Integrated support device for providing temporary primary stability to dental implants and prosthesis, and related methods

Abstract

Integrated support devices for providing temporary primary stability to a dental prosthesis implant, each individually designed and manufactured for a specific pre-identify patient are also provided. An integrated support device can include a prosthesis interface member configured to connect to an abutment or reduced sized portion of a dental prosthesis/implant. The integrated support device also includes one or more bonding wings for connecting to the adjacent healthy teeth.

That claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing support to a dental prosthesis positioned in a specific jawbone cavity of a specific pre-identified patient, the dental prosthesis comprising an occlusal-facing custom-made dental implant component connected to or integral with a dental implant, the system comprising:
 a first virtual model modeling a natural crown of a tooth number associated with the specific jawbone cavity or an artificial crown, temporary or permanent, configured to be positioned atop of the occlusal-facing custom-made dental implant component to thereby define a crown of the tooth number associated with the specific jawbone cavity, the first virtual model including at least a first virtual shape of an occlusal-extending spatial surface of the crown of the tooth number associated with the specific jawbone cavity;   a second virtual model modeling one or more adjacent functional teeth, crowns, or prosthetic structures of a first jaw of the specific pre-identified patient in which the specific jawbone cavity is present and adjacent to the specific jawbone cavity to thereby define an adjacent dental structure, the second virtual model including at least one or more second virtual shapes of one or more occlusal-extending spatial surfaces of one or more crown portions of the adjacent dental structure;   a third virtual model modeling a first virtual spatial geometrical relation between the first virtual model and the second virtual model correlating to a spatial geometrical relation between a portion of the specific jawbone cavity and a portion of the adjacent dental structure; and   design data modeling a temporary occlusal-facing dental device, the design data comprising:
 a virtual device interface member modeling a device interface member of the temporary occlusal-facing dental device, the virtual device interface member includes a virtual occlusal-extending asymmetrical artificially-shaped custom-designed spatial recess, modeling an occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess extending into a body of the device interface member, the virtual occlusal-extending asymmetrical artificially-shaped custom-designed spatial recess is an inverse virtual shape correlated to a corresponding portion of the first virtual shape; and 
 one or more virtual bonding wings modeling one or more bonding wings connected to or integral with the device interface member, the one or more virtual bonding wings have one or more virtual occlusal-extending custom-designed spatial bonding surfaces modeling one or more occlusal-extending custom-shaped spatial bonding surfaces, the one or more virtual occlusal-extending custom-designed spatial bonding surfaces are one or more inverse virtual shapes correlated to one or more corresponding portions of the one or more second virtual shapes; and 
 a second virtual spatial geometrical relation between the virtual occlusal-extending asymmetrical artificially-shaped custom-designed spatial recess and the one or more virtual occlusal-extending custom-designed spatial bonding surfaces correlating to the first virtual spatial geometrical relation. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , the system further comprising:
 a fourth virtual model modeling one or more functional opponent crowns of one or more opponent functional teeth or opponent prosthetic structures in a jaw of the specific pre-identified patient opponent to the first jaw of and adjacent the specific jawbone cavity to thereby define an opponent occlusal structure, the fourth virtual model including at least one or more third virtual shapes of one or more occlusal-extending spatial surfaces of the opponent occlusal structure, and a third virtual spatial geometrical relation between the one or more third virtual shapes and the one or more second virtual shapes correlating to a spatial geometrical relation between a portion of the adjacent dental structure and a portion of the opponent occlusal structure in an occluded upper to lower jaw relationship of the specific pre-identified patient; and   one or more virtual occlusal-facing shapes of the virtual device interface member and of the one or more virtual bonding wings are custom-designed not to virtually intrude into the one or more third virtual shapes.   
     
     
         3 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , the system further comprising:
 a fifth virtual model modeling the dental prosthesis and a user desired position and inclination of the dental prosthesis in spatial relation to at least the adjacent dental structure of the specific pre-identified patient, the fifth virtual model including at least a fourth virtual shape of a virtual occlusal-extending asymmetrical artificially-shaped custom-designed spatial rising modeling an occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial rising of the occlusal-facing custom-made dental implant component, and a fourth virtual spatial geometrical relation between the fourth virtual shape and the one or more second virtual shapes correlating to a user desired spatial geometrical relation between at least a portion of the dental prosthesis and a portion of the adjacent dental structure of the specific pre-identified patient; and   the virtual occlusal-extending asymmetrical artificially-shaped custom-designed spatial recess included in the design data modeling the temporary occlusal-facing dental device is an inverse virtual shape correlated to a corresponding portion of the fourth virtual shape, and the fourth virtual spatial geometrical relation correlates to the first virtual spatial geometrical relation.   
     
     
         4 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , the system further comprising:
 the temporary occlusal-facing dental device, the temporary occlusal-facing dental device shaped responsive to the design data prior to an insertion of the dental prosthesis into the specific jawbone cavity of the specific pre-identified patient and prior to a positioning of the temporary occlusal-facing dental device on the adjacent dental structure of the specific pre-identified patient;   the temporary occlusal-facing dental device comprising:
 the device interface member configured to be positioned atop of and to surround substantial portions of an occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial rising of the occlusal-facing custom-made dental implant component, the device interface member includes the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess extending into a body of the device interface member, the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess is an inverse shape correlated to a corresponding portion of the first virtual shape, and 
 the one or more bonding wings connected to or integral with the device interface member and configured to bond to one or more corresponding portions of the adjacent dental structure when operably positioned thereon to at least substantially rigidly fixate the device interface member to support the dental prosthesis, so that the dental prosthesis is maintained at a user desired position and inclination of the dental prosthesis in spatial relation to at least the adjacent dental structure; 
 the one or more occlusal-extending custom-shaped spatial bonding surfaces are correlated to corresponding portions of the one or more second virtual shapes; and 
 the spatial geometrical relation between the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess and the one or more occlusal-extending custom-shaped spatial bonding surfaces correlate to the first virtual spatial geometrical relation. 
   
     
     
         5 . The system as defined in  claim 2 , the system further comprising:
 the temporary occlusal-facing dental device, the temporary occlusal-facing dental device shaped responsive to the design data prior to an insertion of the dental prosthesis into the specific jawbone cavity of the specific pre-identified patient and prior to a positioning of the temporary occlusal-facing dental device on the adjacent dental structure of the specific pre-identified patient;   the temporary occlusal-facing dental device comprising:
 the device interface member configured to be positioned atop of and to surround substantial portions of the occlusal-extending outward-facing asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial rising of the dental implant component, the device interface member includes the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess extending into the body of the device interface member, the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess is an inverse shape correlated to a corresponding portion of the first virtual shape, and 
 the one or more bonding wings connected to or integral with the device interface member and configured to bond to one or more corresponding portions of the adjacent dental structure when operably positioned thereon to at least substantially rigidly fixate the device interface member to support the dental prosthesis, so that the dental prosthesis is maintained at a user desired position and inclination of the dental prosthesis in spatial relation to at least the adjacent dental structure; 
 the one or more occlusal-extending custom-shaped spatial bonding surfaces are correlated to corresponding portions of the one or more second virtual shapes; 
 the spatial geometrical relation between the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess and the one or more occlusal-extending custom-shaped spatial bonding surfaces correlate to the first virtual spatial geometrical relation; and 
 one or more occlusal-facing custom-shaped surfaces of the device interface member are not in contact with the opponent occlusal structure when the temporary occlusal-facing dental device is operably positioned on the adjacent dental structure and the specific pre-identified patient attempts to approach an occluded upper to lower jaw relationship. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system as defined in  claim 3 , the system further comprising:
 the temporary occlusal-facing dental device, the temporary occlusal-facing dental device shaped responsive to the design data prior to an insertion of the dental prosthesis into the specific jawbone cavity of the specific pre-identified patient and prior to a positioning of the temporary occlusal-facing dental device on the adjacent dental structure of the specific pre-identified patient;   the temporary occlusal-facing dental device comprising:
 the device interface member configured to be positioned atop of and to surround substantial portions of the occlusal-extending outward-facing asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial rising of the dental implant component, the device interface member includes the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess extending into the body of the device interface member, the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess is an inverse shape correlated to a corresponding portion of the fourth virtual shape, and 
 the one or more bonding wings connected to or integral with the device interface member and configured to bond to one or more corresponding portions of the adjacent dental structure when operably positioned thereon to at least substantially rigidly fixate the device interface member to support the dental prosthesis, so that the dental prosthesis is maintained at a user desired position and inclination of the dental prosthesis in spatial relation to at least the adjacent dental structure; 
 the one or more occlusal-extending custom-shaped spatial bonding surfaces are correlated to corresponding portions of the one or more second virtual shapes; and 
 the spatial geometrical relation between the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess and the one or more occlusal-extending custom-shaped spatial bonding surfaces correlate to the fourth virtual spatial geometrical relation. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the occlusal-facing custom-made dental implant component is a partially custom-shaped abutment connected to the dental implant. 
     
     
         8 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the occlusal-facing custom-made dental implant component and the dental implant are monolithically formed as one part. 
     
     
         9 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the design data modeling the temporary occlusal-facing dental device comprises a virtual shape modeling a temporary crown. 
     
     
         10 . The system as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the one or more bonding wings are a portion of a splint connected to the device interface member. 
     
     
         11 . The system as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the splint is configured to provide elasticity. 
     
     
         12 . The system as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the device interface member and the one or more bonding wings are monolithically formed as one part, and wherein the device interface member entailing the one or more bonding wings, and the one or more bonding wings arising outwardly from a surface of the device interface member toward one or more corresponding adjacent crowns. 
     
     
         13 . The system as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the temporary occlusal-facing dental device is configured to provide elasticity. 
     
     
         14 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the dental implant is configured for osseointegration in the specific jawbone cavity of a specific pre-identified patient. 
     
     
         15 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the dental implant is configured for integration in the specific jawbone cavity of a specific pre-identified patient through a regeneration of a periodontal membrane. 
     
     
         16 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the dental implant includes a custom-shaped root portion correlating to a shape of the specific jawbone cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The system as defined in  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the one or more bonding wings is configured to be bonded to more than one functional adjacent crowns. 
     
     
         18 . The system as defined in  claim 6 , wherein an at least semirigid connection is formed between the device interface member and the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial rising of the occlusal-facing custom-made dental implant component to at least semirigidly fixate the device interface member to the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial rising to stabilize and provide primary stability to the dental prosthesis, the device interface member and the dental prosthesis forming a form-lock fit when placed together. 
     
     
         19 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first virtual shape shows a substantial virtual asymmetric apical-facing indent extending into a virtual body of the crown of the tooth number associated with the specific jawbone cavity, and wherein the virtual occlusal-extending asymmetrical artificially-shaped custom-designed spatial recess shows an inverse virtual shape correlated to a corresponding portion of the substantial virtual asymmetric apical-facing indent. 
     
     
         20 . The system as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the body of the device interface member of the temporary occlusal-facing dental device comprises a custom-shaped crown portion, and wherein an outward facing outline of a cross-section of the crown portion correlates to an inward facing outline of a corresponding cross-section of the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess extending into the body of the device interface member. 
     
     
         21 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more virtual bonding wings are designed to be sufficiently small so that the one or more bonding wings of the temporary occlusal-facing dental device shaped responsive to the corresponding one or more virtual bonding wings included in the design data are dimensioned to be sufficiently small as to not extend atop a portion of an incisal surface of a corresponding adjacent functional tooth that is normally aligned to contact a surface of a corresponding opposite-facing functional tooth when the respective tooth is an anterior tooth, and so as to not extend atop a portion of an occlusal surface of the corresponding adjacent functional tooth that is normally aligned to contact an occlusal surface of a corresponding opposite-facing functional tooth when the respective tooth is a posterior tooth. 
     
     
         22 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , the system further comprising:
 first imaging data including a three-dimensional representation of at least a portion of the natural crown of the tooth number associated with the specific jawbone cavity, and wherein the first virtual model is responsive to the first imaging data.   
     
     
         23 . The system as defined in  claim 22 , the system further comprising:
 second imaging data including a three-dimensional representation of at least a portion of the adjacent dental structure, and wherein the second virtual model is responsive to the second imaging data.   
     
     
         24 . The system as defined in  claim 23 , the system further comprising:
 third imaging data including a three-dimensional representation of at least a portion of the opponent occlusal structure, and wherein the fourth virtual model is responsive to the third imaging data.   
     
     
         25 . The system as defined in  claim 3 , the system further comprising:
 in-vivo imaging data including a three-dimensional representation of at least a portion of the spatial relation of the specific jawbone cavity and the adjacent dental structure, and wherein the fifth virtual model is responsive to the in-vivo imaging data.   
     
     
         26 . A method of designing and manufacturing a temporary occlusal-facing dental device to support a dental prosthesis to replace a non-functional tooth of a specific pre-identified patient when the dental prosthesis is positioned within and being integrated into a specific jawbone cavity of the specific pre-identified patient, the dental prosthesis comprising an occlusal-facing custom-made dental implant component connected to or integral with a dental implant, the method including the steps of:
 receiving first shape data including at least one of the following: a first virtual shape modeling at least a portion of an occlusal-extending spatial surface of a crown of a tooth number associated with the specific jawbone cavity of the specific pre-identified patient, and a second virtual shape modeling at least a portion of an occlusal-extending asymmetrical artificially-shaped custom-designed custom-made spatial rising of the occlusal-facing custom-made dental implant component, the crown of the tooth number associated with the specific jawbone cavity includes a natural crown of a tooth number associated with the specific jawbone cavity or an artificial crown, temporary or permanent, configured to be positioned atop of the occlusal-facing custom-made dental implant component;   receiving second shape data including one or more virtual shapes of one or more occlusal-extending spatial surfaces of one or more crown portions of an adjacent dental structure of the specific pre-identified patient, the adjacent dental structure includes one or more adjacent functional teeth, crowns, or prosthetic structures of a first jaw of the specific pre-identified patient in which the specific jawbone cavity is present, adjacent to the specific jawbone cavity;   receiving first spatial data representing a first spatial geometrical relation between the first shape data and the second shape data;   deriving third shape data from the first shape data, the third shape data include a virtual occlusal-extending asymmetrical artificially-shaped custom-designed spatial recess;   deriving fourth shape data from the second shape data, the fourth shape data include one or more virtual occlusal-extending custom-designed spatial bonding surfaces;   forming device design data modeling a temporary occlusal-facing dental device responsive to the first spatial geometrical relation, the third shape data, and the fourth shape data, the design data comprising:
 a virtual device interface member modeling a device interface member of the temporary occlusal-facing dental device, the virtual device interface member includes the virtual occlusal-extending asymmetrical artificially-shaped custom-designed spatial recess as determined by the third shape data, modeling an occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess extending into a body of the device interface member; and 
 one or more virtual bonding wings modeling one or more bonding wings connected to or integral with the device interface member, the one or more virtual bonding wings include the one or more virtual occlusal-extending custom-designed spatial bonding surfaces as determined in the fourth shape data modeling one or more occlusal-extending custom-shaped spatial bonding surfaces, the one or more virtual occlusal-extending custom-designed spatial bonding surfaces are one or more inverse virtual shapes correlated to one or more corresponding portions of the second shape data; and 
 a virtual spatial geometrical relation between the virtual occlusal-extending asymmetrical artificially-shaped custom-designed spatial recess and the one or more virtual occlusal-extending custom-designed spatial bonding surfaces correlating to the first spatial geometrical relation. 
   
     
     
         27 . The method as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the first shape data includes the first virtual shape, and wherein the virtual occlusal-extending asymmetrical artificially-shaped custom-designed spatial recess is an inverse virtual shape correlated to a corresponding portion of the first virtual shape. 
     
     
         28 . The method as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the first shape data includes the second virtual shape, and wherein the virtual occlusal-extending asymmetrical artificially-shaped custom-designed spatial recess is an inverse virtual shape correlated to a corresponding portion of the second virtual shape. 
     
     
         29 . The method as defined in  claim 26 , the method further including the steps of:
 receiving in-vivo volumetric 3D imaging data taken from dental structures of and the dental structure adjacent to the specific jawbone cavity of the specific pre-identified patient, the in-vivo volumetric 3D imaging data representing a clinical situation prior to a removal of the non-functional tooth to be replaced by the dental prosthesis, the in-vivo volumetric 3D imaging data including a three-dimensional representation of at least a portion of the spatial relation of the specific jawbone cavity and the adjacent dental structure; and   deriving the first spatial data from the in-vivo volumetric 3D imaging data.   
     
     
         30 . The method as defined in  claim 26 , the method further including the steps of:
 receiving in-vivo surface 3D imaging data taken, directly or indirectly, from dental structures adjacent the specific jawbone cavity of the specific pre-identified patient, the in-vivo surface 3D imaging data representing a clinical situation prior to a removal of the non-functional tooth to be replaced by the dental prosthesis, the natural crown of a tooth number associated with the specific jawbone cavity is a natural crown of the non-functional tooth to be replaced by the dental prosthesis, the in-vivo surface 3D imaging data including a three-dimensional representation of at least a portion of the spatial relation of the natural crown and the adjacent dental structure; and   deriving the first spatial data from the in-vivo surface 3D imaging data.   
     
     
         31 . The method as defined in  claim 27 , where in the method steps of deriving third shape data from the first shape data employs method steps virtually reducing dimensions of the first virtual shape. 
     
     
         32 . The method as defined in  claim 26 , the method further including the steps of:
 shaping the temporary occlusal-facing dental device responsive to the device design data;   the temporary occlusal-facing dental device comprising:
 the device interface member configured to be positioned atop of and to surround substantial portions of the occlusal-extending outward-facing asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial rising of the dental implant component, the device interface member includes the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess extending into the body of the device interface member, the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess is an inverse shape correlated to a corresponding portion of the first virtual shape, and 
 the one or more bonding wings connected to or integral with the device interface member and configured to bond to one or more corresponding portions of the adjacent dental structure when operably positioned thereon to at least substantially rigidly fixate the device interface member to support the dental prosthesis, so that the dental prosthesis is maintained at a user desired position and inclination of the dental prosthesis in spatial relation to at least the adjacent dental structure; and 
 the one or more occlusal-extending custom-shaped spatial bonding surfaces are one or more inverse shapes correlated to one or more corresponding portions of second shape data; and 
 the spatial geometrical relation between the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess and the one or more occlusal-extending custom-shaped spatial bonding surfaces correlate to the first virtual spatial geometrical relation. 
   
     
     
         33 . The method as defined in  claim 32 , the method further including the step of:
 configuring the one or more occlusal-extending custom-shaped spatial bonding surfaces to bond to one or more corresponding surface portions of the adjacent dental structure when operably positioned thereon to at least substantially rigidly fixate the temporary occlusal-facing dental device to the adjacent dental structure of the specific pre-identified patient.   
     
     
         34 . The method as defined in  claim 32 , the method further including the step of:
 configuring the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess extending into the body of the device interface member to surround substantial portions of the occlusal-extending asymmetrical artificially-shaped custom-designed custom-made spatial rising of the occlusal-facing custom-made dental implant component connected or integral with the dental implant when operably positioned thereon to at least protect the dental prosthesis against movement induced by mastication forces to thereby maintain the dental prosthesis in a user desired position and inclination.   
     
     
         35 . The method as defined in  claim 32 , the method further including the step of:
 configuring the occlusal-extending asymmetrical custom-shaped spatial recess extending into the body of the device interface member to form a form-locking fit with and to engage and land atop and surround substantial portions of the occlusal-extending asymmetrical artificially-shaped custom-designed custom-made spatial rising of the occlusal-facing custom-made dental implant component connected or integral with the dental implant when operably positioned thereon to at least substantially rigidly fixate the temporary occlusal-facing dental device to the dental implant component connected or integral with the dental implant to thereby stabilize the dental implant in a user desired position and inclination and provide temporary primary stability to the dental implant when the dental implant is positioned within and being integrated into the specific jawbone cavity.   
     
     
         36 . A method as defined in  claim 32 , wherein at least one method step of designing the temporary occlusal-facing dental device employs computer-aided design (CAD) processes. 
     
     
         37 . A method as defined in  claim 32 , wherein at least one method step of manufacturing the temporary occlusal-facing dental device employs computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) processes. 
     
     
         38 . A method as defined in  claim 32 , wherein at least one method step of shaping the temporary occlusal-facing dental device employs computerized numerical control (CNC) machinery. 
     
     
         39 . A method as defined in  claim 38 , wherein at least one method step of shaping the temporary occlusal-facing dental device employs subtractive machining technologies. 
     
     
         40 . A method as defined in  claim 39 , wherein at least one method step of shaping the temporary occlusal-facing dental device employs grinding, turning or milling technologies. 
     
     
         41 . A method as defined in  claim 38 , wherein at least one method step of shaping the temporary occlusal-facing dental device employs additive or generative rapid prototyping (3D printing) technologies. 
     
     
         42 . A method as defined in  claim 41 , wherein at least one method step of shaping the temporary occlusal-facing dental device utilizes additive or generative rapid prototyping materials (3D printing materials).