Abstract: An attachment member for mating with a dental implant includes a non-rotational structure and a body. The non-rotational structure is configured to mate with a corresponding non-rotational feature of the dental implant. The body extends from the non-rotational structure. The body has (i) an exterior side surface configured to at least partially engage gingival tissue adjacent to the dental implant, (ii) an exterior top surface that is exposed through the gingival tissue, (iii) a screw access bore for receiving a screw that attaches the attachment member to the dental implant in a removable fashion, and (iv) a set of radiopaque information markers that is located internal to the exterior side surface and the exterior top surface. The set of radiopaque information markers indicates information regarding the dental implant that is revealed in response to a scan from a computerized tomography (CT) scanner.

Abstract: A method of placing a dental implant analog in a physical model for use in creating a dental prosthesis is provided. The physical model, which is usually based on an impression of the patient's mouth or a scan of the patient's mouth, is prepared. The model is scanned. A three-dimensional computer model of the physical model is created and is used to develop the location of the dental implant. A robot then modifies the physical model to create an opening for the implant analog. The robot then places the implant analog within the opening at the location dictated by the three-dimensional computer model.

Abstract: A dental assembly for vertical attachment of an implant to a dental abutment for restorative dental procedures is disclosed. The implant includes a cylindrical body having an interior bore formed between a distal end and a proximal end. An abutment interface is formed on the proximal end of the cylindrical body. The interface includes a radial annular interior surface and a flat annular stop surface circumferentially bordering the interior bore. The assembly also includes an abutment including a stem and a post coupled to the stem. An interior bore is formed through the stem and the post. The abutment includes an interface section between the post and the stem. The interface section may include an annular radially curved exterior surface proximate to the post. The radially curved exterior surface and the circular flat surface interfaces with the abutment interface of the dental implant.

Abstract: A dental restoration system is disclosed. A dental restoration system includes an implant, retention component, dental component and driver tool. The retention component is sealable in a retention chamber of the implant. The retention component includes a driver section for interfacing with a driving head of the driver tool and a dental component engagement section with a threaded surface. The dental component includes a retention component interface surface with threads. The dental component engages the retention component via the threaded surface interlocking with the threads of the retention component interface surface when the dental component is inserted in the implant. The driver tool is used to rotate the retention component to engage the dental component apically. The retention component contacts the retention component wall and the dental component contacts an annular shoulder of the implant when the dental component is fully attached to the implant.

Abstract: A method for making a rapid prototype of a patient's mouth to be used in the design and fabrication of a dental prosthesis. The method takes an impression of a mouth including a first installation site having a dental implant installed in the first installation site and a gingival healing abutment having at least one informational marker attached to the dental implant. A stone model is prepared based on the impression, including teeth models and model markers indicative of the at least one informational marker. The model is scanned. Scan data is generated from the scanning. The scan data is transferred to a CAD program. A three-dimensional model of the installation site is created in the CAD program. The at least one informational marker is determined to gather information for manufacturing the rapid prototype. Rapid prototype dimensional information is developed.

Abstract: A dental assembly for vertical attachment of an implant to a dental abutment for restorative dental procedures is disclosed. The implant includes a cylindrical body having an interior bore formed between a distal end and a proximal end. An abutment interface is formed on the proximal end of the cylindrical body. The interface includes a radial annular interior surface and a flat annular stop surface circumferentially bordering the interior bore. The assembly also includes an abutment including a stem and a post coupled to the stem. An interior bore is formed through the stem and the post. The abutment includes an interface section between the post and the stem. The interface section may include an annular radially curved exterior surface proximate to the post. The radially curved exterior surface and the circular flat surface interfaces with the abutment interface of the dental implant.

Abstract: A dental restoration system is disclosed. A dental restoration system includes an implant, retention component, dental component and driver tool. The retention component is seatable in a retention chamber of the implant. The retention component includes a driver section for interfacing with a driving head of the driver tool and a dental component engagement section with a threaded surface. The dental component includes a retention component interface surface with threads. The dental component engages the retention component via the threaded surface interlocking with the threads of the retention component interface surface when the dental component is inserted in the implant. The driver tool is used to rotate the retention component to engage the dental component apically. The retention component contacts the retention component wall and the dental component contacts an annular shoulder of the implant when the dental component is fully attached to the implant.

Abstract: A set of healing abutments includes a first healing abutment and a second healing abutment. The first healing abutment has an upper surface with a first code thereon. The first code is associated with a size of the first healing abutment. The second healing abutment has an upper surface with a second code thereon. The second code is associated with a size of the second healing abutment. The first healing abutment and the second healing abutment have the same size. The first code is different from the second code.

Abstract: Various implant analogs and dental modeling techniques are disclosed herein. The implant analogs are versatile and can be used in traditional modeling techniques or in rapid-prototyping techniques for producing dental models.

Abstract: A method and system of selecting a surface finish for a computer designed component associated with an anatomical area of a specific patient. A computer designed component is created. The component includes at least one surface. An interface of finishing software displays an image of the component and the at least one surface. A plurality of finishes available for the at least one surface is displayed. A selection of one of the plurality of finishes for the at least one surface is input by a user. The component data and finishing data may then be sent to a computer aided manufacturing system to manufacture the computer designed component.

Abstract: An implant system and a method of forming the implant system including an implant to be implanted into living bone. The implant includes titanium. The implant includes a first surface geometry on a first portion of a surface of the implant and a second surface geometry on a second portion of the surface of the implant. The first surface geometry includes at least a submicron topography including tube-like structures and the second surface geometry includes a first micro-scale topography, a second micro-scale topography superimposed on the first topography, and a submicron topography superimposed on the first and second micro-scale topographies, the submicron topography including the tube-like structures.

Abstract: A set of healing abutments includes a first healing abutment and a second healing abutment. The first healing abutment has an upper surface with a first code thereon. The first code is associated with a size of the first healing abutment. The second healing abutment has an upper surface with a second code thereon. The second code is associated with a size of the second healing abutment. The first healing abutment and the second healing abutment have the same size. The first code is different from the second code.

Abstract: A placement jig for locating a dental implant analog in a physical model of a patient's mouth includes a base, a guide-strut receiving feature, a throughbore, and an angled receiving feature. The guide-strut receiving feature is positioned within the base and is configured to receive a guide-strut of the physical model thereby positioning a lower surface of the placement jig at a desired distance from an opening of a bore in the physical model. The throughbore receives a screw therethrough that engages the dental implant analog such that the dental implant analog is removably coupled to the base. The angled receiving feature is positioned about the throughbore on the lower surface of the base. The angled receiving feature includes a mating surface that is configured to abut a custom abutment positioned between the mating surface and the dental implant analog.

Abstract: A method and system of selecting a surface finish for a computer designed component associated with an anatomical area of a specific patient. A computer designed component is created. The component includes at least one surface. An interface of finishing software displays an image of the component and the at least one surface. A plurality of finishes available for the at least one surface is displayed. A selection of one of the plurality of finishes for the at least one surface is input by a user. The component data and finishing data may then be sent to a computer aided manufacturing system to manufacture the computer designed component.

Abstract: A method for making a rapid prototype of a patient's mouth to be used in the design and fabrication of a dental prosthesis. An intra-oral scan is made of the patient's mouth having an installation site with a dental implant installed and a healing abutment attached to the dental implant. The healing abutment has at least one informational marker. Scan data is generated from the scanning. The scan data is transferred to a CAD program. A three-dimensional model of the installation site is created in the CAD program. The at least one informational marker and the three-dimensional model are used to manufacture a rapid prototype model of the patient's mouth, which includes a dental implant analog.

Abstract: A method of forming an implant to be implanted into living bone. The implant includes titanium. The method includes deforming at least a portion of a surface of the implant to produce a first micro-scale topography. The method further includes removing at least a portion of the surface to produce a second micro-scale topography superimposed on the first topography. The second micro-scale topography is generally less coarse than the first micro-scale topography. The method further includes adding a submicron topography superimposed on the first and second micro-scale topographies, the submicron topography including tube-like structures.

Abstract: Methods of selecting or designing an implant to be used in a patient are provided. A CT scan of a patient's mouth is performed. A 3D CAD model of the patient's mouth is created utilizing data generated by the CT scan. Properties of the patient's mouth are determined based upon CT scan data and assigned to the 3D CAD model. A desired location for an implant is selected. A FEA simulation is performed on the 3D CAD model to choose an implant or to design an implant that optimizes a selected variable.

Abstract: A method of designing a patient-specific prosthesis for a current patient includes receiving scan data of a mouth of the current patient to identify conditions at a location at which the patient-specific prosthesis is to be placed on a dental implant, and determining at least two clinical factors for the current patient. The method further includes identifying a desired outcome for soft tissue for the current patient at the location, and accessing a database having soft-tissue-outcome information for each of a plurality of previous patients. The database further includes clinical-factor information for each of the plurality of previous patients. Based on the soft-tissue-outcome information and the clinical-factor information for at least one of the plurality of previous patients being related to the current patient's desired outcome and the current patient's at least two clinical factors, the method includes developing a design for the patient-specific prosthesis for the current patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to manufacturing a surgical guide to be placed in a patient's mouth. The patient's mouth is scanned to obtain surgical-region scan data at a region where an implant is to be located. The patient's mouth is also scanned in the opened position to acquire dental conditions opposite from the surgical region so as to obtain opposing-condition scan data. A virtual model is developed using the surgical-region scan data and the opposing-condition scan data. Using the virtual model, a surgical plan is developed that includes the location of the implant to be installed in the patient. A virtual surgical guide is also developed based on the surgical plan. The dimensions of instrumentation to be used with the surgical guide are checked to ensure they will fit within the mouth by use of the opposing-condition scan data. After checking, final surgical-guide manufacturing information is obtained for manufacturing the surgical guide.

Abstract: A dental restoration system is disclosed including an implant for attachment to a jaw bone of a patient. The implant includes a cylindrical body having an interior bore formed between a distal end and a proximal end. An abutment includes an interior bore formed through the stem and the post and an interface section interfacing with the abutment interface of the dental implant. An abutment removal insert has a cylindrical end insertable into a groove formed in the interior bore of the abutment. An abutment removal tool screw is insertable within the abutment removal insert. The abutment removal tool screw includes a grip and an opposite end. The opposite end causes the abutment removal insert to contact the abutment. The grip is rotatable to cause the opposite end to create force against the implant to cause the abutment to be detached from the implant.