Granted Patent B2

US 12,648,836 · App. 18/106,976 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Inventors: Steven Pelote (Carlsbad, CA); Michael Schulzki (Carlsbad, CA); Tom Stratton (Carlsbad, CA); Maxwell Mckinnon (Carlsbad, CA); Eller Torres (Carlsbad, CA)

Assignee: ZEST IP HOLDINGS, LLC

A61C8/0068A61C8/0062A61C8/0095A61C13/2656

Abstract

Claims (35)

1 . A dental assembly convertible between a patient-removable state and a non-patient-removable state by interchanging retention members, the dental assembly comprising:

an implant comprising an upper portion and a lower portion;

an abutment configured to couple to the implant, the abutment comprising a threaded recess,

wherein the upper portion comprises a threaded portion configured to screw into the threaded recess of the abutment,

wherein the lower portion comprises an angled platform and a threaded post extending from the angled platform, the threaded post configured to engage with bone or tissue in the mouth of the patient based on a thread of the threaded post, wherein the angled platform is angled relative to a line that is orthogonal to a length of the threaded post from a center of the angled platform to a tip of the threaded post;

a non-patient-removable retention member having a first end and an unbroken skirt extending from the first end defining an inner surface engagement portion configured to engage with the abutment over an outer locating surface of the abutment to form a non-patient removable attachment to the abutment based on a retentive force of 10 to 75 pounds to convert the dental assembly to a non-patient-removable state, wherein the non-patient-removable retention member comprises a rigid material configured to provide the retentive force of between 10 to 75 pounds when the non-patient-removable attachment forms to convert the dental assembly to the non-patient-removable state; and

a cap configured for securing in a dental appliance and engaging the non-patient-removable retention member,

wherein the abutment is configured to engage with a patient-removable replacement retention member to form a patient-removable attachment to the patient-removable replacement retention member to convert the dental assembly to a patient-removable state based on a retentive force of less than 10 pounds, wherein the patient-removable replacement retention member comprises a resilient material more resilient than the rigid material to provide the retentive force of less than 10 pounds when the patient-removable attachment forms to convert the dental assembly to the patient-removable state,

wherein the patient-removable replacement retention member comprises a second end and a second unbroken skirt extending from the second end defining a second inner surface for patient removable engagement over the outer locating surface of the abutment, in place of the non-patient-removable retention member.

2 . The dental assembly of claim 1 , wherein the threaded post is angled relative to the threaded portion of the upper portion.

3 . The dental assembly of claim 2 , wherein the threaded post is angled 30 degrees relative to the threaded portion of the upper portion.

4 . The dental assembly of claim 2 , wherein the threaded post is angled 15 degrees or 20 degrees relative to the threaded portion of the upper portion.

5 . The dental assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angled platform is angled between 10-35 degrees relative to the line that is orthogonal to the length of the threaded post.

6 . The dental assembly of claim 1 , wherein the threaded post comprises a single lead thread or multiple lead threads.

7 . The dental assembly of claim 1 , wherein the threaded post comprises opposing axial cuts adapted for self-tapping into the bone or tissue.

8 . The dental assembly of claim 1 , wherein the implant has a maximum outside diameter between 1.5 mm and 4.0 mm.

9 . A dental assembly convertible between a patient-removable state and a non-patient-removable state by interchanging retention members, the dental assembly comprising:

a dental appliance comprising a first recess and a second recess;

a first cap configured to be secured in the first recess;

a second cap configured to be secured in the second recess;

a first implant;

a first abutment member configured to attach to the first implant;

a second abutment member configured to attach to a second implant;

a first non-patient-removable retention member configured to engage within the first cap, the first non-patient-removable retention member having a first end and a continuous, unbroken skirt extending from the first end defining an inner surface engagement portion over an outer locating surface of the first abutment member to form a first non-patient removable attachment to the first abutment member based on a retentive force of 10 to 75 pounds to convert the dental assembly to a non-patient-removable state, the first non-patient-removable retention member comprises a rigid material configured to provide the retentive force of about 10 to 75 pounds when the first non-patient-removable attachment forms;

wherein the first abutment member is configured to engage with a patient-removable replacement retention member to form first patient-removable attachment to the patient-removable replacement retention member to convert the dental assembly to a patient-removable state based on a retentive force of less than 10 pounds, wherein the patient-removable replacement retention member comprises a resilient material more resilient than the rigid material to provide the retentive force of less than 10 pounds when the patient-removable attachment forms to convert the dental assembly to the patient-removable state,

wherein the patient-removable replacement retention member comprises a second end and a second continuous, unbroken skirt extending from the second end defining a second inner surface for patient removable engagement over the outer locating surface of the first abutment member, in place of the non-patient-removable retention member;

a second non-patient-removable retention member configured to engage within the second cap, the second non-patient-removable retention member having a third end and a third continuous, unbroken skirt extending from the third end defining a third inner surface engagement portion configured to engage over an outer locating surface of the second abutment member to form a second non-patient removable attachment to the second abutment member based on a retentive force of 10 to 75 pounds to convert the dental assembly to a second non-patient-removable state, the second non-patient-removable retention member comprises a rigid material configured to provide the retentive force of between 10 to 75 pounds when the second non-patient-removable attachment forms;

wherein the first implant comprises an upper portion and a lower portion;

wherein the upper portion comprises a threaded portion configured to screw into a threaded recess of the first abutment member; and

wherein the lower portion comprises an angled platform and a threaded post extending from the angled platform, the threaded post configured to engage with bone or tissue in the mouth of the patient based on a thread of the threaded post, wherein the angled platform is angled relative to a line that is orthogonal to a length of the threaded post from a center of the angled platform to a tip of the threaded post.

10 . The dental assembly of claim 9 , wherein the threaded post is angled relative to the threaded portion of the upper portion.

11 . The dental assembly of claim 9 , wherein the angled platform is angled between 10-35 degrees relative to the line that is orthogonal to the length of the threaded post.

12 . The dental assembly of claim 9 , wherein the threaded post comprises a single lead thread or multiple lead threads.

13 . The dental assembly of claim 9 , wherein the threaded post comprises opposing axial cuts adapted for self-tapping into the bone or tissue.

14 . The dental assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first implant has a maximum outside diameter between 1.5 mm and 4.0 mm.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (12)

References Cited (83)