Papilla dental implant and method of use

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to restorative and cosmetic dentistry and particularly to the restoration of gum and bone between teeth using a papilla dental implant.

The natural gum profile or gum line of an individual typically covers the bottom portion of the teeth and invades the spaces between the teeth leaving small embrasure spaces in healthy teeth and gums. The gum profile may recede due to improper oral hygiene or gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontal disease. The recession of the gums causes the interdental spaces to increase in size. This is particularly acute with gingivitis and periodontal disease as the bacteria which cause these diseases eat away at the gingiva and bone, causing large voids between the teeth where once there was bone and healthy gum tissue.

In some cases, the papilla and bone are severely damaged and the gum tissue cannot adequately heal to its natural state, even after aggressive treatment, as there is inadequate structure to support the regrowth of the gum tissue. These voids, referred to as diastema's or sometimes called black triangles, can be aesthetically unsightly, especially when located between the front teeth.

Therefore, what is needed is a device which is implantable within the gum and bone of the void between the teeth, acting as an anchor for the bone and gum tissue to grow around. The present invention fulfills this need and provides other related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention resides in a gum tissue restorative system which utilizes a papilla dental implant that provides a platform or anchor for receded gum tissue to regenerate. The system comprises, generally, a papilla dental implant which is forcibly inserted and secured into a jawbone of the patient. The papilla dental implant includes a head having a base, and a shaft extending outwardly from the base of the head and tapering to a pointed terminus. The shaft of the papilla dental implant is inserted and secured into the bone, and the gum tissue is allowed to grow around the head of the papilla dental implant thereby reducing or even eliminating voids or diastemas between the teeth. The gum tissue may be cut to expose the jawbone before inserting the implant into the bone.

In one form of the invention, the papilla dental implant includes an arrow-shaped shaft which may have one or more barbs protruding therefrom. This form of the invention is generally tapped, terminus first, into the bone until the shaft and barbs are adequately secured into the bone and the head remains exposed.

In another form of the invention, the papilla dental implant includes a threaded shaft. In this form of the invention, the shaft is screwed into the bone until the shaft is submerged to a desired depth, securing the shaft in the bone and leaving the head exposed.

In yet another form of the invention, the papilla dental implant comprises a head having a collar rotatably connected to the head and a hollow body tapered shaft extending from the collar to a pointed terminus. The shaft includes multiple sections and a means for expanding the sections outwardly from the head. The means for expanding the sections outwardly include an expansion member movable relative to an inner threaded rod and slidably engaged with inner surfaces of the multiple sections. Both the inner threaded rod and the expansion member are disposed within the hollow body of the shaft. After inserting the shaft of the papilla dental implant into the bone, the head and inner threaded rod are rotated, moving the expansion member downwardly and expanding the sections outwardly to more securely hold the implant relative to the bone.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1

is an elevational view of a row of teeth, illustrating a pronounced void between the two front teeth;

FIG. 2

a

is a front elevational view of a papilla dental implant embodying the invention and having an arrow-shaped shaft;

FIG. 2

b

is a front elevational view of the papilla dental implant similar to that shown in

FIG. 2

a

, having barbs protruding from the shaft;

FIG. 3

is an elevational view similar to

FIG. 1

, illustrating exposure of the bone and the void between the two front teeth and the insertion of the papilla implant of

FIG. 2

a;

FIG. 4

is an elevational view similar to

FIG. 3

, illustrating the gum tissue regenerated around the implanted papilla dental implant;

FIG. 5

is an elevational view of a papilla dental implant having a threaded shaft;

FIG. 6

is an elevational view of a papilla dental implant having multiple expanding shaft sections; and

FIG. 7

is an elevational view of the papilla dental implant of

FIG. 6

, illustrating an expansion member moveable relative to an inner threaded rod, and the shaft sections expanded outwardly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention is concerned with a gum tissue regeneration system utilizing a papilla dental implant, generally referred to by the reference numbers

10

(FIGS.

1

-

4

),

12

(

FIG. 5

) and

14

(FIGS.

6

and

7

), and its method of use. As illustrated in

FIG. 1

, patients having poor oral hygiene or gum diseases such as gingivitis or periodontal disease oftentimes lose bone structure and gum tissue

2

. This loss of gum tissue

2

causes the gum line

4

to recede from the teeth

6

, creating black visible voids between the teeth known as diastemas

16

. By placing an object which acts as an anchor or platform protruding from the gum line

4

, the gum tissue

2

is able to regenerate and grow around this object which reduces or even eliminates the diastema

16

.

In accordance with the invention and as illustrated in

FIG. 2

a

, the papilla dental implant

10

comprises, generally, a head

18

having a base

20

and a tapered shaft

22

extending outwardly from the base

20

of the head

18

to a pointed terminus

24

. A modification of this embodiment, illustrated in

FIG. 2

b

, further includes barbs

26

formed integrally with the shaft

22

which protrude outwardly from the shaft

22

in order to more securely hold the implant

10

′ in the bone

8

. The gum

2

may be cut to expose the bone

8

, as illustrated in

FIG. 3

, and the pointed terminus

24

placed on the bone

8

and the shaft

22

forcibly inserted into the bone

8

. As illustrated in

FIG. 3

, the shaft

22

is forced into the bone

8

until it is adequately secured, and the head

18

left exposed and protruding from the existing gum line

4

. The implant

10

remains in place and the gum tissue

2

is allowed to regenerate and grow around the head

18

of the implant

10

filling the diastema

16

with gum tissue

2

, as illustrated in FIG.

4

.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.

5

. In this embodiment, the papilla dental implant

12

includes a threaded shaft

28

extending outwardly from the base

20

of the head

18

and also having a pointed terminus

24

. The implant

12

is inserted into the bone

8

of the patient by forcibly screwing the threaded shaft

28

into the bone

8

until the desired depth is achieved. Once again, a portion of the implant

12

, typically the head

18

, remains exposed and the gum tissue

2

is allowed to regenerate around the implant

12

.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in

FIGS. 6 and 7

. In this embodiment, the papilla dental implant

14

comprises a hollow body shaft

30

having multiple sections

32

capable of expanding outwardly. The shaft sections

32

extend from the base

20

of the head

18

and taper to a pointed terminus

24

. The means for separating and expanding the sections

32

of the shaft

30

are many, but preferably comprises the sections

32

of the hollowed shaft

30

extending upwardly from a collar

38

rotatably connected to the head

18

, and an expansion member

34

movable relative to an inner threaded rod

36

but slidably engaging the interior surfaces

40

of the sections

32

as illustrated in FIG.

7

.

In use, the pointed terminus

24

of the shaft

30

is placed on the bone and the shaft

30

is forcibly inserted into the bone to a desired depth. The head

18

is then rotated, causing the inner threaded rod

36

to rotate as well. The slidable collar

38

resists movement due to the forces applied by the surrounding gum tissue

2

and bone

8

. The expansion member

34

typically has roughened or beveled outer surfaces

42

which are frictionally engaged, yet capable of movement, with the inner surfaces

40

of the sections

32

of the shaft

30

. As the inner threaded rod

36

is rotated, the expansion member

34

moves towards the head

18

of the implant

14

, expanding the sections

32

outwardly and more fully securing the implant

14

into the bone. The sections

32

may include protrusions, such as barbs or fins, for added securement to the bone. Although able to be used on all patients, this embodiment is particularly useful with patients who have experienced significant bone loss due to their gum disease as the implant

14

is able to be retained in the bone and the bone is able to regenerate around the expanded sections

32

as well as the gum tissue regenerating around the exposed head

18

.

Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made to each without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.