Inventors:
Howard Ian Katz - La Jolla CA, US
International Classification:
A61C 3/04, A61C 19/04, A61C 13/36
US Classification:
433 75, 433 72, 433196, 433215
Abstract:
A method and kit for producing implant drilling guides positioned at the proper angle and orientation so as to avoid inadvertent damage to critical regions of the patient's jaw when drilling to place dental implant screws. The method works by placing a small post with x-ray visible depth markers in the root of the patient's tooth immediately after tooth extraction. This post, along with guideblocks, optional washers, reduction or expansion guides, and rapidly hardening guide materials (such as acrylics or thermosetting materials) is used to construct a removable guide that anchors to the patient's adjacent teeth, and preserves the location and orientation of the extracted tooth root. Once the root is filled in with new bone, the guide, in conjunction with the X-ray post depth information, can be used to direct drilling along the same route as the old tooth root, thus avoiding critical structures.