened surface extends at least 3 millimeters above the crest. In yet another arrangement the roughened surface extends at least 4 millimeters above the crest. Methods for installing and manufacturing a dental implant are also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dental implant for supporting a dental prosthesis, the dental implant comprising: 
 a body portion located at a distal end of the dental implant, the body portion configured to lie at least substantially below a crest of a patient's jawbone;    an abutment portion located at a proximal end of the dental implant, the abutment portion configured to extend above a patient's gumline and to support the dental prosthesis;    a collar portion that is positioned between the body portion and the abutment portion, the collar portion having an outer surface that includes a roughened portion that, when the dental implant is installed, extends above the crest of the jawbone.    
     
     
         2 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion extends at least approximately 2 millimeters above the crest of the jawbone.  
     
     
         3 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion extends at least approximately 3 millimeters above the crest of the jawbone.  
     
     
         4 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , the roughened portion extends at least approximately 4 millimeters zone above the crest of the jawbone.  
     
     
         5 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the abutment portion is integrally formed with the collar portion.  
     
     
         6 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the dental implant includes a central bore and a bolt, the central bore extending through the abutment portion and the collar portion and into the implant body portion, the central bore including a threaded portion and a shoulder portion located in the abutment portion, the bolt configured to engage said threaded portion at one end and to engage said shoulder portion at another end.  
     
     
         7 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the collar portion is integrally formed with the body portion.  
     
     
         8 . The dental implant according to  claim 6 , wherein the abutment portion is integrally formed with the collar portion.  
     
     
         9 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the collar portion has a length greater than approximately 2 millimeters.  
     
     
         10 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the collar portion has a length greater than approximately 4 millimeters.  
     
     
         11 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the collar extends in a substantially vertical direction.  
     
     
         12 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the collar is conicaly flared.  
     
     
         13 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the collar is non-round  
     
     
         14 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion has a roughness that is at least two times rougher than a smooth machined surface.  
     
     
         15 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion has a roughness that is at least five times rougher than a smooth machined surface.  
     
     
         16 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion has a roughness that is at least ten times rougher than a smooth machined surface.  
     
     
         17 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion has a top edge and the roughened surface extends from the top edge to the implant body.  
     
     
         18 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion has a top edge that generally matches a contour of the crest of the patient's jawbone.  
     
     
         19 . The dental implant according to  claim 18 , wherein above the top edge the dental implant has a smooth surface.  
     
     
         20 . The dental implant according to  claim 18 , wherein above the top edge the dental implant a surface that is approximately as rough as a surface of a natural tooth above a patient's gumline.  
     
     
         21 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion has a top edge with a scalloped shape.  
     
     
         22 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion has a top edge and the roughened portion covers at least 50% of the outer surface that lies between the top edge and the crest of the jawbone.  
     
     
         23 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion has a top edge and the roughened portion covers at least 75% of the outer surface that lies between the top edge and the crest of the jawbone.  
     
     
         24 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion has a top edge and the roughened portion covers at least 90% of the outer surface that lies between the top edge and the crest of the jawbone.  
     
     
         25 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion has a top edge and the roughened portion covers 100% of the outer surface that lies between the top edge and the crest of the jawbone.  
     
     
         26 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion extends at least approximately 2 millimeters above the crest of the jawbone and the roughened portion has a top edge, the roughened portion covering at least 50% of the outer surface that lies between the top edge and the crest of the jawbone.  
     
     
         27 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion extends at least approximately 2 millimeters above the crest of the jawbone and the roughened portion has a top edge, the roughened portion covering at least 75% of the outer surface that lies between the top edge and the crest of the jawbone.  
     
     
         28 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion extends at least approximately 2 millimeters above the crest of the jawbone and the roughened portion has a top edge, the roughened portion covering at least 90% of the outer surface that lies between the top edge and the crest of the jawbone.  
     
     
         29 . The dental implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the roughened portion extends at least approximately 2 millimeters above the crest of the jawbone and the roughened portion has a top edge, the roughened portion covering 100% of the outer surface that lies between the top edge and the crest of the jawbone.  
     
     
         30 . A method for installing a dental prosthesis into a patient's mouth, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a dental implant comprising a body portion at a distal end of the dental implant, an abutment portion at a proximal end of the dental implant and a collar portion located between the body portion and the abutment portion and including an outer surface with a roughened portion;    installing the dental implant into the patient's jawbone such that the body portion lies substantially beneath a crest of a patient's jawbone and the roughened portion of the collar portion extends above the crest of a patient's jawbone;    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of installing the dental implant into the patient's jawbone such that the body portion lies substantially beneath a crest of a patient's jawbone and the roughened portion of the collar portion extends above the crest of a patient's jawbone further includes the step of extending the roughened portion at least approximately 2 millimeters above the crest of the patient's jawbone.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of installing the dental implant into the patient's jawbone such that the body portion lies substantially beneath a crest of a patient's jawbone and the roughened portion of the collar portion extends above the crest of a patient's jawbone further include the step of extending the roughened portion at least approximately 3 millimeters above the crest of the patient's jawbone.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of installing the dental implant into the patient's jawbone such that the body portion lies substantially beneath a crest of a patient's jawbone and the roughened portion of the collar portion extends above the crest of a patient's jawbone further include the step of extending the roughened portion at least approximately 4 millimeters above the crest of the patient's jawbone.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of providing a dental implant comprising a body portion at a distal end of the dental implant, an abutment portion at a proximal end of the dental implant and a collar portion located between the body portion and the abutment portion and including an outer surface with a roughened portion further includes integrally forming the collar portion with the body portion.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising attaching the abutment portion to the collar with a bolt.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein providing a dental implant comprising a body portion at a distal end of the dental implant, an abutment portion at a proximal end of the dental implant and a collar portion located between the body portion and the abutment portion and including an outer surface with a roughened portion further includes providing the roughened surface with a roughness that is approximately two times rougher than a smooth machined surface.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein providing a dental implant comprising a body portion at a distal end of the dental implant, an abutment portion at a proximal end of the dental implant and a collar portion located between the body portion and the abutment portion and including an outer surface with a roughened portion further includes providing the roughened surface with a roughness that is approximately five times rougher than a smooth machined surface.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein providing a dental implant comprising a body portion at a distal end of the dental implant, an abutment portion at a proximal end of the dental implant and a collar portion located between the body portion and the abutment portion and including an outer surface with a roughened portion further includes providing the roughened surface with a roughness that is approximately ten times rougher than a smooth machined surface.  
     
     
         39 . A method for installing a dental prosthesis into a patient's mouth, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a dental implant comprising a body portion at a distal end of the dental implant, an abutment portion at a proximal end of the dental implant and a collar portion located between the body portion and the abutment portion and including an outer surface with a roughened portion;    installing the dental implant into the patient's jawbone such that the body portion lies substantially beneath a crest of a patient's jawbone and the roughened portion of the collar portion extends above the crest of a patient's jawbone;    removing an upper portion of the roughened surface.    
     
     
         40 . A method of enhancing tissue attachment between a dental prosthesis and a patient's gum tissue comprising the steps of: 
 providing a prosthesis having a roughened tissue attachment surface;    implanting the prosthesis into a patients jawbone such that the roughened tissue attachment surface is in contact with a transgingival region of the patient's soft tissue.    
     
     
         41 . The method as in  claim 40 , wherein the step of providing a prosthesis having a roughened tissue attachment surface includes providing a roughened surface that is at least two times rougher than a smooth machined surface.  
     
     
         42 . The method as in  claim 40 , wherein the step of providing a prosthesis having a roughened tissue attachment surface includes providing a roughened surface that is at least five times rougher than a smooth machined surface.  
     
     
         43 . The method as in  claim 40 , wherein the step of providing a prosthesis having a roughened tissue attachment surface includes providing a roughened surface that is at least ten times rougher than a smooth machined surface.  
     
     
         44 . A dental implant in combination with a final restoration, the dental implant comprising: 
 a body portion located at a distal end of the dental implant, the body portion configured to lie at least substantially below a crest of a patient's jawbone;    an abutment portion located at a proximal end of the dental implant, the abutment portion configured to support the final restoration;    a collar portion that is positioned between the body portion and the abutment portion, the collar portion having an outer surface that includes a tissue attachment portion that is sufficiently rough to facilitate attachment of connective soft tissues to the dental implant, when the dental implant is installed into a patient's jawbone, the tissue attachment portion extends distally from the final restoration to the crest of the patient's jawbone.    
     
     
         45 . The dental implant according to  claim 44 , wherein the tissue attachment portion also extends from the crest of the patient's jawbone to the body portion.  
     
     
         46 . The dental implant according to  claim 44 , wherein the tissue attachment portion covers at least 50% of the outer surface that lies between the final restoration and the crest of the patient's jawbone.  
     
     
         47 . The dental implant according to  claim 44 , wherein the tissue attachment portion covers at least 75% of the outer surface that lies between the final restoration and the crest of the patient's jawbone.  
     
     
         48 . The dental implant according to  claim 44 , wherein the tissue attachment portion covers at least 90% of the outer surface that lies between the final restoration and the crest of the patient's jawbone.  
     
     
         49 . The dental implant according to  claim 44 , wherein the tissue attachment portion covers 100% of the outer surface that lies between the final restoration and the crest of the patient's jawbone.  
     
     
         50 . A method of manufacturing a dental implant that enhances tissue attachment between a dental prosthesis and a patient's gum tissue comprising the steps of: 
 providing a dental implant having body portion, a collar and an abutment portion;    roughening at least a portion of a transgingival region of the dental implant.    
     
     
         51 . The method as in  claim 50 , wherein the step roughening at least a portion of a transgingival region includes roughening at least 50% of the transgingival region.  
     
     
         52 . The method as in  claim 50 , wherein the step roughening at least a portion of a transgingival region includes roughening at least 75% of the transgingival region.  
     
     
         53 . The method as in  claim 50 , wherein the step roughening at least a portion of a transgingival region includes roughening at least 90% of the transgingival region.  
     
     
         54 . The method as in  claim 50 , wherein the step roughening at least a portion of a transgingival region includes roughening 100% of the transgingival region.  
     
     
         55 . The method as in  claim 50 , wherein the step roughening at least a portion of a transgingival region includes roughening the transgingival region such that it is at least two times rougher than a smooth machined surface.  
     
     
         56 . The method as in  claim 50 , wherein the step roughening at least a portion of a transgingival region includes roughening the transgingival region such that it is at least five times rougher than a smooth machined surface.  
     
     
         57 . The method as in  claim 50 , wherein the step roughening at least a portion of a transgingival region includes roughening the transgingival region such that it is at least ten times rougher than a smooth machined surface.