Dental prosthesis and method of its production utilizing standardized framework keys and matching premanufactured teeth

Abstract

A system including a method and associated structures creates efficiencies in the manufacture of prosthetic tooth support frameworks. Pre-manufactured teeth with matching internal keys are used in the setup of a patient prototype. Each key includes a shaft, a cervical platform, a retention knob and preferably at least one channel for the expulsion of excess adhesive fluid. The cervical platforms are shaped to provide intimate contact with a base of their respective tooth. The same tooth/key pairs are then used to make a framework pattern from the setup positioning. The pattern can be cast or scanned for direct machining to produce the finished framework.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: 
     
         1 . A dental prosthesis frame work comprising:
 a horizontal beam;   a plurality of keyed tooth pairs each comprising an individually specific vertical key supporting an individual prosthetic tooth and attached to the horizontal beam.   
     
     
         2 . The dental prosthesis frame work of  claim 1  further comprising implant connectors comprising cylinders on an opposite side of the horizontal beam relative to the keyed teeth pairs. 
     
     
         3 . The dental prosthesis frame work of  claim 1 ,
 wherein each individual prosthetic tooth comprises a socket comprising an axial internal keyway, and   wherein each individually specific vertical key is received in the axial internal keyway and comprises:
 an attachment portion extending from a base of the tooth and attached to the horizontal beam; and 
 a vertical strut fitting within the axial internal keyway of the tooth, whereby only one position of fit exists. 
   
     
     
         3 . The dental prosthesis frame work of  claim 1 ,
 wherein each individually specific vertical key comprises:
 a retention knob disposed at a base end; 
 a cervical platform adjacent to the retention knob; and 
 an elongate shaft extending axially from the platform and terminating at an opposite end forming a coronal aspect of the individually specific vertical key, 
 whereby the individual prosthetic tooth is supported. 
   
     
     
         4 . The dental prosthesis frame work of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cervical platform comprises a supporting base of the individually specific vertical key that supports a cervical aspect of the tooth,   wherein the cervical platform provides an intimately mating surface with a base of the tooth.