Dental superstructure with curved channel and method of forming a curved channel therein

Abstract

A dental superstructure and a method of forming a curved channel therein for a fixing element by using a computer-controlled device. A dental superstructure is fixed, preferably through an intermediate piece (interface), to a dental implant integrated in the jaw bone by means of a fixing element (typically a screw) through an outlet provided with a shoulder. To allow the insertion of the fixing element, a channel is formed in the superstructure between an inlet formed in the superstructure at its side facing the oral cavity and the shoulder of the outlet. The outlet having a diameter corresponding to a threaded part of the fixing element is usually formed in a separate working process.

1 . A dental superstructure comprising a channel extending through the superstructure between a first opening and a second opening of the superstructure, said channel having a continuous center line,
 wherein said channel is formed of a single arcuate channel extending between said first and second openings, wherein the center line of the arcuate channel runs on an imaginary spherical surface,   wherein between the first opening and a location adjacent to the second opening, said channel has a circular cross-section with a first cross-sectional area in any plane perpendicular to its center line, and   wherein a shoulder is formed at the second opening of the superstructure so that the second opening has a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than said first cross-sectional area.   
     
     
         2 . The dental superstructure of  claim 1 , wherein the center line of the channel is circular and running within a plane. 
     
     
         3 . The dental superstructure of  claim 1 , wherein the center line of said arcuate channel runs on said imaginary spherical surface so that along its path the center line has a transversal deflection of at most ±10° with respect to a circular arc defined between the first and second openings of the superstructure. 
     
     
         4 . The dental superstructure of  claim 1  having only a single said channel. 
     
     
         5 . The dental superstructure of  claim 1  wherein an inner surface of the shoulder is shaped as a segment of a sphere. 
     
     
         6 . The dental superstructure of  claim 1  wherein an inner surface of the shoulder is shaped as a segment of a cone. 
     
     
         7 . A method of forming a channel in a solid dental superstructure, said method comprising the steps of:
 forming an arcuate channel in a solid superstructure using a milling tool with starting from a first opening and ending at a second opening of the superstructure, said arcuate channel having a center line running on an imaginary spherical surface,   wherein between said first opening and a location adjacent to said second opening, the channel is formed with a circular cross-section having a first cross-sectional area in any plane perpendicular to its center line, and   wherein a shoulder is formed at the second opening of the superstructure so that the second opening has a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than said first cross-sectional area.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the arcuate channel is formed to have a circular center line running within a plane. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the arcuate channel is formed with its center line running on said imaginary spherical surface so that along its path the center line has a transversal deflection of at most ±10° with respect to a circular arc defined between the first and second openings of the superstructure. 
     
     
         10 . A method of producing a dental superstructure having an arcuate channel therein, said method comprising
 forming a dental superstructure having an arcuate channel therein by means of three-dimensional printing, said arcuate channel having a center line running on an imaginary spherical surface,   wherein between said first opening and a location adjacent to said second opening, the channel is formed with a circular cross-section having a first cross-sectional area in any plane perpendicular to its center line, and   wherein a shoulder is formed at the second opening of the superstructure so that the second opening has a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than said first cross-sectional area.