Carbon dental implant with artificial periodontal ligament

Claim 1

A prosthesis for dental replacement in a living body comprising a carbon root having an abutment adapted for affixation of a dental crown thereto, and having a base portion shaped for insertion into a mandible tooth socket, said carbon root having a modulus of elasticity of from about 3×10 6 psi. to about 6×10 6 psi., a compressive strength along its axis sufficient to support a compressive load of at least 200 pounds, and a flexural strength along its axis to support a bending moment of at least 20 inch-pounds, said base portion of said carbon root having a biologically inert, porous organopolymeric coating thereon with a thickness of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 mm and a bulk modulus of elasticity of from about 1×10 5 psi. to about 5×10 5 psi., said organopolymeric coating having a pore structure extending at least 0.1 mm. into said organopolymeric coating and which permits attachment of tissue thereto through tissue ingrowth while retaining the resiliency of the polymer layer, the pore structure of said organopolymeric coating having a volume percentage of accessible porosity of from about 10 to about 50 percent, and said organopolymeric coating being limited to said base portion of said carbon root which is intended to interface with bone upon implantation.