DENTAL RENTENTION SYSTEMS

摘要

Dental retention systems which facilitate the adjustment or removal of an oral appliance, e.g., a crown or bridge, from a reconfigurable abutment assembly are described. The adjustable abutment assembly may be secured to an anchoring implant bored into the bones within the mouth. The abutment assembly has a projecting abutment portion with one or more shape memory alloy compression plates or elements extending along the projecting abutment portion. Each of the plates has a length with one or more straightened portions and with at least one curved or arcuate portion. Energy may be applied to the elements such that the arcuate portion self-flattens to allow for the oral appliance to be placed thereupon while removal of the energy allows the elements to reconfigure into its curved configuration thereby locking the oral appliance to the abutment. Removal of the oral appliance may be effected by reapplication of energy to the elements.

主权项

1. A method of securing an oral appliance, comprising:
coupling an abutment assembly to an implant secured within a mouth of a patient, the abutment assembly having one or more shape memory elements secured along the abutment such that a portion of the elements extend radially relative to the abutment when the elements are in a locking configuration; biasing the one or more shape memory elements to extend radially relative to the abutment via one or more biasing elements positioned along the abutment; and, positioning a crown upon the abutment such that the portion of the elements extending radially are secured within a corresponding receiving channel defined along a coping within the crown.