Guided tissue regeneration plate for use in a process for growing jaw bone in anticipation of performing dental implants

摘要

A method of growing jaw bone and the related guided-tissue regeneration plate support and fixation system employed in the method where an isolated and protected space free from tissue impingement, occlusal loading, chewing forces or muscular pressure is created between the periosteum and the jaw bone. This space is created by first placing either a dental implant or a guided-tissue regeneration plate support and fixation system tenting-type support screw into the jaw bone. The plate portion of the guided-tissue regeneration plate support and fixation system, preferably made out of titanium, is a two-piece structure including a first support plate component having a peripheral region and a generally open central portion and a fine mesh screen juxtaposed over the central portion of the support plate and fixed to the peripheral region thereof. Alternatively, a titanium blank can be controllably etched to obtain reduced thickness central regions which, along with the original thickness regions, are methodically pierced to obtain numerous apertures to achieve the desired porosity for the central regions and the desired strength and pliability of the peripheral regions. The guided-tissue regeneration plate is either snapped-down onto the head of the support screw or onto a specialized and modified healing screw of a dental implant which has a receiver cap or is screwed directly into a dental implant. The plate is then bent and molded into the proper shape to provide the protected space.