Abstract: A single stage dental implant for implantation in living jawbone having overlying gingiva comprises a generally cylindrical body section having an exterior surface for confronting the jawbone and a head section attached to the body section for extending through the overlying gingiva when the body section is confronting the jawbone. The head section has an end portion which is generally near an outer layer of the gingiva. The implant further includes a bore within the head section extending to an opening at the end portion of the head section. The bore is defined by first, second, and third walls. The first wall has internal threads. The second wall has a larger diameter than the first surface and is substantially cylindrical. The second wall extends from the first wall toward the end portion. The third wall extends from the second wall to the opening and flares toward the opening to a diameter that is wider than a diameter of the second wall.

Abstract: A support post for use with a dental implant comprising a ceramic portion, a screw, and a metal portion. The ceramic portion is adapted to support a prosthesis thereon. The ceramic portion has a supragingival region for protruding beyond the gingiva and a subgingival end for extending into the gingiva. The ceramic portion has a passageway extending therethrough. According to one embodiment, the passageway narrows to form a shoulder that is made entirely of ceramic. The screw is adapted to engage an internally threaded bore in the implant and be insertable through the passageway. The screw comprises a head and a threaded section. The head of the screw seats entirely on the shoulder. The metal portion comprises a lower section and an upper section extending into the passageway. The metal portion abuts the subgingival end of the ceramic portion. The lower section is adapted to receive and engage the corresponding boss of the dental implant. The metal portion has an opening to provide access to the screw.

Abstract: A blood platelet collection system includes a bucket having wells 24, 26 adapted to receive a bag system therein. The bag system includes a pair of compartmented containers. Each container includes a collection bag 12, 16 and an adjacent inflatable bag 22, 28 and is preferably an integrated structure made of three sheets 52, 54, 56. After centrifugation, the inflatable bags are caused to expand, in turn, to transfer blood components between the collection bags via tube 14.

Abstract: A set of dental impression components that may be used for either pick-up type (open tray) or transfer type (closed tray) impression molding techniques. The components are used with an impression material to fabricate a model at a site in a jawbone where an implant has been osseointegrated. The impression components include an impression coping having an outer surface with its bottom end configured to reside below the gingiva surrounding the implant. A passage exists through the impression coping which accepts a first means for attaching the impression coping to the implant for use in a pick-up type impression application. The passage also accepts a second means for attaching the impression coping to the implant for use in a transfer type impression application.

Abstract: Improved tensioning or preloading of screws used to assemble dental implants is made possible by using screws which have a coating of gold, particularly screws made of palladium alloy or of titanium or a titanium alloy which has been plated with a different biocompatible metal, such as platinum, nickel or copper. The increased preload improves the stability of the dental implant assembly because greater mastication forces are then required to pry apart contiguous components of the implant assembly and bend the screws.

Abstract: A dental abutment forms an abutment post having a transmucosal base portion and a supragingival portion having a smaller transverse external cross-section than the proximal end of the base portion. The supragingival portion forms a through bore threaded at its proximal end and stepped to form an internal shoulder for seating the head of a screw for attaching the abutment post to the implant. The exterior surface of the abutment post forms a generally polygonal transverse cross-section for receiving hollow components having interior surfaces that can be telescoped over the abutment post.

Abstract: A single stage dental implant for implantation in living jawbone having overlying gingiva comprises a generally cylindrical body section having an exterior surface for confronting the jawbone and a head section attached to the body section for extending through the overlying gingiva when the body section is confronting the jawbone. The head section has an end portion which is generally near an outer layer of the gingiva. The implant further includes a bore within the head section extending to an opening at the end portion of the head section. The bore is defined by first, second, and third walls. The first wall has internal threads. The second wall has a larger diameter than the first surface and is substantially cylindrical. The second wall extends from the first wall toward the end portion. The third wall extends from the second wall to the opening and flares toward the opening to a diameter that is wider than a diameter of the second wall.

Abstract: A set of components are set forth which efficiently deliver a dental implant to a site at which the implant is to be installed in living jawbone. The implant has a gingival end with a manipulating fitting and a threaded bore extending inwardly from the gingival end. The set of components include a carrier device having an upper end, a lower end, a through-bore extending between the lower and upper ends, and a fitting for mating with the manipulating fitting of the implant. The through-bore in the region adjacent to the upper end includes a non-circular socket for receiving an implant-insertion tool that imparts movement to the carrier device and the implant. The set of components further includes a screw for attaching said carrier device to said implant. The screw has a lower threaded portion for engaging the threaded bore of the implant and a head for stopping on a shoulder within the through-bore of the carrier device.

Abstract: This present invention relates to a ratchet wrench and a torque indicator combined concentrically in a single housing. The ratchet wrench is useful for driving a fastener used in dentistry, such as an abutment screw that holds an abutment on a dental implant. In operation, the handle of the wrench can be rotated in one direction (e.g. clockwise) to impart torque on the fastener. When the handle is rotated in the opposite direction (e.g. counterclockwise), no torque is applied to the fastener as the handle is returned to a position where it is easy for the clinician to again rotate the handle to apply additional torque to the fastener. The return motion of the handle (e.g. counterclockwise rotation) may be stepless in operation which is brought about through a coiled clutch spring located in an annular space within a housing between the housing and a concentric driver member. To provide an indication of torque, a rotor body is supported coaxially within the driver member.

Abstract: The invention set forth includes a set of tools which compact bone tissue as they develop a bore in the bone tissue and a driving mechanism for providing movement to the tools. The tools have engaging surfaces which displace bone tissue radially outward with respect to a central axis of the tool to create high density bone tissue at the wall defining the bore. The driving mechanism may provide only vibrational movement to assist in inserting the tool. Alternatively, the driving mechanism may provide translational movement in the longitudinal direction with respect to the tool to insert the tool into the bone.

Abstract: A support post for use with a dental implant comprising a ceramic portion, a screw, and a metal portion. The ceramic portion is adapted to support a prosthesis thereon. The ceramic portion has a supragingival region for protruding beyond the gingiva and a subgingival end for extending into the gingiva. The ceramic portion has a passageway extending therethrough. According to one embodiment, the passageway narrows to form a shoulder that is made entirely of ceramic. The screw is adapted to engage an internally threaded bore in the implant and be insertable through the passageway. The screw comprises a bead and a threaded section. The head of the screw seats entirely on the shoulder. The metal portion comprises a lower section and an upper section extending into the passageway. The metal portion abuts the subgingival end of the ceramic portion. The lower section is adapted to receive and engage the corresponding boss of the dental implant. The metal portion has an opening to provide access to the screw.

Abstract: A dental coping is set forth for placement over an abutment post that is attached to and protruding above a dental implant. The abutment post includes an outer surface with at least one structure for non-rotationally engaging a prosthetic tooth. The coping includes a base portion having an internally tapered surface for mating with a support surface of the implant. A wall extends away from the base portion for enveloping the abutment post. The wall includes at least one aperture for being aligned with and providing access to at least one of the non-rotational attachment engagement structures of the abutment post. The apertures are especially useful in the process of making the prosthetic tooth by allowing wax material to pass therethrough and engage the non-rotational features of an analog device replicating the abutment post such that a castable material will form antirotational features for mating with the antirotational features of the abutment post.

Abstract: A dental component attaches to an implant implanted in living jawbone having overlying gingiva. The implant has an apical end embedded within the jawbone and a gingival end near an interface of the gingiva and the jawbone. The dental component comprises a body having a lower region, a gingival region, and a supragingival region. The lower region has an end surface to engage the gingival end of the implant. The gingival region extends through the gingiva and has an outer surface for forming and maintaining an aperture in the gingiva that exposes the gingival end of the implant. The supragingival region has a top surface projecting above the gingiva. The dental component includes first means for receiving a healing element and second means for receiving an impression element. The healing element includes means for fastening the body to the implant so as to allow the gingiva to heal around the body for an extended period of time thereby forming the aperture.

Abstract: A support post for use with a dental implant for supporting a prosthesis thereon is disclosed. The support post includes an implant-contacting region and a supragingival core section which extends from the trans-tissue region for supporting a prosthesis. An interface member is secured to the post at the bottom of the implant-contacting region for abutment between the implant-contacting region and an implant to which the post is to be secured. The interface member has material properties different from those from which the post is made and compatible with those of the implant. Typically the support post is made of ceramic material while the insert is made of titanium having hardness properties no greater than that of the implant with which it is used.

Abstract: A method and set of components is disclosed for positioning an implant analog within a dental impression taken from the patient, relative to the position of a dental implant or "converted" implant in the patient's mouth. The set of components include an implant orientation tool, an impression coping and an implant analog having an orientation reference. The method involves the steps of attaching an impression coping to the implant and making a dental impression. An interlocking member of the impression coping is accessible through an opening in the impression material. The implant analog is then attached to the impression coping. The implant analog is positioned by rotating it in the coping until the orientation reference on one end of the implant analog reaches an alignment position mirroring the alignment position of the implant itself.

Abstract: A two-piece healing abutment for forming an aperture in gingiva overlying an artificial root means installed in a jawbone of a patient's mouth is set forth. The root means has an upper end that is to be exposed in the aperture. The two-piece healing abutment comprises a first component and a second component. The first component has a transmucosal portion with an exterior surface for defining the aperture in the gingiva. The first component also has an internal bore extending therethrough and a lower end for engaging the upper end of the root means. The second component attached the first component on the root means. The second component extending through the bore of the first component and engaging the root means.

Abstract: Dental restoration components for use to make a replacement tooth which substantially mimics the emergence profile of a natural tooth comprising two parts, one being a core adapted for fixation subgingivally in the site of the natural tooth, and the other being an emergence-profiler guide which fits on the core and shapes the overlying gingiva to the desired emergence profile. Two sets of the components may be provided, one for use as a healing abutment, and the other for use as an impression coping.

Abstract: In a device for the reconstruction of missing or lost teeth, an implant, which ends in the gingival region, is biologically anchored in a jawbone. The implant itself comprises an implant body anchored in the jawbone and an implant head on the gingival aspect, acting as the anchoring site for an abutment, which in turn forms the reception site for the tooth being reconstructed. The abutment represents the retention shape of the tooth being reconstructed.

Abstract: An orthodontic abutment for attachment to a dental implant that is embedded living jawbone having overlying gingiva is set forth. The implant has a gingival surface exposed through the overlying gingiva. The orthodontic abutment is capable of receiving an orthodontic component. The orthodontic abutment comprises a generally cylindrical main body having a lower end for engaging the gingival surface of the implant and a supragingival end opposing the lower end for protruding above the overlying gingiva. The main body has an outer surface between the lower end and the supragingival end. The outer surface includes a roughened portion to which the orthodontic component is to be attached and a gingival portion for contacting the overlying gingiva. The gingival portion extends from the lower end for about 3 mm. The roughened portion typically extends 360° around a central axis of the main body and is preferably adjacent to the supragingival end.

Abstract: A second stage healing abutment for forming and preserving in the mucosa above a dental implant a transmucosal opening large enough to receive an artificial tooth that faithfully replicates a natural tooth being restored, and a companion transfer coping having identical transmucosal portions for forming in a laboratory model a faithful replica of the transmucosal opening made of a resilient gingiva replicating material in which to fabricate the artificial tooth, and methods of using the same.