Components for use with implants and related methods

Abstract

A method for mounting a dental restoration includes advancing an implant engaging portion of an abutment into an opening in a dental implant. The implant engaging portion is integrally formed with a component supporting portion terminating in a coronal end of the abutment. With the abutment in mating engagement with the implant, the method also includes advancing a temporary coping in a coronal direction over the component supporting portion of the abutment. During the advancing of the coping, the method further includes snap-fitting at least one first snap-fit retention feature on an outer peripheral surface of the component supporting portion with at least one second snap-fit retention feature integral with an interior surface of the temporary coping. The at least one first snap-fit retention feature is located at an axial location along the component supporting portion proximate to a location where the implant engaging portion meets the component supporting portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for mounting a dental restoration, the system comprising:
 advancing an implant engaging portion of an abutment into an opening in a dental implant, the implant engaging portion being integrally formed with a component supporting portion terminating in a coronal end of the abutment;   with the abutment in mating engagement with the dental implant, advancing a temporary coping in a coronal direction over the component supporting portion of the abutment; and   during the advancing of the temporary coping, snap-fitting at least one first snap-fit retention feature on an outer peripheral surface of the component supporting portion with at least one second snap-fit retention feature integral with an interior surface of the temporary coping, wherein the at least one first snap-fit retention feature is located at an axial location along the component supporting portion proximate to a location where the implant engaging portion meets the component supporting portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 with the abutment in mating engagement with the dental implant, advancing an impression coping in a coronal direction over the component supporting portion of the abutment; and   during the advancing of the impression coping, snap-fitting at least one third-snap fit retention feature of the impression coping with the at least one first snap-fit retention feature of the component supporting portion of the abutment.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein snap-fitting the at least one first snap-fit retention feature with the at least one second snap-fit retention feature comprises fitting at least one retention groove within at least one protrusion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one retention groove extends in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the abutment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one retention groove comprises a continuous retention ring around the outer peripheral surface of the component supporting portion, and
 wherein the at least one protrusion comprises at least one continuous protrusion ring configured for snap-fit engagement with the retention ring.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one retention groove comprises a plurality of retention grooves spaced from one another, the plurality of retention grooves being disposed at substantially the same axial location along a length of the abutment, and
 wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a plurality of protrusions configured for engagement with the plurality of retention grooves.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein advancing the temporary coping comprises advancing the temporary coping until an apical end of the temporary coping rests on a shoulder of the implant 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, during the advancing of the temporary coping, mating in a substantially flush manner at least one flat external surface portion extending substantially along a length of the component supporting portion of the abutment with at least one flat internal surface portion of the temporary coping. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein snap-fitting the at least one first snap-fit retention feature with the at least one second snap-fit retention feature comprises applying a force ranging from about 2.5 lb. to about 7 lb. to engage the at least one first snap-fit retention feature with the at least one second snap-fit retention feature. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein snap-fitting the at least one first snap-fit retention feature with the at least one second snap-fit retention feature comprises engaging the at least one first snap-fit retention feature with the at least one second snap-fit retention feature with substantially 100 percent interference mating fit. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein advancing the implant engaging portion into the opening in the dental implant comprises advancing a frustoconical region of the implant engaging portion into mating engagement within an opening in a coronal neck of the implant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, with the temporary coping in snap-fit engagement with the abutment, mounting a dental restoration to an exterior surface of the temporary coping to provide tooth function at a location of the dental implant. 
     
     
         13 . A method for mounting a temporary tooth restoration within a patient's mouth, the method comprising:
 advancing an implant engaging portion of an abutment into an opening in an implant implanted in a patients mouth, the implant engaging portion being integrally formed with a component supporting portion terminating in a coronal end of the abutment,   with the abutment in mating engagement with the implant, advancing a temporary coping in a coronal direction over the component supporting portion of the abutment; and   during the advancing of the temporary coping, snap-fitting at least one first snap-fit retention feature on an outer peripheral surface of the component supporting portion with at least one second snap-fit retention feature integral with an interior surface of the temporary coping, wherein the at least one first snap-fit retention feature is located at an axial location along the component supporting portion proximate to a location where the implant engaging portion meets the component supporting portion; and   with the temporary coping in snap-fit engagement with the abutment, chemically bonding a veneering material of a temporary tooth restoration to an exterior surface of the temporary coping.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein advancing the temporary coping comprises applying a force ranging from about 2.5 lb. to about 7 lb. to engage the at least one first snap-fit retention feature with the at least one second snap-fit retention feature. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein advancing the temporary coping comprises advancing the temporary coping until an apical end of the temporary coping rests on a shoulder of the implant. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, during the advancing of the temporary coping, mating in a substantially flush manner at least one flat external surface portion extending substantially along a length of the component supporting portion of the abutment with at least one flat internal surface portion of the temporary coping. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein chemically bonding the veneering material of the temporary tooth restoration to the exterior surface of the temporary coping comprises chemically bonding the veneering material to a bis-acrylic material or a bis-acrylic composite material of the temporary coping. 
     
     
         18 . A method for taking an impression of an implant, the method comprising:
 advancing an implant engaging portion of an abutment into an opening in a dental implant, the implant engaging portion being integrally formed with a component supporting portion terminating in a coronal end of the abutment;   with the abutment in mating engagement with the dental implant, advancing an impression coping in a coronal direction over the component supporting portion of the abutment;   during the advancing of the temporary coping, snap-fitting at least one first snap-fit retention feature on an outer peripheral surface of the component supporting portion with at least one second snap-fit retention feature integral with an interior surface of the impression coping, wherein the at least one first snap-fit retention feature is located at an axial location along the component supporting portion proximate to a location where the implant engaging portion meets the component supporting portion; and   with the impression coping in snap-fit engagement with the abutment, placing impression material over at least a portion of the impression coping to form an impression of the implant.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising removing the impression coping together with the impression material from the abutment by lifting the impression coping with a force sufficient to disengage the at least one first snap-fit retention feature from the at least one second snap-fit retention feature. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein removing the impression coping together with the impression material comprises lifting the impression coping with a force greater than about 20 lb.