Endosseous plastic implant method

Claim 1

In the method of fabricating a plastic endosseous implant wherein a freshly extracted tooth is used as a master in preparing a replica mold corresponding to at least a root portion of said tooth, the improvement comprising the steps of: (a) attaching to the interior surface of the mold a dense layer of water soluble crystals of a particle size corresponding to a pore size desired in a surface region of the root portion of the implant, (b) mixing acrylic polymer and monomer with water-soluble crystals of a particle size corresponding to a pore size desired in a subsurface region of the root portion of the implant in volume portions to provide a preselected degree of porosity therein, (c) pouring such mixture in said mold, (d) curing the mixture in said mold to form a plastic replica corresponding to at least the root portion of said tooth, (e) removing the surface layer of plastic from the root portion to expose the water-soluble crystals, and (f) leaching said salt from said replica to produce porous surface and subsurface regions in at least the root portion of the tooth having predetermined pore size and porosity.

Claim 4

The method of fabricating a plastic endosseous implant comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mold for an endosseous implant, (b) coating the mold interior with a release agent, (c) attaching to an interior surface of the mold a dense layer of water-soluble crystals of a particle size corresponding to a pore size desired in a surface region of the implant, (d) preparing a mixture consisting essentially of acrylic polymer and monomer with water-soluble crystals of substantially uniform size corresponding to a desired pore size in a subsurface region of said implant and in relative proportions corresponding to the degree of porosity desired therein; (e) introducing said mixture into the mold, (f) heat curing the material in said mold to form the implant, (g) removing said implant from said mold, (h) removing the sealing skin of the implant to expose the layer of water soluble salt crystals, and (i) leaching said water-soluble crystals from said implant.

Claim 5

The method of fabricating a plastic endosseous implant comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mold for an endosseous implant, (b) coating the mold interior with a release agent, (c) attaching to an interior surface of the mold a dense layer of water-soluble crystals of a particle size corresponding to a pore size desired in a surface region of the implant, (d) preparing a mixture consisting essentially of acrylic polymer and monomer with water-soluble crystals of substantially uniform size corresponding to a desired pore size in a subsurface region of said implant and in relative proportions corresponding to the degree of porosity desired therein; (e) introducing said mixture into the mold, (f) heat curing the material in said mold to form the implant, (g) removing said implant from said mold, (h) removing the sealing skin of the implant to expose the layer of water soluble salt crystals, and (i) leaching said water-soluble crystals from said implant.

Claim 6

The method of fabricating a plastic endosseous implant comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a replica mold of an endosseous implant site, (b) coating the mold interior with a release agent, (c) attaching to an interior surface of the mold a dense layer of water-soluble crystals of a particle size corresponding to a pore size desired in a surface region of the implant by painting the root portion of the mold with a layer of acetate cement and sprinkling said crystals on the cement while it is still tacky, (d) preparing a mixture of acrylic polymer and monomer with a water soluble salt of substantially uniform crystal size corresponding to the desired pore size in a subsurface region of said implant and in relative proportions corresponding to the degree of porosity desired therein, (e) introducing said mixture into the mold, (f) heat curing the material in said mold to form the implant, (g) removing said implant from said mold, (h) removing the sealing skin of the implant to expose the layer of water soluble salt crystals, and (i) leaching said salt from said replica.

Claim 7

The method of fabricating a plastic endosseous implant comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a replica mold of an endosseous implant site, (b) coating the mold interior with a release agent, (c) attaching to an interior surface of the mold a dense layer of water-soluble crystals of a particle size corresponding to a pore size desired in a surface region of the implant by painting the root portion of the mold with a layer of acetate cement and sprinkling said crystals on the cement while it is still tacky, (d) preparing a mixture of acrylic polymer and monomer with a water soluble salt of substantially uniform crystal size corresponding to the desired pore size in a subsurface region of said implant and in relative proportions corresponding to the degree of porosity desired therein, (e) introducing said mixture into the mold, (f) heat curing the material in said mold to form the implant, (g) removing said implant from said mold, (h) removing the sealing skin of the implant to expose the layer of water soluble salt crystals, and (i) leaching said salt from said replica.

Claim 10

The method of fabricating a plastic endosseous implant comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mold of an endosseous implant, (b) coating the mold interior with a release agent, (c) attaching to an interior surface of the mold a dense layer of water soluble crystals of a particle size corresponding to the pore size desired in a surface region of the implant, (d) preparing a mixture of essentially pure acrylic polymer and monomer with a water soluble salt of substantially uniform crystal size corresponding to a desired pore size in a subsurface region of said implant and in relative proportions corresponding to the degree of porosity desired therein, (e) introducing said mixture into the mold, (f) heat curing the material in said mold to form the replica, (g) removing said replica from said mold, (h) removing the sealing skin of the replica to expose the layer of water soluble salt crystals, and

Claim 11

The method of fabricating a plastic endosseous implant comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mold of an endosseous implant, (b) coating the mold interior with a release agent, (c) attaching to an interior surface of the mold a dense layer of water soluble crystals of a particle size corresponding to the pore size desired in a surface region of the implant, (d) preparing a mixture of essentially pure acrylic polymer and monomer with a water soluble salt of substantially uniform crystal size corresponding to a desired pore size in a subsurface region of said implant and in relative proportions corresponding to the degree of porosity desired therein, (e) introducing said mixture into the mold, (f) heat curing the material in said mold to form the replica, (g) removing said replica from said mold, (h) removing the sealing skin of the replica to expose the layer of water soluble salt crystals, and

Claim 14

The method of fabricating a plastic tooth implant comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a replica mold corresponding to a tooth implant site, the mold having a root portion and a crown portion, (b) coating the mold interior with a release agent, (c) attaching to an interior surface of the mold a dense layer of water-soluble crystals of a particle size corresponding to the pore size desired in a surface region of the root porton of the implant, (d) preparing a mixture of acrylic polymer and monomer with a water-soluble salt of substantially uniform crystal size corresponding to the pore size desired in a subsurface region of said implant and in relative proportions corresponding to the degree of porosity desired therein, (e) introducing said mixture into the mold, (f) inserting a polymethylmethacrylate pin in said mold so as to extend partially into the root portion thereof and extend partially into the crown portion, said pin being dimensioned to be concealed wholly within said implant when cured, (g) adding acrylic polymer and monomer mixture to fill the rest of said mold, (h) heat curing the material in said mold to form the implant, (i) removing said implant from said mold, (j) removing the sealing skin of the implant to expose the layer of water soluble salt crystals, and (k) leaching said salt from said implant.

Claim 15

The method of fabricating a plastic tooth implant comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a replica mold corresponding to a tooth implant site, the mold having a root portion and a crown portion, (b) coating the mold interior with a release agent, (c) attaching to an interior surface of the mold a dense layer of water-soluble crystals of a particle size corresponding to the pore size desired in a surface region of the root porton of the implant, (d) preparing a mixture of acrylic polymer and monomer with a water-soluble salt of substantially uniform crystal size corresponding to the pore size desired in a subsurface region of said implant and in relative proportions corresponding to the degree of porosity desired therein, (e) introducing said mixture into the mold, (f) inserting a polymethylmethacrylate pin in said mold so as to extend partially into the root portion thereof and extend partially into the crown portion, said pin being dimensioned to be concealed wholly within said implant when cured, (g) adding acrylic polymer and monomer mixture to fill the rest of said mold, (h) heat curing the material in said mold to form the implant, (i) removing said implant from said mold, (j) removing the sealing skin of the implant to expose the layer of water soluble salt crystals, and (k) leaching said salt from said implant.

Claim 16

The method of fabricating a plastic tooth implant comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a replica mold corresponding to the shape of an extracted tooth, the mold having a root portion and a crown portion, (b) coating the mold interior with a release agent, (c) sprinkling on said coated interior surface of the mold a dense layer of water-soluble crystals of a particle size corresponding to the pore size desired in a surface region of the root portion of the implant, (d) inserting a polymethylmethacrylate pin in said mold so as to extend partially into the root portion thereof and extend partially into the crown portion, said pin being dimensioned to be concealed wholly within said replica when cured, (e) adding acrylic polymer and monomer mixture to fill the rest of said mold, (f) heat curing the material in said mold to form the replica, (g) removing said replica from said mold, (h) removing the sealing skin of the replica to expose the layer of water soluble salt crystals, and (i) leaching said salt from said replica.

Claim 17

The method of fabricating a plastic tooth implant comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a replica mold corresponding to the shape of an extracted tooth, the mold having a root portion and a crown portion, (b) coating the mold interior with a release agent, (c) sprinkling on said coated interior surface of the mold a dense layer of water-soluble crystals of a particle size corresponding to the pore size desired in a surface region of the root portion of the implant, (d) inserting a polymethylmethacrylate pin in said mold so as to extend partially into the root portion thereof and extend partially into the crown portion, said pin being dimensioned to be concealed wholly within said replica when cured, (e) adding acrylic polymer and monomer mixture to fill the rest of said mold, (f) heat curing the material in said mold to form the replica, (g) removing said replica from said mold, (h) removing the sealing skin of the replica to expose the layer of water soluble salt crystals, and (i) leaching said salt from said replica.

Claim 26

A method of installing a plastic endosseous implant in a bone of a living being comprising the steps of: (a) forming a threaded hole in said bone and (b) screwing a mating threaded implant portion consisting of pure polymethylmethacnylate into said hole, said implant portion having a porous surface over the entire area in contact with said threaded hole with pore size restricted to the range of about 200-400 microns and extending to a depth of at least 2 mm. for promoting hard bony ingrowth into said pores.

Claim 27

A method of installing a plastic endosseous implant in a bone of a living being comprising the steps of: (a) forming a threaded hole in said bone and (b) screwing a mating threaded implant portion consisting of pure polymethylmethacnylate into said hole, said implant portion having a porous surface over the entire area in contact with said threaded hole with pore size restricted to the range of about 200-400 microns and extending to a depth of at least 2 mm. for promoting hard bony ingrowth into said pores.

Claim 28

A method of installing a plastic endosseous implant in a bone of a living being comprising the steps of: (a) forming a threaded hole in said bone and (b) screwing a mating threaded implant portion consisting of pure polymethylmethacrylate into said hole, said implant portion having a porous surface over the entire area in contact with said threaded hole with pore size restricted to the range of about 50-150 microns and extending to depth of at least 2 mm. for promoting soft tissue ingrowth into said pores.

Claim 29

A method of installing a plastic endosseous implant in a bone of a living being comprising the steps of: (a) forming a threaded hole in said bone and (b) screwing a mating threaded implant portion consisting of pure polymethylmethacrylate into said hole, said implant portion having a porous surface over the entire area in contact with said threaded hole with pore size restricted to the range of about 50-150 microns and extending to depth of at least 2 mm. for promoting soft tissue ingrowth into said pores.

Claim 36

A method of implanting a replica tooth in an alveolar socket where the adjacent bone height is abnormally low, the method comprising the steps of: undercutting the dermis along each side of the bone ridge adjacent to the alveolar socket; inserting a replica tooth root portion into the alveolar socket, the tooth root portion having a porous surface extending up to the normal line of gingival attachment, the porous surface having pore sizes in the range of about 50 microns to about 150 microns and the porosity extending to a depth of at least two millimeters; building up the alveolar ridge to normal height by packing porous synthetic bone around the tooth root portion at the time of inserting the implant; pulling the dermis and overlying gingiva up to the normal gum line of the tooth root portion; and suturing the dermis and gingiva in place.

Claim 37

A method of implanting a replica tooth in an alveolar socket where the adjacent bone height is abnormally low, the method comprising the steps of: undercutting the dermis along each side of the bone ridge adjacent to the alveolar socket; inserting a replica tooth root portion into the alveolar socket, the tooth root portion having a porous surface extending up to the normal line of gingival attachment, the porous surface having pore sizes in the range of about 50 microns to about 150 microns and the porosity extending to a depth of at least two millimeters; building up the alveolar ridge to normal height by packing porous synthetic bone around the tooth root portion at the time of inserting the implant; pulling the dermis and overlying gingiva up to the normal gum line of the tooth root portion; and suturing the dermis and gingiva in place.

Claim 39

A method of implanting a plurality of adjacent teeth in an alveolar environment where the alveolar ridge is abnormally low, the method comprising the steps of undercutting the dermis along the alveolar ridge at the location of a plurality of adjacent teeth to be implanted; forming an artificial alveolar ridge of porous plastic to fit the natural bone at said location, said plastic having pore sizes predominantly in the range from approximately 200 microns to approximately 400 microns; installing crown mounting posts for the plurality of adjacent teeth in the top of the artificial alveolar ridge; providing porous surfaces at the bases of the crown mounting posts to promote epithelial tissue attachment of the surrounding gingiva; placing the artificial alveolar ridge in mating contact with the natural alveolar bone at said location; suturing the previously undercut gums in place around the bases of the crown mounting posts.

Claim 40

A method of implanting a plurality of adjacent teeth in an alveolar environment where the alveolar ridge is abnormally low, the method comprising the steps of undercutting the dermis along the alveolar ridge at the location of a plurality of adjacent teeth to be implanted; forming an artificial alveolar ridge of porous plastic to fit the natural bone at said location, said plastic having pore sizes predominantly in the range from approximately 200 microns to approximately 400 microns; installing crown mounting posts for the plurality of adjacent teeth in the top of the artificial alveolar ridge; providing porous surfaces at the bases of the crown mounting posts to promote epithelial tissue attachment of the surrounding gingiva; placing the artificial alveolar ridge in mating contact with the natural alveolar bone at said location; suturing the previously undercut gums in place around the bases of the crown mounting posts.

Claim 42

A method of correcting an abnormally low alveolar ridge adjacent to a natural tooth caused by periodontal disease comprising the steps of: packing porous synthetic bone around the natural tooth to build up the alveolus surrounding the tooth to normal height; pulling the dermis and gingiva up to the normal gum line of the tooth; and; suturing the dermis and gingiva in place.

Claim 43

A method of correcting an abnormally low alveolar ridge adjacent to a natural tooth caused by periodontal disease comprising the steps of: packing porous synthetic bone around the natural tooth to build up the alveolus surrounding the tooth to normal height; pulling the dermis and gingiva up to the normal gum line of the tooth; and; suturing the dermis and gingiva in place.