Abstract: A method of obtaining and merging volumetric data and surface data of a patient's dentition for use in designing and/or manufacturing a prosthodontic component, such as a drill guide, an implant, or other prosthodontic appliance, for example. A plurality of radio-opaque markers are temporarily secured directly to a patient's dentition. Surface data is then obtained, such as by scanning the patient's dentition with the markers or alternatively, by taking an impression of the patient's dentition with the markers, forming a physical model that includes analogs of the markers, and scanning the physical model. Either before or after the surface data is obtained, an anatomical, volumetric image data set of the patient's dentition is obtained via a volumetric scan of the patient's dentition with the markers appearing in the image data set.

Abstract: A bone implant surgery system is used for simulating a dental surgical procedure having a display that shows placing a simulated bone implant at a simulated implant site on a living body by using a simulated surgical tool holding the simulated bone implant. At least one hand-held haptic device is used to control the surgical tool and at least one controller is specifically configured to cause movement of the surgical tool on the display based on motions of the haptic device and to cause haptic feedback to a user holding the haptic device depending on the position of the surgical tool on the display. A user may then review and evaluate the results of the surgical simulation.

Abstract: An implant device has an exterior portion forming an exterior surface of the implant. The exterior portion is made of a porous material defining passages through the exterior portion. An inner portion has an outer surface with a treated area that is accessible from the exterior surface through the passages. The treated area has a treatment for direct attachment to bone or soft tissue.

Abstract: A dental implant has a body with a porous metal portion for engaging bone. The porous metal portion has an outer coronal to apical height and an outer diameter. Both the height and diameter are about 4 mm to about 6 mm. This permits the implant to be placed on a jaw with a reduced bone volume.

Abstract: A modular implant includes a head, an intermediate part configured to engage bone, and an initially separate anchor configured to engage the head so that at least the head and the anchor cooperatively secure the intermediate part on the implant to form the modular implant. At least one of the head, the intermediate part, and the anchor has a plurality of forms, and each form is configured to be assembled on at least one form of the other two of the head, intermediate part, and anchor. The intermediate part may include a porous metal such as tantalum.

Abstract: An implant device has an exterior portion forming an exterior surface of the implant. The exterior portion is made of a porous material defining passages through the exterior portion. An inner portion has an outer surface with a treated area that is accessible from the exterior surface through the passages. The treated area has a treatment for direct attachment to bone or soft tissue.

Abstract: Disclosed within is a dental restorative system including a dental abutment having a longitudinal axis, lingual and facial aspects, a base portion for engagement with a dental implant, and a tapered coronal portion. The dental abutment further includes an emergence profile portion between the base portion and the tapered coronal portion. The emergence profile portion includes at least a first concave surface and at least a first convex surface. The dental abutment may further include an interproximally sloping margin shoulder and a reduced terminal portion located at the upper end of the tapered coronal portion. Alternative embodiments of the dental abutment are also disclosed.

Abstract: A model head including a jaw insert having layers of varying materials replicating the anatomical features of a human jaw. The jaw may include a mock nerve system that provides a signal to indicate the condition of the nerve. The jaw also may include a circulatory system including vessels that simulate the bleeding that occurs when a vessel in a human has been damaged.

Abstract: A dental drill guide system, including a handpiece guide which interfaces with a custom surgical guide. The custom surgical guide may be designed based on patient-specific data, such as medical images, for example, and fits conformingly over at least a portion of the patient's dentition at the implant site. The handpiece guide is attachable to an existing dental handpiece, and includes a guide protrusion that interfaces with a guide receptacle of the surgical guide to position and guide the movement of the drill along a desired trajectory. The guide receptacle may have a curved shape to allow for varying the position of the handpiece to aid surgeon access in the drilling procedure.

Abstract: A method for securing a dental implant within a dental bone cavity is disclosed. The method may include inserting a dental wedge into the dental bone cavity and allowing bone tissues to grow toward and at least partially surround the dental wedge. Dental implantation systems for implementing the method are also disclosed. The system can comprise a dental wedge adapted to be inserted into a dental bone cavity.

Abstract: A modular implant includes a head, an intermediate part configured to engage bone, and an initially separate anchor configured to engage the head so that at least the head and the anchor cooperatively secure the intermediate part on the implant to form the modular implant. At least one of the head, the intermediate part, and the anchor has a plurality of forms, and each form is configured to be assembled on at least one form of the other two of the head, intermediate part, and anchor. The intermediate part may include a porous metal such as tantalum.

Abstract: A dental implant has a body with a porous metal portion for engaging bone. The porous metal portion has an outer coronal to apical height and an outer diameter. Both the height and diameter are about 4 mm to about 6 mm. This permits the implant to be placed on a jaw with a reduced bone volume.

Abstract: A dental drill is disclosed which allows for an osteotomy to be formed in a shape which closely matches the cylindrical shape of many dental implants. In so doing, the implant engages more tissue of the resulting osteotomy, thus resulting in greater ability for the tissue to penetrate and fuse with the implant while also reducing the chances of infection and reducing the overall recovery time. In addition, by forming the dental drill with a relatively obtuse angulation between the termini of the drill flutes, the cutting forces are spread across a larger cutting area thus reducing wear on the drill itself. Moreover, by spreading the cutting force over a larger area, the heat generated by the drill is reduced and thus the discomfort afforded to the patient is reduced.

Abstract: A ceramic and metallic dental abutment for use with a dental implant is disclosed. The abutment can generally include a body having a base region, a coronal region, and a transgingival region disposed between the base and coronal regions. The body regions can define a longitudinal axis. The base region can include an anti-rotational feature such that, when engaged with the dental implant, an anti-rotational connection exists. The coronal and transgingival regions can include a ceramic exterior surface. The abutment can further include a metal contact portion having an annular shape and positioned to engage the dental implant. The metal contact portion can include a conical outer contact surface, disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, to match an angle of a chamfer of the dental implant.

Abstract: Disclosed within is a dental restorative system including a dental abutment having a longitudinal axis, lingual and facial aspects, a base portion for engagement with a dental implant, and a tapered coronal portion. The dental abutment further includes an emergence profile portion between the base portion and the tapered coronal portion. The emergence profile portion includes at least a first concave surface and at least a first convex surface. The dental abutment may further include an interproximally sloping margin shoulder and a reduced terminal portion located at the upper end of the tapered coronal portion. Alternative embodiments of the dental abutment are also disclosed.

Abstract: A stop is used for limiting the drill depth of an osteotomy drill bit within a bore in bone. This stop may have a generally tubular body for being releasably mounted on the drill bit and have a cam slot disposed at the body and used for defining a plurality of axial positions. The cam slot is configured for releasably securing a cam follower associated with a drill assembly that extends radially relative to a longitudinal axis of the drill bit assembly to axially secure the stop to the drill bit assembly. Additionally, the stop includes an apical end section that is configured to engage bone adjacent to the bore and limit the apical motion of the drill bit.

Abstract: A model head including a jaw insert having layers of varying materials replicating the anatomical features of a human jaw. The jaw may include a mock nerve system that provides a signal to indicate the condition of the nerve. The jaw also may include a circulatory system including vessels that simulate the bleeding that occurs when a vessel in a human has been damaged.

Abstract: A ceramic/metallic dental abutment for use with an implant, the abutment generally including a ceramic body portion having a base region, a transgingival region, and a supragingival region. The base region includes an anti-rotational implant interface, such as an external polygonal fitting, for engaging a cooperating internal polygonal fitting of an implant to prevent relative rotation between the abutment and the implant. The ceramic abutment body portion additionally includes a metal implant contact portion for contacting the implant and providing a load-bearing, metal-on-metal interface between the abutment and the implant.

Abstract: Disclosed within is a dental restorative system including a dental fixture component having a longitudinal axis, a body portion, and an emergence profile portion adjacent to the body portion. The dental fixture component also has a tapered coronal portion adjacent to the emergence profile portion, with the tapered coronal portion having one end adjacent to the emergence profile portion and a terminal end with a non-frustoconical surface and a non-circular cross section. The emergence profile portion may include one or more concave surfaces. The dental fixture component may further include an interproximally sloping margin shoulder. Certain embodiments of the dental fixture component include threaded body portions. Alternative embodiments of the dental fixture component are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dental implant can comprise a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and having an apical end, a coronal end, and an exterior surface. A portion of the exterior surface can include a porous material. The dental implant can comprise at least one thread, including a non-porous material, having an interior surface and a bone-engaging surface. The interior surface can engage and wind around the exterior surface of the shaft and the bone-engaging surface can extend outwardly from the exterior surface of the shaft. The shaft can include one or more channels configured to communicate a flowable material, stored within the shaft, to the exterior surface. Each channel can include an opening at the exterior surface to release the flowable material. At least one channel can extend between a cavity of the shaft and the exterior surface and can optionally be angled toward the apical end.