Abstract: Dental implant system converter structure (11; 111; 211; 311; 411; 511; 611; 711) for enabling a fixture (1) of a first dental implant system having a trailing end in which a tapered recess (6) opens to support components of a second incompatible dental implant system, the converter structure having a leading end which presents a projection having a tapered profile (15; 115; 215; 315; 415; 515; 615; 715) for seating in the tapered recess in the trailing end of the fixture and a trailing end which presents a profile (18, 20: 108; 208; 308; 408; 508; 608; 708) adapted to enable one or more components (21) of the second dental implant system to be cared thereon. A hybrid dental prosthesis may therefore be formed.

Abstract: Dental implant component (1; 1′) for a dental prosthesis or a core part of a dental prosthesis to be fabricated on comprising a base section (3; 3′) having a proximal end (2; 2′) for engagement with a support end of a support component and a distal end (7; 7′); and an elongate post section (5; 5′) which projects distally from the distal end of the base section and has a transverse dimension which is substantially less than the transverse dimension of the base section. In a first aspect of the invention the dental implant component is made at least in part from a material which is adapted to burn-out during lost-wax casting whereby a dental prosthesis or core part of a dental prosthesis fabricated on the dental implant component by lost wax casting includes at most only a part of the dental implant component. In a second aspect of the invention the elongate post section is positioned offset on the distal end of the base section.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient having a toothless site (10) in a jaw comprising the steps of providing a fixture (1) for anchorage in the bone (5) of the jaw at the toothless site having a coronal end (9); anchoring the fixture in the bone such that the coronal end is submerged beneath the coronal margin (8) of the gingival layer (7) at the toothless site; providing an abutment (31a; 31b; 31c) which is securable in an operational position to the fixture through an opening (12) provided through the gingival layer to the fixture, the abutment having a transgingival structure (37) which comprises an apical section (41) which tapers outwardly from an apical end of the transgingival structure which in the operational position of the abutment is co-planar with the coronal end of the fixture to a position at which the transgingival structure has a maximum transverse dimension and a coronal section (43) contiguous with the apical section which tapers inwardly from the maximum transverse dimension to a coronal end of

Abstract: A set of dental implant components for use in fabricating a dental prosthesis (25) comprising a support component (19) for inclusion in a model of a jaw having a support end (17) and a socket (21); a sleeve cylinder (15) on which the dental prosthesis or a core part of the dental prosthesis is to be fabricated, the sleeve cylinder having a distal end adapted to engage with the support end of the support component, a proximal end and a channel extending from a distal opening in the distal end to a proximal opening in the proximal end; and an access passage-forming post (1) having a distal section (9) which presents a distal end (11) of the post and a proximal section (7) which presents a proximal end (3) of the post, the post being adapted to be disposed in an operational position when the distal end of the sleeve cylinder engages with the support end of the support component in which the distal section (9) of the post is releasably secured in the socket in the support component through the proximal opening of