Implantable replica of natural tooth

Abstract

A tooth implant comprises a tooth body sized to correspond to a tooth to be replaced and a layer of microscopic protrusions on an outer surface thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tooth implant comprising a tooth body having a crown portion and a root portion sized to correspond to a tooth to be replaced and a layer of microscopic protrusions on an outer surface of said root portion. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said tooth body is formed of an inner core having an outer shell surrounding said crown portion. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said inner core is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of zirconium dioxide and aluminum oxide. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said outer shell is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of zirconium dioxide, aluminum oxide and lithium silicate. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said outer shell is substantially translucent. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of said microscopic protrusions comprise microfibers of chains of hydrated minerals. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said hydrated minerals are selected from the group consisting of hydrated alumina, hydrated silica, hydrated titania, hydrated zirconia, hydrated phosphorica and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said microfibers extend from a later of particles secured to said outer surface of said root portion. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said particles have a size of between 0.05 and 0.2 mm.