Abstract: A dental anchor apparatus comprises a one or two part endosseous implant securable in a patient's mouth and a retention member which is releasably engageable with the implant. The implant has an abutment head at one end and a threaded post projecting from the head and designed for threaded engagement in the jaw bone, the head having an outer locating surface portion. The retention member is generally cup-shaped with a first end and a peripheral skirt extending from the first end to form a cavity, the skirt having an inner locating surface which is engaged over the outer locating surface portion of the head. The head may also have a socket in which a post extending from an inner end of the retention member engages as the parts are moved into releasable snap engagement.

Abstract: A dental attachment assembly has an abutment member for attachment to a tooth root, implant, adjacent tooth, or bar, and a retention member for hinged engagement in a cap secured in a dental appliance. A skirt projects from one end of the cap for releasable snap engagement over an outer locating surface on the abutment member. The outer locating surface has at least two axially spaced retention surfaces for mating, snap engagement with corresponding spaced snap engagement formations on the inner surface of the cap, to provide a stacked, external retention between the abutment and retention members.

Abstract: A dental attachment assembly has an abutment member for attachment to a tooth root, implant, or adjacent tooth, and a retention member for engagement in a dental appliance. The retention and abutment members are designed for releasable snap engagement to secure the members together. A skirt projects from the upper end of the retention member and snap engages over an outer locating surface of the abutment member as the members are secured together, acting to align the retention member with the abutment members.

Abstract: A dental attachment assembly has an abutment member for attachment to a tooth root, implant, or adjacent tooth, and a male member for hinged engagement in a cap secured in a dental appliance. The male and abutment members are designed for releasable snap engagement to secure the members together. A skirt projects from the upper end of the male retention member and engages an outer locating surface of the abutment member as the members are secured together, acting to align the male member with the abutment members.

Abstract: An implant bar attachment system and method includes an elongate bar for extending between at least two implant sites and at least two fastener devices at opposite ends of the bar for securing the bar to the respective implants. The bar has socket formations for snap engagement with the heads of respective male members secured to an overlying denture. At least some of the socket formations are provided in the heads of female fastener devices which extend through bores in the bar at respective implant sites for connection to an implant or implant abutment, so that the denture attachment point is coaxial with the implant.

Abstract: A dental implant assembly is provided, as well as a system and method for exposing an embedded implant after osseointegration has taken place. The implant assembly comprises an implant member for embedding in the jaw and a rest factor member for securing to the implant member, the rest factor member having an upper rest surface just above the tissue level for opposing an overlying portion of a prosthesis anchored elsewhere in the jaw to form a non-retentive rest or support for accepting down pressure from the prosthesis. The implant member is relatively short and can be installed in distal jaw regions without interference with the mandibular nerve. A bore is cut out in the jaw for receiving the implant, inserting the implant and an attached healing screw in the implant. The implant site is closed and osseointegration takes place over an extended period. Subsequently, the implant site is uncovered, the healing screw is removed, and the rest factor member is secured in the implant.

Abstract: A multiple part anchor assembly is designed for attaching a dental appliance to a non-vital tooth root or an implant, and has a female part for attachment to a tooth root or implant, a male part or stud having a first end for releasable snap engagement in a socket in the female part with some relative movement permitted between the parts, a cap for securing in a recess in a dental appliance having a second socket, and the male part having a swivel joint at its opposite end for engagement in the second socket to secure the root or implant to the appliance, the hinge joint allowing hinging of the stud relative to the cap.