Abstract: A dental coping in the form of an elongated tubular body has a base portion adapted at a first end of the body to mate with the gingival aspect of the patient's implant fixture, and a thin-walled tubular portion extending to the other end of the body supragingivally from the base portion when the base portion is so mated. The base portion is substantially rigid, having a thicker sidewall than the thin-walled tubular portion. A shoulder is provided within the base portion for cooperating with a bolt to fasten the coping to the implant fixture. A flange extends outwardly fropm the coping, preferably from the rigid base portion, for fixing in place a temporary restoration formed around the coping. A conical socket in the base portion mates with a conical post on the implant fixture. The fabrication and use of fixed provisional restorations in partially edentulous patients undergoing treatment with osseointegrated fixtures is described.

Abstract: A dental implant fixture of cylindrical cross-section has a diameter limited to not more than about 3 mm., for use in narrow jawbone ridges. The diameter of the fixture is smaller at its apical end than at its gingival end. Screw threads on the outer surface of the fixture are peak-limited to the locus of a cylinder of uniform diameter that is larger than the diameter of the fixture at its apical end.

Abstract: An alignment corrector for a dental implant which is axially misaligned relative to a desired axis has a base member that is removably attachable to the implant with reproducible orientation around the axis of the implant and a corrector member providing a receiver to support a prosthesis on a support that is correctly aligned relative to the desired axis. The angular difference between the misaligned axis and the desired axis is fixed between the two members in a variety of structures.

Abstract: A Precision-machined abutment base for accurately fixing an artificial tooth to a dental implant fixture is fashioned of a dental gold alloy or other machinable rigid dental material in a tubular form having an internal retainer for fixing it to the implant fixture, and external retainers for anchoring it to a rigid substructure of the tooth and to an anatomical overlay covering the substructure. An artificial tooth is disclosed in which the substructure is a casting of the same material as the abutment base, forming a unit with the base, is covered with an overlay of porcelain that is bonded at its gingival end directly to a marginal portion of the abutment base, completely concealing the substructure.

Abstract: A method and a system for preparing a single-tooth prosthodontic restoration for non-rotational fixation to a dental implant fixture of the kind having a threaded socket together with anti-rotation means to restrain components non-rotationally attached to the fixture. The system provides a set of attachments comprising a two part impression coping having anti-rotation means cooperative with the anti-rotation means of the fixture and index means to fix the coping against rotation when encased in resilient impression material, a laboratory analog having a replica of the anti-rotation means of the fixture and core means on which to fabricate the restoration, the core means having a replica of the anti-rotation means of the impression coping. The method of using the system prepares a single-tooth restoration for fixation on an implanted fixture non-rotationally and with the desired orientation around its axis, so that no stabilizing connection to an adjacent tooth is required.

Abstract: A healing cap for use in the second stage of dental implantology covers the implanted prosthesis and shields its upper surface from overgrowth of gum tissue, and at the same time maintains an opening through the fleshy gum tissue that overlies the implant. This cap is shown to be useful without as well as with an intervening transmucosal abutment. A unique holder/driver enables the healing cap to be located and fixed in place in remotely accessible places in the mouth with minimal requirement for manual dexterity.

Abstract: Abutment posts and copings for use with dental implants are disclosed. The abutment post has at one end means to affix it to the implant so as to extend supragingivally from the implant through the gum tissue. The post tapers down in cross-section from a region at or near the exposed surface of the gum tissue to its free end, and has at its free end a socket for receiving the coping. The coping has at its open end a hollow flaring section dimensioned to fit over and envelop the tapered post section, and a socket section at the smaller end of the flaring section which fits over and mates with the socket on the post. The flaring section of the coping extends to the locus of the boundary between the post and the exposed surface of the gum tissue, where the coping and the post can meet along that locus and form a seal, or provide rigidity to the installed restoration.

Abstract: In a dental post and coping combination in which the coping is a tubular envelope open at one end, a shoulder around the base of the post which has an annular surface on the locus of a first curvilinear surface, and an annular meeting surface around the open end of the coping which is on the locus of a second shallower curvilinear surface cone, so that when the two parts are assembled the two surfaces meet on the locus of a circle that coincides with the larger periphery of at least one of the two surfaces.

Abstract: A dental implant fixture for use in a shallow bore in a jawbone has a flange around its gingival end which overlies the jawbone around the bore when the fixture is installed in the bore. The bore is countersunk to receive the flange, preferably deeper than the thickness of the flange to encourage growth of bone over the flange. Pressure on the fixture is taken up by the flange.