Dental implants and dental implant/prosthetic tooth systems

Abstract

A one-piece dental implant having a longitudinal axis comprises a head portion at a first end of the implant, a tip portion at a second end of the implant and a body portion between the head portion and the tip portion. The body portion has a first portion proximate the head portion with a plurality of longitudinal grooves substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second portion proximate the tip portion having a substantially circumferential groove, wherein the outer diameter of the first portion is greater than the outer diameter of the second portion. The first and second portions are for being embedded in the jaw bone. The dental implant is preferably dimensioned to conform to the natural shape of the cervical ⅓ of the root of the tooth being replaced, and to the natural relationship between the cemento-enamel junction of the tooth being replaced and to minimize adverse immunological responses by the jaw bone during healing, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance of the implant and prosthetic tooth attached thereto. A dental implant and prosthetic tooth system is also disclosed, wherein the prosthetic tooth conforms to the shape of the cervical ⅓ of the crown of the tooth being replaced. A method for implanting a dental implant through use of a reference, is also disclosed.

1 - 30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . A method of inserting a dental implant into the jaw bone of a patient, the dental implant having a head portion with a side wall and a reference on the side wall for positioning the dental implant in the jaw bone, the method comprising: 
 forming an opening in the jaw bone of the patient for receiving the dental implant; and    inserting the dental implant into the opening such that the reference is properly positioned with respect to the bone crest.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the head portion has a top surface and at least one longitudinal groove extending into the head portion, an end of the at least one longitudinal groove in the head portion providing the reference, the method comprising inserting the dental implant into the opening such that the end of the at least one longitudinal groove is positioned at or slightly below the bone crest and the top surface is above the bone crest.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the head portion has a top surface and a side wall, a portion of the side wall distanced from the top surface being surface treated, the method comprising inserting the dental implant such that an end of the surface treatment proximate the top surface is at or slightly below the bone crest and the top surface is above the bone crest.  
   
   
       35 . (canceled)  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the step of inserting the dental implant comprises positioning the reference at or slightly below the bone crest of the jaw bone.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the reference is a longitudinal groove or a surface treatment of a portion of the dental implant.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the head portion has a top surface and wherein at least a portion of the contour of the top surface substantially matches the shape of the cemento-enamel junction of a tooth being replaced, and wherein the step of inserting the dental implant comprises positioning the top surface proximate the location of the cemento-enamel junction corresponding to the tooth to be replaced.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the head portion has a top surface, the top surface having a circumference substantially matching the circumference of the tooth to be replaced, proximate the cemento-enamel junction of the tooth being replaced, and wherein the step of inserting the dental implant comprises positioning the top surface proximate the location of the cemento-enamel junction corresponding to the tooth to be replaced.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the head portion has a side wall having a shape substantially matching the shape of the cervical {fraction (1/3)} of the root of the tooth being replaced.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the top surface of the head portion has a surface contour substantially following the shape of the cemento-enamel junction of the tooth being replaced, at least at the portions of the implant corresponding to the buccal and inter-proximal portions of the implant.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the outer diameter of the dental implant is tapered in the direction extending perpendicular to the head portion.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising attaching a prosthetic tooth to the dental implant.  
   
   
       44 . A method of implanting a dental implant in a jawbone of a patient to replace a tooth, the dental implant having a contoured top surface, the method comprising: 
 forming an opening in the jawbone; and    positioning the dental implant in the opening, wherein at least a portion of the contoured top surface is located proximate the cemento-enamel junction of the tooth being replaced, and wherein at least a portion of the contoured top surface substantially matches the shape of the cemento-enamel junction of the tooth being replaced.    
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the dental implant has a side wall with a reference, and wherein the step of positioning the dental implant comprises positioning the reference at or slightly below the bone crest of the jaw bone.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the reference is a longitudinal groove or a surface treatment of a portion of the side wall.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the step of positioning the dental implant comprises positioning an apical tip of the dental implant in contact with an inner surface of the inner cortical bone of the jaw bone.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the contoured top surface has a circumference substantially matching the circumference of the tooth being replaced proximate the cemento-enamel junction of the tooth being replaced.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein portions of the contoured top surface corresponding to the mid-buccal to mid-interproximal portions of the implant substantially follow the shape of the cemento-enamel junction of the tooth being replaced.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the dental implant has a side wall, and wherein at least a portion of the shape of the side wall substantially follows the shape of the outer surface of the cervical {fraction (1/3)} of the root of the tooth being replaced.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the outer diameter of the dental implant is tapered.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising 
 attaching a prosthetic tooth to the dental implant.    
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 44  further comprising the step of 
 determining an appropriately dimensioned dental implant.    
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the step of determining comprises: 
 measuring the dimensions of the tooth being replaced,    taking an impression of the tooth being replaced, or    approximating based on an analysis of adjacent teeth and the height and width of the face of the patient.    
   
   
       55 . A method of inserting a dental implant into a jaw bone, the dental implant having 
 a contoured top surface wherein at least a portion of the contoured top surface substantially matches the shape of the cemento-enamel junction of a tooth being replaced,    a side wall, and    a reference on the side wall,    the method comprising:    forming an opening in the jaw bone; and    positioning the dental implant in the opening with the reference positioned at or slightly below the bone crest of the jaw bone and the at least a portion of the contoured top surface positioned proximate the cemento-enamel junction of the tooth being replaced.