Dental bridge attachment system and method

Abstract

Provided is a removable bridge system for attachment to a plurality of dental implants, including a plurality of abutments, each including a seat portion conforming with a shape of a corresponding implant head and allowing fixedly positioning of the abutment to the implant, and an abutment head. At least one of the abutments is configured as a locking abutment and includes a locking portion. A bridge generally conforming with dental parameters of the individual has a bottom surface formed with a receiving apertures shaped so as to snugly fit over a corresponding abutment head. The bridge further includes a locking arrangement for removably locking the bridge to the abutments, and including one or more locks for detachable locking to a respective at least one locking abutment.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A dental bridge system for attachment to a jawbone of an individual, the system comprising:
 a plurality of dental implants, each configured with an implant body for being fixedly received inside the jawbone, and an implant head projected from said jawbone;   a reduced bridge-core generally conforming the individual's dental parameters, though at reduced scale, made of rigid material and configured for fixedly mounting and securing to the plurality of dental implants over the implant heads;   a super dental-bridge generally conforming with the dental parameters of the individual, and formed with a bottom surface having a recess extending substantially there along, the super dental-bridge configured for snugly receiving said reduced bridge-core within said recess at a tight fit; and   a fixing arrangement for fixing said super dental-bridge to said reduced bridge-core.   
     
     
         29 . The dental bridge system according to  claim 28 , wherein the reduced bridge-core is a unitary element configured for continuously extending within the super dental-bridge. 
     
     
         30 . The dental bridge system according to  claim 28 , wherein the recess configured at the bottom surface of the super dental-bridge is continuous. 
     
     
         31 . The dental bridge system according to  claim 28 , wherein the height of the recess configured at the bottom surface of the super dental-bridge is at least similar to the height of the reduced bridge-core, such that at the assembled position, the reduced bridge-core is fully concealed by the super dental-bridge. 
     
     
         32 . The dental bridge system according to  claim 28 , wherein a base portions of the reduced bridge-core conforms with the shape of respective implant heads, and configured for fixedly securing thereto. 
     
     
         33 . The dental bridge system according to  claim 28 , wherein the reduced bridge-core is configured for fixedly securing directly over the implant heads, or over abutments which in turn are fixed to the implants. 
     
     
         34 . The dental bridge system according to  claim 28 , wherein the fixing arrangement is a locking mechanism facilitating repeatable locking or unlocking of the super dental-bridge over the reduced bridge-core, where removal of the super dental-bridge is facilitated by the individual. 
     
     
         35 . The dental bridge system according to  claim 34 , further comprising at least one pin-type lock, configured with a locking pin displaceable through either a rear face or a front face of the super dental-bridge, between a locked position in which said locking pin arrests a locking bore configured at the locking portion of a respective locking abutment, wherein the super dental-bridge is prevented from displacement about a path of insertion thereof, and un-locked position where said locking pin is disengaged from said locking portion and whereby the super dental-bridge may be removed along said path of insertion. 
     
     
         36 . The dental bridge system according to  claim 28 , wherein the fixing arrangement is a locking mechanism manually manipulable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein at the locked position the super dental-bridge is securely attached to the reduced bridge-core and the locking mechanism does not bear any loads applied during chewing.