Importance

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Abstract

A tooth prothesis located in a mandible tooth socket having a root supporting a crown. The root has a cone-shaped head located in a recess in the bottom of the crown and a stem extended into the socket. An elastic body of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer surrounds and is bonded to the stem. The outer surface of the elastic body is bonded to the inside surface of a porous fabric which permits bone ingrowth to anchor the prothesis to the mandible. The fabric has a Pyrolite carbon outer skin. The upper edge of the fabric is spaced from the crown and head whereby the elastic body allows limited movement of the crown relative to the fabric. A plurality of bands of silver surround the body adjacent the lower edge of the crown. Ionic silver is released from the bands, which provides anti-bacterial action. In one form, a silver wire contained in the root and connected to a band and a source of direct current releases ionic silver into the surrounding tissue. In another form, the root, crown, and body have passages for accommodating drug materials and silver compounds.

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First Claim