Dental implant system

Abstract

A dental implant assembly for supporting a dental prosthesis. The assembly comprises a dental implant and an abutment. The dental implant comprises a body portion, a collar portion and a central bore. The body portion is located at a distal end of the dental implant and is configured to lie at least substantially below a crest of a patient's jawbone. The collar portion is located at a proximal end of the dental implant and forms an abutment mating surface which defines an outer edge that has a generally scalloped shape. The central bore extends through the collar portion and into the implant body portion. The central bore includes a threaded portion and a post portion. The abutment comprises a post configured to fit within the post portion of the central bore and an implant mating surface that is configured to mate with the abutment mating surface of the dental implant.

1 . (Currently amended) A dental implant assembly for supporting a dental prosthesis, the assembly comprising: 
 a dental implant comprising a body portion located at a distal end of the dental implant, the body portion configured to lie at least substantially below a crest of a patient's jawbone, a collar portion located at a proximal end of the dental implant, the collar portion forming a top surface which defines an outer edge that has at least one peak and valley to match the contours of a patient's soft tissue; a central bore that extends through the collar portion and into the implant body portion, the central bore including a threaded portion and a post portion, and    an abutment comprising a post configured to fit within the post portion of implant;    a final restoration configured to fit over the upper portion of the abutment and having an implant mating surface that is configured to mate with the mating top surface of the dental implant.    
     
     
         2 . (Currently amended) The assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the dental implant includes a bone apposition surface that extends on the body portion up to the collar from the body portion to the collar portion.  
     
     
         3 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 2 , wherein the bone apposition surface has an upper edge positioned on the collar portion, the upper edge having at least one peak and valley to match the contours of a patient's bone tissue.  
     
     
         4 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 3 , wherein the surface of the collar portion between the upper edge and the outer edge is polished.  
     
     
         5 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 2 , wherein the bone apposition surface has an upper edge positioned on the collar portion, the upper edge having at least two peaks and two valley such that the upper edge match the contours of a patient's bone tissue.  
     
     
         6 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 5 , wherein the surface of the collar portion between the upper edge and the outer edge is polished.  
     
     
         7 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the outer edge includes two peaks and valleys to match the contours of a patient's soft tissue.  
     
     
         8 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the post portion of the implant includes anti-rotational features and the post of the abutment includes corresponding anti-rotational features.  
     
     
         9 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 8 , wherein the anti-rotational features and the corresponding anti-rotational features include at least one flat side.  
     
     
         10 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the abutment includes a bore with a shoulder.  
     
     
         11 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 10 , comprising a bolt with a threaded portion, the bolt extending through the abutment and into the threaded portion of the implant so as to secure the abutment to the implant.  
     
     
         12 . (Original) A dental implant assembly for supporting a dental prosthesis, the assembly comprising: 
 a dental implant comprising a body portion located at a distal end of the dental implant, the body portion configured to lie at least substantially below a crest of a patient's jawbone, a collar portion located at a proximal end of the dental implant, the collar portion forming a mating surface which defines an outer edge having at least one peak and one valley; a central bore that extends through the collar portion and into the implant body portion, the central bore including a threaded portion and a post portion, and    a healing abutment comprising a post configured to fit within the post portion of the central bore and including an upper portion and implant mating surface that is configured to mate with the mating surface of the dental implant.    
     
     
         13 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 12 , wherein the abutment includes a retention member for realeasably securing the healing abutment to the implant.  
     
     
         14 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 13 , wherein the retention member comprises an O-ring positioned on the post.  
     
     
         15 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 12 , wherein the dental implant includes a bone apposition surface that extends from the body portion to the collar portion.  
     
     
         16 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 15 , wherein the bone apposition surface has an upper edge positioned on the collar portion, the upper edge having at least one peak and valley to match the contours of a patient's bone tissue.  
     
     
         17 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 16 , wherein the surface of the collar portion between the upper edge and the outer edge is polished.  
     
     
         18 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 15 , wherein the bone apposition surface has an upper edge positioned on the collar portion, the upper edge having at least two peaks and two valley such that the upper edge match the contours of a patient's bone tissue.  
     
     
         19 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 15 , wherein the surface of the collar portion between the upper edge and the outer edge is polished.  
     
     
         20 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 12 , wherein the outer edge includes two peaks and valleys to match the contours of a patient's soft tissue.  
     
     
         21 . (Original) A dental implant assembly for supporting a dental prosthesis, the assembly comprising: 
 a dental implant comprising a body portion located at a distal end of the dental implant, the body portion configured to lie at least substantially below a crest of a patient's jawbone, a collar portion located at a proximal end of the dental implant, the collar portion forming an abutment mating surface which defines an outer edge having at least one peak and one valley; a central bore that extends through the collar portion and into the implant body portion, the central bore including a threaded portion and a post portion,    an insertion tool comprising a post configured to fit within the post portion of the central bore and at least one depth marker for indicating the position of the outer edge; and    complementary mating surfaces between the post of the insertion tool and the post portion of the central tool, the complementary mating surfaces being configured to prevent relative rotation between the dental implant and the insertion tool.    
     
     
         22 . (Original) The dental implant assembly as in  claim 21 , wherein the post includes a retention member for realeasably securing the insertion tool to the implant.  
     
     
         23 . (Original) The assembly as in  claim 22 , wherein the retention member comprises an O-ring positioned on the post.  
     
     
         24 . (New) The assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the dental implant is slanted with respect to a longitudinal axis of the dental implant.