Implant for use in aesthetic regions of the mouth

Abstract

The implantable portion of the implant body includes a bone engaging surface ( 40 ) which, is spaced from the upper side of the implant body by a smooth coronal surface ( 42 ). The edge ( 62 ) of the bone engaging surface follows the crestal outline of the supporting bone tissue. The bone engaging surface could include (a) an externally threaded portion, (b) an acid etched, physically abraded or other roughened or textured peripheral surface, (c) a porous coated surface which for example, could consist of titanium, metal or ceramic beads and/or (d) a chemically coated portion. Chemical coatings for use with the bone engaging surface could comprise bioreactive coatings, (including coatings formed from hydroxyapatile and other compounds suitable for stimulating bone tissue growth) which facilitate the anchoring of the implant body by bone tissues following its placement.

1 . A dental implant for use in replacing a missing tooth in a patient's jaw bone comprising, 
 an implant body adapted to be at least partially recessed into a portion of said patient's jaw bone, said implant body extending longitudinally along an axis from a distalmost apex to a proximal end portion,    a bone engaging surface provided about at least a portion of a peripheral surface of said implant body, said bone engaging surface selected to promote bone tissue ingrowth or attachment thereto and extending longitudinally along said periphery of said implant body to a proximal edge spaced towards said proximal end portion, wherein at least a portion of said proximal edge having a contour selected to generally follow a crestal surface contour of preselected bone tissues.    
   
   
       2 . An implant as claimed in  claim 1  further including an abutment for supporting a prosthesis thereon, said implant body including an attachment mechanism for securing said abutment to said proximal end portion.  
   
   
       3 . An implant as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said bone engaging surface is selected from the group consisting of a porous coated surface, a textured surface, an externally threaded surface and a biochemically coated surface.  
   
   
       4 . An implant as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said implant body is sized for insertion in an anterior region of said patient's mouth.  
   
   
       5 . An implant as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said implant body includes a generally cylindrical portion, said bone engaging surface extending about a periphery of at least part of said cylindrical portion.  
   
   
       6 . An implant as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said implant body is generally frustoconical in shape, said body tapering from said proximal end portion towards said apex at an angle of between 1 and 20 degrees.  
   
   
       7 . An implant as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said implant body tapers at an angle of about 5 degrees.  
   
   
       8 . An implant as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said implant body includes a tapered portion, said tapered portion narrowing in diameter towards said apex at an angle of between about 1 and 20 degrees.  
   
   
       9 . An implant as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said implant body further comprises orienting means to assist in orienting said implant body with the contour of the proximal edge substantially aligned with the contour of the crestal surface of said patient's jaw bone, said orienting means selected from the group consisting of visual indicia, grooves, stamped markings, and guide members.  
   
   
       10 . A dental implant as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said implant body includes a generally smooth peripheral portion intermediate said bone engaging surface and said proximal end portion.  
   
   
       11 . A dental implant for use in replacing a missing tooth in a patient's jaw bone comprising, 
 an implant body portion adapted to be recessed into a portion of said patient's jaw bone, said implant body extending longitudinally along an axis from a distalmost apex to a proximal end portion,    a bone engaging surface providing a peripheral surface of said implant body, said bone engaging surface selected to promote bone tissue ingrowth or attachment thereto and extending longitudinally along said periphery of said implant body to a proximal edge spaced towards said proximal end portion, wherein the proximal edge of the bone engaging surface has a contour selected to generally follow a crestal surface contour of a pre-selected jaw bone adjacent said missing tooth.    
   
   
       12 . An implant as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said bone engaging surface extends longitudinally substantially from said apex a distance proximate to said proximal end portion.  
   
   
       13 . An implant as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said bone engaging surface comprises a porous surface.  
   
   
       14 . An implant as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said porous surface has a porosity selected at between about 20 and 800 microns.  
   
   
       15 . An implant as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said bone engaging surface comprises an externally threaded surface.  
   
   
       16 . An implant as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said bone engaging surface comprises a biochemically coated surface.  
   
   
       17 . An implant as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said biochemically coated surface comprises a coating selected from a hydroxyapatite coating and a calcium hydroxyapatite coating.  
   
   
       18 . An implant as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said implant body includes a generally smooth peripheral portion intermediate said bone engaging surface and said proximal end portion.  
   
   
       19 . An implant as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said bone engaging surface is selected from the group consisting of a porous surface, a textured surface, a threaded surface and a biochemically coated surface.  
   
   
       20 . An implant as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said pre-selected jaw bone comprises the jaw bone of a healthy human.  
   
   
       21 . An implant as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said pre-selected jaw bone comprises the jaw bone of said patient.  
   
   
       22 . A dental implant for use in replacing a natural tooth in a patient's jaw bone comprising, 
 an implant body extending longitudinally along an axis from a lowermost apex to an upper end portion and including, 
 a bone engaging surface providing a peripheral surface of said implant body adapted to be recessed into said patient's jaw bone, said bone engaging surface selected to promote bone tissue ingrowth or attachment thereto and extending longitudinally along said periphery of said implant body substantially from said apex to an upper edge spaced towards said upper end portion, wherein the upper edge of the bone engaging surface has a contour selected to generally follow a crestal surface contour of healthy bone tissues at a site of implant placement, and  
 a smooth peripheral portion intermediate said bone engaging surface and said upper end portion, and  
 an abutment for supporting a prosthesis thereon.  
   
   
   
       23 . The implant as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said implant body is generally frustoconical in shape tapering inwardly towards said apex at an angle of between about 2 and 10 degrees, and said bone engaging surface comprises a porous coated surface.