Universal O-Ball Mini-Implant, Universal Keeper Cap and Method of Use

Universal O-Ball Mini-Implant, Universal Keeper Cap and Method of Use
Imtec.com
Patent Number: US 6, 716,030 BI
Publication Date: April 6, 2004
Inventors: Dr. Ronald A. Bulard
Dr. Victor I. Sendax
Stephen J. Hadwin
Applicant(s): IMTEC Corporation
Application Number: 10/031,256
IPC Classification:
EC Classification:
Equivalents:
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a one-piece dental implant having a threaded shaft which is tapered on one
end and has a non-circular abutment on the other end, and a ball-shaped head mounted on said non-circular abutment. The inventive dental implants are advantageous in that they are of one-piece desing, and, therefore, do not have multiple parts which can loosen over time. The present invention further relates to a keeper cap for use with the inventive dental implants,which is adapted to retain either O-ring-shaped inserts or plastic inserts. The inserts can be switched easily at any time without the need to remove the keeper cap from the denture or to form a new denture around new caps. The inventive dental implant can make up a kit along with the keeper cap and the O-ring-shaped inserts and the plastic inserts, which kit is useful in connection with the formation of fixed or removable prostheses.