Abstract: A method of creating a dental restoration is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a first 3D model of at least a portion of a first dental item including a margin curve, attaching the first dental item to the patient's existing dental structure within the oral cavity, obtaining a second 3D model of at least the first dental item while the first dental item is attached to the patient's existing dental structure, producing a third 3D model of at least the first dental item by aligning the first 3D model to the second 3D model, identifying the margin curve on the third 3D model, producing a fourth 3D model of a virtual dental item using the identified margin curve of the third 3D model, producing a second dental item from the fourth 3D model, and attaching the second dental item to the first dental item.

Abstract: A method of producing a crown for a custom implant abutment is carried out as follows. The method begins by preparing a patient's existing dental structures, viz., positioning a dental implant in the patient's mouth. Using a scanner device and associated modeling software, a first 3D model is obtained of a sufficiently large portion of an implant abutment to be attached to the implant. This scan is performed extra-orally. Preferably, the sufficiently large portion is that portion of the abutment bounded by a margin curve. After the implant abutment is attached to the implant (intra-orally), the scanner is used to obtain a second 3D model of the implant abutment attached to the implant (i.e., an intra-oral scan). Using the modeling software, the first 3D model is then aligned to the second 3D model. Thereafter, a boundary curve on the first 3D model is identified. Using the boundary curve to trim the first 3D model, the system then produces a third 3D model.

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: 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: 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: 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 component for attaching the impression coping to the implant for use in a pick-up type impression application. The passage also accepts a second component for attaching the impression coping to the implant for use in a transfer type impression application.

Abstract: A dental transfer coping for taking a dental impression of a patient's case in which information about the rotational position of an installed implant around its axis is preserved has plural impression interlocking elements arrayed on its outer surface. These elements are rotationally indexed to the ant-rotation device of the implant, and are uniformly arrayed around the coping so that the coping can be removed from the impression and reinstalled in it in many rotational positions without losing the rotational information of the implant.

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 in which to fabricate the artificial tooth, and methods of using the same.

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.

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.

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 which 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 in which to fabricate the artificial tooth, and methods of using the same.

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.

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.