Combination distraction dental implant and method of use

Abstract

A combination dental implant/prosthetic support and distractor for facilitating distraction osteogenesis comprises a basically cylindrical shaft having a set of threads on the outside surface and a smooth, distal tip which bears against the bone of the jaw of the patient. Rotation of the device in the mouth of the patient, after a suitable surgical cut is made, causes the adjacent tissue to move or ride up the screw threads to create space between the cut jaw segment and the balance of the jaw tissue. This space is then filled in by distraction osteogenesis. The implant/distractor is left in-situ, after the distraction is finished, for securement thereto of a dental prosthetic, either a bridge or crown. In an embodiment of the invention, a flat disc is placed in the blind bore drilled into the jaw such that the distal tip of the shaft of the combined implant/distractor, will bear against it. A protective cap and/or collar can be provided, suitable shaped, to protect the shaft/gum line from bacterial attack. Also, the shaft may be provided with an internal passageway and one or more radially extending branches. Growth-enhancing material can be passed through the passageway and branches to promote bone development and recovery. In another embodiment, a coronal member is provided, extra-osseously, to facilitate the distraction osteogenesis process. In one version of the device, fluting is provided to the exterior surface of the shaft so that bone growth is enhanced at that intersection. Also, the shaft can be provided with a flat disc at its head to reduce rocking of the device in the mouth.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A combination dental implant-distraction device to enable distraction osteogenesis to occur in the jaw of a patient after a section of the jaw has been surgically sectioned, to form a sectioned jaw segment capable of moving away from the remainder of the jaw and adjacent tissue, 
 said device comprising: 
 a longitudinal member comprising head and shaft sections,  
 said shaft section comprising a threaded, outside wall section and a smooth, distal tip, said outside wall section being threaded into said sectioned jaw segment,  
 said device comprising biocompatible material and being sized to be inserted into the jaw of a patient.  
   
     
     
         2 . A combination dental implant-distraction device according to  claim 1 , wherein said outside, wall section is of a larger diameter than said distal tip.  
     
     
         3 . A combination dental implant-distraction device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said shaft section, adjacent said distal tip, is smooth.  
     
     
         4 . A combination dental implant-distraction device according to  claim 2 , wherein said outside, wall section is cylindrical.  
     
     
         5 . A combination dental implant-distraction device according to  claim 1 , wherein said distal tip comprises a flat bottom of said shaft section.  
     
     
         6 . A combination dental implant-distraction device according to  claim 4  wherein said outside wall section comprises a set of helical threads which provide tissue bearing surfaces to cause the jaw tissue of said sectioned jaw segment to move with respect to the axis of said longitudinal member as said device is rotated within said jaw.  
     
     
         7 . A combination dental implant-distraction device according to  claim 5  further comprising a central bore and at least one connecting branch formed in said longitudinal member to facilitate direct insertion of a tissue healing medium to pass through said central bore and into each of said branches to provide said medium to the jaw tissue proximate to said dental implant-distraction device.  
     
     
         8 . A combination dental implant-distraction device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an apical member bearing upon the bottom of a bore of the jaw in which said dental implant-distraction device is placed, said apical member permitting rotation of said dental implant-distraction device while precluding relative vertical movement thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said apical member comprises a disc-shaped member.  
     
     
         10 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said disc-shaped member is biodegradable/bioabsorbable.  
     
     
         11 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said head section comprises a rotation enabling means to facilitate incremental rotation of said longitudinal member while in-situ in the jaw of a pateint.  
     
     
         12 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said rotation enabling means comprises a hex-shaped head.  
     
     
         13 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said rotation enabling means comprises a hex-shaped bore.  
     
     
         14 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a protective cap for said head section.  
     
     
         15 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said protective cap is frictionally held on said head section.  
     
     
         16 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said head section comprises a bore for receipt of a dental prosthesis.  
     
     
         17 . A combination dental implant-distraction device comprising: 
 an integral prosthetic support means and distraction means for engagement with a sectioned jaw and adjacent tissue of said sectioned jaw.    
     
     
         18 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said distraction means is mechanical.  
     
     
         19 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said distraction means is hydraulic.  
     
     
         20 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said distraction means is chemical.  
     
     
         21 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said distraction means is biologic.  
     
     
         22 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said distraction means comprises a cylindrical shaft with exterior screw threads and a smooth, distal bottom.  
     
     
         23 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said prosthetic support means comprises a bore having a set of internal screw threads for accepting mating threads for attachment of a dental prosthesis.  
     
     
         24 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising incremental rotation means comprising a hex-shaped head.  
     
     
         25 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising incremental rotation means comprising a hex-shaped bore.  
     
     
         26 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising an anti-rocking means comprising a relatively flat surface secured to the base of said prosthesis support means.  
     
     
         27 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising at least one fluted section passing through said exterior screw threads.  
     
     
         28 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said fluted section extends to at least about 50% of the length of said cylindrical shaft.  
     
     
         29 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising a protective cap which fits over said prosthesis support means.  
     
     
         30 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising a protective collar for said prosthesis support means.  
     
     
         31 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein said protective collar may be box, ovoid, round, or triangularly-shaped.  
     
     
         32 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said protective cap is frictionally held on said prosthetic support means.  
     
     
         33 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein said protective collar is provided with at least one spike for anti-rotational contact with the bone and/or gum of the jaw.  
     
     
         34 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising a disc member for providing rotational bearing support for siad smooth, distal bottom.  
     
     
         35 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising a coronal member for mechanical engagement with said distraction means to facilitate separation of said sectioned jaw from said adjacent tissue.  
     
     
         36 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 35  wherein said coronal member is provided with internal screw threads which mate with said external screw threads of said cylindrical shaft.  
     
     
         37 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein said coronal member is extra-osseous.  
     
     
         38 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein said coronal member is in the shape of a washer.  
     
     
         39 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein said coronal member is provided with a recess which mates with a bevel surface of said prosthesis support means.  
     
     
         40 . A combination dental implant-distraction device as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said distraction means further comprises one-way tissue movement/ratcheting means to ensure bone growth during distraction does not regress.  
     
     
         41 . A method of installing a dental prosthesis in the jaw of a patient comprising the steps of: 
 inserting in the jaw of a patient a dental implant comprising an incremental distraction mechanism and a prosthesis support means for securing said dental prosthesis and inducing distraction osteogenesis by surgically sectioning the jaw to form a sectioned jaw portion capable of moving away and separating from the remainder of said jaw, wherein said incremental distraction mechanism and said prosthesis support means are integrated into a single system.    
     
     
         42 . A method of installing a dental prosthesis in the jaw of a patient as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein said dental prosthesis is a crown or bridge.  
     
     
         43 . A method of installing a dental prosthesis in the jaw of a patient as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein said prosthesis support means comprises a dental implant having a center bore with internal screw threads which matingly engage with external screw threads of said dental prosthesis.  
     
     
         44 . A method of installing a dental prosthesis in the jaw of a patient as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein said incremental distraction mechansim comprises a longitudinal shaft having a threaded section and a smooth, distal tip.  
     
     
         45 . A method of installing a dental prosthesis in the jaw of a patient as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein said step of distraction osteogenesis is accomplished by causing said sectioned jaw portion to move away from said smooth, distal tip.  
     
     
         46 . A method of installing a dental prosthesis in the jaw of a patient as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein said threaded section is provided with incremental rotation enabling means for selectively, incrementally rotating said threaded section.  
     
     
         47 . A method of installing a dental prosthesis in the jaw of a patient as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein said incremental rotation enabling means comprises a hex-shaped head of said longitudinal shaft.  
     
     
         48 . A method of installing a dental prosthesis in the jaw of a patient as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein said incremental rotation enabling means comprises a hex-shaped bore of said longitudinal shaft.  
     
     
         49 . A method of installing a dental prosthesis in the jaw of a patient as claimed in  claim 44 , further comprising the step of locating a bearing means in a drilled bore in the jaw of the patient which provides rotational, bearing support for said smooth, distal tip.  
     
     
         50 . A method of installing a dental prosthesis in the jaw of a patient as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein said bearing means is a flat disc.  
     
     
         51 . A method of installing a dental prosthesis in the jaw of a patient as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein when the incremental distraction mechanism is rotated about an axis passing through said longitudinal shaft, said sectioned jaw portion separates from said remainder of said jaw by moving along said threaded section.  
     
     
         52 . A method of installing a dental prosthesis in the jaw of a patient as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein said distraction osteogensis is enhanced by the use of either BPA or BMA or other bone-growth enhancing material.  
     
     
         53 . A method as claimed in  claim 52  wherein said bone-growth enhancing material is applied to the outside surface of said dental implant by causing the same to be introduced into a center bore of said dental implant.  
     
     
         54 . A method as claimed in  claim 41  further comprising the step of providing a protective cap to the dental implant during distraction osteogenesis which cap slides off of said prosthesis support means as distraction osteogenesis proceeds.  
     
     
         55 . A method as claimed in  claim 41  further comprising preventing bacteria from coming into contact with the implant-new bone growth interface by providing a protective collar to said prosthesis support means.  
     
     
         56 . A method as claimed in  claim 55  wherein said protective collar is shaped to correspond to the dental prosthesis which will be installed onto said prosthesis support means.  
     
     
         57 . A method as claimed in  claim 55  wherein said protective collar is extraosseous.  
     
     
         58 . A method of causing distraction osteogenesis to occur according to  claim 41 , further comprising drilling a bore in said jaw to accommodate said dental implant.  
     
     
         59 . A method of causing distraction osteogenesis to occur according to  claim 41 , further comprising drilling a bore in said jaw slightly undersized to permit said dental implant to be tapped and threaded in place.