Degradable magnesium tenting device for faster surgeries and improved outcomes in vertical ridge augmentation

1 . A dental tenting device, comprising:

at least one biodegradable screw device, comprising:

a composition, comprising:

magnesium in dry form; or

a magnesium-based alloy, comprising:

magnesium in dry form; and

at least one alloying element or compound; or

a magnesium-polymer composite, comprising:

magnesium in dry form; and

at least one polymer; and

a porous device framework, comprising:

a screw head comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the screw head has a first porosity and a first resorption rate;

a screw shaft connected to the bottom surface of the screw head extending perpendicularly therefrom to an end of the screw shaft,

wherein the screw shaft has a second porosity that is less than the first porosity and a second resorption rate that is lower than the first resorption rate,

wherein the screw head extending from the top surface to the bottom surface is resorbed in a shorter time than the screw shaft extending from the bottom surface of the screw head to the end of the screw shaft,

wherein the screw device is configured to be implanted in periosteal and/or gingival tissue overlying an alveolar ridge of a mandible or maxilla, and

wherein a sustained release of magnesium ions from the screw device to the periosteal and/or gingival tissue is effective to heal and/or regenerate tissue to increase a vertical height of the alveolar ridge.

2 . The dental tenting device of claim 1 , wherein the magnesium in dry form is selected from the group consisting of particles, grains and powder of metallic magnesium, magnesium salt, and combinations and blends thereof.

3 . The dental tenting device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymer is selected from the group consisting of calcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, lecithin, collagen, fibrin, gelatin, silk, elastin, chitosan, starch, alginate, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, agarose, cellulose, polyester, poly(glycolic acid), poly(L-lactic acid), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), poly(caprolactone), poly(propylene fumarate), polyorthoester, polyanhydride, poly(ethylene glycol), polycarbonate, polyurethane, elastomer, poly(glycerol sebacate), and mixtures thereof.

4 . The dental tenting device of claim 1 , wherein concentration of the magnesium in dry form for the magnesium-polymer composite is selected such that said concentration is effective to buffer acidic by-products of degradation of the polymer.

5 . The dental tenting device of claim 1 , wherein the magnesium in dry form comprises from about 99 to about 99.95 weight percent magnesium based on total weight.

6 . The dental tenting device of claim 1 , wherein the tissue is bone.

7 . The dental tenting device of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of pores are formed in the screw device.

8 . The dental tenting device of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of pores are employed for drug delivery.

9 . The dental tenting device of claim 1 , wherein the screw head has a higher surface to volume ratio as compared to the screw shaft.

10 . The dental tenting device of claim 1 , wherein the first resorption rate comprises a decreasing gradient extending along a length of the screw head from the top surface to the bottom surface, and the second resorption rate comprises a decreasing gradient extending along a length of the screw shaft from the bottom surface of the screw head to an opposite end point of the screw shaft.

11 . The dental tenting device of claim 1 , wherein the first porosity comprises a decreasing gradient extending along a length of the screw head from the top surface to the bottom surface, and the second porosity comprises a decreasing gradient extending along a length of the screw shaft from the bottom surface of the screw head to an opposite end point of the screw shaft.

12 . A method of making a tenting device, comprising:

preparing a porous device framework, comprising:

preparing a magnesium, magnesium alloy or magnesium-polymer composite, comprising:

(a) selecting magnesium in dry form; or

(b) selecting magnesium in dry form; and

combining the magnesium with at least one alloying element or compound to produce the magnesium alloy; or

(c) selecting magnesium in dry form; and

(d) combining with at least one polymer to form the magnesium-polymer composite;

forming a screw device from the magnesium, magnesium alloy or magnesium-polymer composite, comprising:

a screw head comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the screw head has a first porosity and a first resorption rate;

a screw shaft connected to the bottom surface of the screw head and extending perpendicularly therefrom to an end of the screw shaft,

wherein the screw shaft has a second porosity that is less than the first porosity and a second resorption rate that is lower than the first resorption rate,

wherein the screw head extending from the top surface to the bottom surface is resorbed in a shorter time than the screw shaft extending from the bottom surface of the screw head to the end of the screw shaft,

wherein the screw device is configured to be implanted in a periosteal and/or gingival tissue overlying an alveolar ridge of a mandible or maxilla, to provide a sustained release of magnesium ions from the screw device to the periosteal and/or gingival tissue to effectively heal and/or regenerate tissue to increase a vertical height of the alveolar ridge.

13 . The dental tenting device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a screw tip connected to a distal end of the screw shaft,

wherein the screw tip has a different third resorption rate that is lower than the first resorption rate of the screw head and lower than the second resorption rate of the screw shaft, and a different third porosity that is less than the first porosity of the screw head and less than the second porosity of the screw shaft.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first porosity comprises a decreasing gradient extending along a length of the screw head from the top surface to the bottom surface, and the second porosity comprises a decreasing gradient extending along a length of the screw shaft from the bottom surface of the screw head to an opposite end point of the screw shaft.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

forming a screw tip connected to a distal end of the screw shaft, wherein the screw tip has a different third resorption rate that is lower than the first resorption rate of the screw head and lower than the second resorption rate of the screw shaft, and a different third porosity that is less than the first porosity of the screw head and less than the second porosity of the screw shaft.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first resorption rate comprises a decreasing gradient extending along a length of the screw head from the top surface to the bottom surface, and the second resorption rate comprises a decreasing gradient extending along a length of the screw shaft from the bottom surface of the screw head to an opposite end point of the screw shaft.

17 . The dental tenting device of claim 1 , wherein there is a gradient of decreasing porosity extending along a length of the tenting device from the top surface of the screw head having the highest porosity to the end surface of the screw shaft having the lowest porosity.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein there is a gradient of decreasing porosity extending along a length of the tenting device from the top surface of the screw head having the highest porosity to the end surface of the screw shaft having the lowest porosity.