Single-stage implant system

Abstract

A single stage dental implant for implantation in living jawbone having overlying gingiva comprises a generally cylindrical body section having an exterior surface for confronting the jawbone and a head section attached to the body section for extending through the overlying gingiva when the body section is confronting the jawbone. The head section has an end portion which is generally near an outer layer of the gingiva. The implant further includes a bore within the head section extending to an opening at the end portion of the head section. The bore is defined by first, second, and third walls. The first wall has internal threads. The second wall has a larger diameter than the first surface and is substantially cylindrical. The second wall extends from the first wall toward the end portion. The third wall extends from the second wall to the opening and flares toward the opening to a diameter that is wider than a diameter of the second wall. The implant is delivered to the site in the patient's mouth with a carrier that is expanded into the second wall of the bore thereby developing a tight engagement capable of withstanding the insertion torque. The implant can be fitted with posts which extend above the upper portion of the implant. The post can be fitted with gingival forming components and temporary posts.

1 - 85 . (canceled)  
     
     
         86 . A plastic coping to be used on an implant-abutment system including an implant and a separate abutment that mates with the implant, the abutment includes an outwardly tapering lower portion that extends upwardly from the implant to an abutment rim having the maximum transverse dimension of the abutment, the abutment including an inwardly tapering upper portion above the abutment rim, the coping comprising: 
 a top portion having at least one radially extending flange for being encased in flowable material used with the plastic coping, the top portion including an opening;    a bottom portion that includes a resilient annular rim, a first surface, and a second surface, in response to the resilient annular rim snap-fitting over the abutment rim, the first surface engaging the outwardly tapering lower portion of the abutment and the second surface engaging the inwardly tapering lower portion of the abutment; and    a sidewall extending between the top portion and the bottom portion, the sidewall having a plurality of perforations for passing the flowable material.    
     
     
         87 . The coping of  claim 86 , wherein a surface of the annular rim is angled with respect to a central axis of the implant-abutment system.  
     
     
         88 . The coping of  claim 86 , further comprising an undercut above the annular rim, the undercut shaped to engage the abutment rim of the abutment.  
     
     
         89 . The coping of  claim 86 , wherein the opening of the top portion is for receiving the flowable material.  
     
     
         90 . The coping of  claim 86 , wherein the flowable material is a plastic material.  
     
     
         91 . The coping of  claim 90 , wherein the flowable material is acrylic.  
     
     
         92 . The coping of  claim 90 , wherein the flowable material creates a temporary tooth.  
     
     
         93 . The coping of  claim 90 , wherein the flowable material is received in the opening in the top portion.  
     
     
         94 . The coping of  claim 86 , wherein the abutment includes a post portion extending above the inwardly tapering upper portion.  
     
     
         95 . A dental implant system comprising: 
 an implant-abutment system including an implant and a separate abutment that mates with the implant, the abutment including an outwardly tapering lower portion that extends upwardly from the implant to an abutment rim having the maximum transverse dimension of the abutment, the abutment including an inwardly tapering upper portion above the abutment rim, the abutment rim creating an undercut; and    a plastic coping for mating with the abutment, the coping including a top portion having at least one radially extending flange for being encased in a flowable material used with the plastic coping, the top portion including an opening, a bottom portion including a resilient rim, and a sidewall extending between the top portion and the bottom portion, the sidewall having a plurality of perforations for passing the flowable material, the resilient rim of the bottom portion including a surface that snaps over the abutment rim and engages the undercut to axially hold the plastic coping on the abutment.    
     
     
         96 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the resilient rim is an annular shoulder adapted to engage a surface of the abutment rim of the abutment.  
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the coping further includes a second radially extending flange.  
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the flowable material is a plastic material.  
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 98 , wherein the flowable material is acrylic.  
     
     
         100 . The system of  claim 98 , wherein the flowable material creates a temporary tooth.  
     
     
         101 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the flowable material is received in the opening in the top portion.  
     
     
         102 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the abutment includes a post portion extending above the inwardly tapering upper portion.  
     
     
         103 . A dental restoration method for use on an implant-abutment system including an implant and a separate abutment that mates with the implant, the abutment includes an outwardly tapering lower portion that extends upwardly from the implant to an abutment rim having the maximum transverse dimension of the abutment and including a coping engagement member, the abutment including an inwardly tapering upper portion above the abutment rim, the method comprising: 
 providing a plastic coping, the coping having a top portion, a bottom portion having an annular resilient, rim, and an internal surface with a tapered portion, the annular resilient rim including an implant-abutment engagement member for engaging the coping engagement member, the internal surface including perforations;    snapping the coping onto the abutment of the implant-abutment system, such that the coping engagement member locks against the implant-abutment engagement member and axially holds the coping on the implant-abutment system;    applying flowable material to the coping; and    flowing the flowable material through the perforations.    
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein at least one of the implant-abutment engagement member and the coping engagement member includes an undercut region and the other of the implant-abutment engagement member and the coping engagement member comprises a corresponding protruding portion, such that during the snapping the undercut region engages the corresponding protruding portion.  
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein the coping engagement member comprises the undercut region and the implant-abutment engagement member comprises the corresponding protruding portion.  
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein a surface of the abutment rim and a surface of the annular resilient rim are both angled with respect to a central axis of the implant-abutment system.  
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein the top portion of the coping includes at least one radially extending flange.  
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein the top portion of the coping includes an opening, and the step of applying flowable material to the coping further includes applying material through the opening of the top portion of the coping.  
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 103 , further comprising allowing the flowable material to harden.  
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 109 , further comprising the flowable material hardening to form a tooth.  
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein the flowable material hardens on the interior and exterior of the sidewall.  
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 111 , further including removing the hardened flowable material and the coping from the abutment.  
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 112 , wherein the hardened flowable material is in the shape of a tooth.  
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein the flowable material is a plastic.  
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein the flowable material is acrylic.  
     
     
         116 . A dental restoration method for use on an implant-abutment system comprising: 
 providing an implant and a separate abutment that mates with the implant, the abutment including an outwardly extending abutment rim having the maximum transverse dimension of the abutment and an undercut located below the outwardly extending abutment rim;    providing a plastic coping, the coping having a top portion having at least one radially extending flange, a bottom portion having an annular resilient, rim, and a sidewall extending between the top portion and the bottom portion and having a plurality of perforations;    snapping the resilient rim of the plastic coping over the abutment rim of the abutment, such a surface of the resilient rim engages the undercut to axially hold the coping onto the abutment; and    applying flowable material to the coping, the flowable material encasing the radially extending flange and passing through the plurality of perforations in the plastic coping.    
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the resilient rim includes an annular shoulder adapted to engage the abutment rim of the abutment.  
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the coping further includes a second radially extending flange.  
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the flowable material is a plastic material.  
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the flowable material is acrylic.  
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the flowable material creates a temporary tooth.  
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the top portion of the coping includes an opening, and the flowable material is received in the opening in the top portion.  
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the abutment includes a post portion extending above the inwardly tapering upper portion.  
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 116 , further comprising allowing the flowable material to harden.  
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 124 , wherein the flowable material hardens to form a tooth.  
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 124 , wherein the flowable material hardens on the interior and exterior of the sidewall.  
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 126 , further including removing the hardened flowable material and the coping from the abutment.  
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 127 , wherein the hardened flowable material is in the shape of a tooth.