Overdenture attachment system

An overdenture attachment system for selectively attaching a denture element to a post in a tooth or a root canal is provided. The system includes a keeper element which is designed to be permanently affixed to the denture element and a cap element that is designed for attachment to the post of the tooth or root canal and which is coupled to or received by the keeper element. In the preferred embodiment, the keeper element is formed with a flange portion in which the insert element is selectively received. The interior of the flange portion of the keeper element is threaded and the exterior of the cap element is correspondingly threaded in order to enable threaded engagement of the cap element inside the keeper element.

We claim:

1. An overdenture attachment system comprising:

a keeper element permanently affixed to a denture element and including a flange with a threaded interior;

a dental implant adapted to be fixed in and extend from a tooth, root canal or oral bone; and

a cap element releasably connectible to said keeper element by means of a threaded exterior and having socket means for selective releasible coupling with said extending implant including means for enabling selective rotation of said cap element with respect to said keeper element;

wherein said cap element is adapted to be selectively and releasibly threaded into and unthreaded from said flange of said keeper element by operating on said rotation enabling means once said cap element is uncoupled from said extending implant.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said socket is sized for receiving said extending implant in a force fit arrangement.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said keeper element is made of metal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said cap element is made of plastic.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a tool for selectively threading and unthreading said cap element into and from said keeper element flange.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said tool element is operational on said rotation enabling means.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said rotation enabling means comprises at least one slot for selective engagement with said tool element.

8. An overdenture attachment system comprising:

a keeper element permanently affixed to a denture element and including a flange;

a dental implant adapted to be fixed in and extend from a tooth, root canal or oral bone;

a cap element releasibly connectible to said keeper element and comprising an insert for releasibly threaded engagement in said keeper element flange,

said cap element having socket means for selective releasible coupling with said implant, the socket means including means for enabling selective removal of said cap element from said keeper element once said cap element is uncoupled from said enabling means.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said keeper element is metal, said dental implant is metal and said cap element is plastic.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said removal means comprises means for enabling selective rotation of said cap element.

11. An overdenture attachment system comprising:

a keeper element permanently affixed to a denture element having a flange with an interior;

a dental implant adapted to be fixed in and extend from a tooth, root canal or oral bone;

a cap element releasibly connectible to and disconnectible from said keeper element and comprising an insert having an exterior for selective reception within the interior of said flange, the cap element having socket means for selective releasible coupling with said extending portion of said implant, the socket means including means for enabling selective removal of said cap element from said keeper element once said cap element is uncoupled from said extending implant.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said keeper element is metal and said dental implant is metal.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said removal means comprises means for enabling selective rotation of said cap element.

14. The system of claim 13, further including a tool element for operating on said removal enabling means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said cap element to and from said keeper element.