Soft tissue preservation temporary (shell) immediate-implant abutment with biological active surface

Abstract

An immediate dental implant shell has outer, multiple zones for engaging a soft tissue socket left immediately after tooth extraction from a bone socket. The zones have combinations of different biologic agents, macro- or micro-geometric, or micro- or macro-morphology irregularities to better engage gingival sulcus, junctional epithelium and dento-gingival fiber zones of the soft tissue socket. The shell may also have various guide markings and projections to aide drilling of the implant hole in the bone socket. A dental implant is placed in the drilled implant hole before or after the shell has been placed in the soft tissue socket, and has an axis that is independent of the shell axis so the shell and implant both sit in optimum positions in their respective soft and bone sockets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A soft tissue preserving, dental implant arrangement for use immediately after a tooth has been extracted to leave a soft tissue socket and a bone socket, the arrangement comprising:
 a hollow dental implant shell having at least two outer zones for engaging a soft tissue socket left immediately after tooth extraction from a bone socket, the zones being at least two of a gingival sulcus zone, a junctional epithelium zone and a dento-gingival fiber zone of the soft tissue socket, the at least two zones have combinations of at least two different biologic agents, macro- or micro-geometric, or micro- or macro-morphology irregularities to engage gingival sulcus, junctional epithelium and dento-gingival fiber zones of the soft tissue socket.   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two outer zones of the shell has a peak and valley contour arrangement that parallels an upper coronal edge of the hollow shell, the peak and valley contour being consistent with the zones of the soft tissue socket found juxtaposing a natural tooth. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the shell has a plurality of guide markings or projections to aide drilling of a implant hole in the bone socket. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , comprising three outer zones of the shell, the three outer zones comprising three distinct and separate bands that follow a peak and valley circumferential contour of the upper edge of the hollow shell, with a first band that has a smooth outer surface, a second band with vertical and oblique microgrooves textured surface and a third band with pitted and roughened micro-texture outer surface. A lower outer edge that is non-scalloped. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , comprising three outer zones of the shell, the three outer zones comprising three distinct and separate bands that follow a peak and valley circumferential contour of the upper edge of the hollow shell, with a first band that has a smooth outer surface, a second band with vertical and oblique microgrooves textured surface and a third band with pitted and roughened micro-texture outer surface. A lower outer edge that is non-scalloped, the upper band measuring about 1 mm to 3 mm in vertical height, the second band measuring about 0.25 mm to 1.35 mm in vertical height and the third band measuring about 1 mm to 3 mm in vertical height. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , where each zone has a different one of a treatment for engaging a soft tissue socket that is left in gingival tissue after a tooth has been extracted from a bone socket under the gingival tissue, selected from the group consisting of: biologic agent treatment; macro-geometric pattern; micro-geometric pattern; micro-morphology surface irregularities; and macro-morphology surface irregularities;
 the shell having a first perimeter adapted for placement toward the bone socket and a second perimeter adapted for placement adjacent an outer surface of the gingival tissue around the soft-tissue socket, the first perimeter being smaller than the second perimeter so that the shell tapers outwardly from the first to the second perimeters, the second perimeter being asymmetrically scalloped with opposite distal and mesial peaks and opposite lingual and facial valleys between the peaks, and the shell being sized for closely engaging against the soft-tissue socket without gaps;   a dental implant having an implant axis and being adapted for placement in the bone socket;   a temporary post rigidly connected to and coaxial with the dental implant, the temporary post extending in the interior volume of the hollow shell; and   a luting compound filling the interior volume between the shell and the temporary post and setting solid for fixing the shell to the dental implant with no other connection between the shell and the implant so that the outer surface of the shell engages against the soft-tissue socket without gaps and without requiring alignment of the shell axis to the implant axes.   
     
     
         7 . A soft tissue preservation, dental implant arrangement for use immediately a tooth has been extracted to leave a soft tissue socket and a bone socket, the arrangement comprising a dental implant shell having a plurality of guide markings spaced around the shell or projection from the shell to aide drilling of a implant hole in the bone socket. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the markings are of a material that is more opaque to x-rays than the material of the shell. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the markings are inner surface marking on the inner surface of the shell. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the markings are outer surface markings on the outer surface of the shell. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the markings are each a post extending from the shell. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the markings are each a post extending toward in inner hollow volume of the shell. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the markings are each a post extending parallel to an axis of the shell. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the markings are each a post extending in one direction and a top crossing piece extending in a transverse direction. 
     
     
         15 . A soft tissue preserving and drill guide dental implant method for use immediately after a tooth has been extracted to leave a soft tissue socket having a shape and a bone socket to be drilled to receive an implant at an extraction site, the method comprising:
 providing a hollow dental implant shell having an outer surface conforming substantially to the shape of the soft tissue socket left immediately after the tooth extraction from the bone socket, the shell having a plurality of markings that are more opaque to x-rays than the material of the shell;   inserting the hollow dental implant shell into the soft tissue socket left immediately after the tooth extraction from a bone socket;   taking at least one radiographic (x-ray) image of the extraction site with the shell in the soft tissue socket and the bone socket near the shell;   using the radiographic (x-ray) and visual inspection of the shell in the soft tissue socket to guide drilling of a hole for receiving a dental implant in the area of the bone socket;   inserting a dental implant into the drilled hole without mechanically connecting the dental implant to the shell so that the shell stays seated in the soft tissue socket without disturbing the shape and anatomy of the soft tissue socket while the dental implant is seated in the hole.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the markings are inner surface marking on an inner surface of the shell. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the markings are outer surface markings on the outer surface of the shell. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the markings are each a post extending from the shell. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the markings are each a post extending toward in inner hollow volume of the shell. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the markings are arranged so that a first pair of markings are on opposite sides of the shell on an x axis of the shell extending along an arch of a jaw containing the bone socket, a second pair of markings are on opposite sides of the shell on a y axis of the shell extending lingually and buccally, and at least part of each marking extending on a z axis that is substantially parallel to at least one of a soft tissue and a bone socket axis.