A method for making a ceramic body comprised of a ceramic material having an inhibitory effect on bacterial growth is provided. A dental prosthesis may be made of a ceramic material that comprises a molybdenum-containing component on a portion of the prosthesis that contacts the gingival surface of a patient. In one method, a porous zirconia ceramic structure is shaped in the form of a dental prosthesis, and then infiltrated with a molybdenum-containing composition, before sintering to densify the ceramic structure.

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.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an osseointegrative implant and related tools, components and fabrication techniques for surgical bone fixation and dental restoration purposes. In one embodiment an all-ceramic single-stage threaded or press-fit implant is provided having finely detailed surface features formed by ceramic injection molding and/or spark plasma sintering of a powder compact or green body comprising finely powdered zirconia. In another embodiment a two-stage threaded implant is provided having an exterior shell or body formed substantially entirely of ceramic and/or CNT-reinforced ceramic composite material. The implant may include one or more frictionally anisotropic bone-engaging surfaces. In another embodiment a densely sintered ceramic implant is provided wherein, prior to sintering, the porous debound green body is exposed to ions and/or particles of silver, gold, titanium, zirconia, YSZ, α-tricalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, carbon, carbon nanotubes, and/or other particles which remain lodged in the implant surface after sintering. Optionally, at least the supragingival portions of an all-ceramic implant are configured to have high translucence in the visible light range. Optionally, at least the bone-engaging portions of an all-ceramic implant are coated with a fused layer of titanium oxide.

Methods for taking a scan of a patient's oral cavity for use in fabricating a dental prosthesis. Such methods may include providing a healing cap configured to be received within a subgingival void of a given tooth position, taking a first scan of the healing cap, wherein the first scan is taken outside of a patient's oral cavity, seating the healing cap, taking a second scan, which is an intraoral scan of the healing cap and surrounding surfaces once the healing cap is seated, taken inside the patient's oral cavity; and integrating the first scan of the healing cap with the intraoral second scan of the healing cap and the surrounding surfaces into an overall oral cavity scan. A third scan, (e.g., 3D cone beam scan), can also be taken, which is overlaid or otherwise integrated with the first and second scans, for use in fabrication of a dental prosthesis.

A dental implant system can include an upper implant body coupled to a lower body with a cavity between the upper and lower implant bodies. The system can further include an anchor at least partially disposed within the cavity. The system can also include an abutment that couples to the anchor and serves as a mounting area for a crown. The anchor can be rotatable and swivelable, allowing the lower implant body to be implanted at an angle in bone while permitting the crown to be positioned in a natural tooth orientation.

A dental device and a method of use for associating with an implanted dental implant anchor immediately following implantation. The device provides for projecting the implant's location, orientation and axis such that the device is readily visible to the naked eye by way of visual inspection so as to reveal the location of the implanted dental implant anchor following a healing period. The device having a distal portion, for coupling to the dental implant, a medial portion, for covering the proximal end of the dental implant, and a proximal portion, defining a vertically adjustable shaft provided for projecting the location, orientation and axis of implant anchor.

An assembly for dental restoration includes a healing element able to be connected to a dental implant, the healing element including a lateral surface intended to be integrated within a gum for the purpose of shaping the gum as the gum heals, and an end surface that forms, together with part of the lateral surface, an emergent surface that is intended to remain outside the gum and is asymmetrical with respect to at least one perpendicular median plane. The assembly for dental restoration also includes a detachable prosthesis support having a receiving part for a crown prosthesis and a linking part capable of engaging with a matching linking zone that is defined in a through-opening that is provided in the healing element.

The invention relates to a drill jig (1) for an oral surgery intervention in a patient, said drill jig (1) having a temporary dental device (5) in which a drill guide (3) for guiding a drill in the jaw of the patient is provided, and at least one holding element (4), connected to the temporary dental device (5), for temporarily fastening the drill jig (1) to the set of teeth (2) of the patient.

A computer implemented method of producing a dental restoration is disclosed that includes obtaining data of an outer shape of a gingiva former, obtaining scan data of the gingiva former mounted to the implant structure, determining the orientation of the gingiva former relative to a jaw, and creating the restoration with an emergence profile formed in correspondence with the outer shape of the gingiva former and the determined orientation of the gingiva former. A dental restoration is also disclosed that includes an occlusal end, an apical end opposite to the occlusal end, an emergence profile extending from the apical end towards the occlusal end and a channel extending from the apical end to the occlusal end. A computer program is disclosed that includes computer readable commands causing a computing device to implement the method noted above, and a correlated method of restoring a tooth with a dental restoration.

A gingiva former (1) comprises an implant fixing structure (11) configured to fix the gingiva former (1) to an implant construction fixed to a jaw of a patient, and an emergence profile portion (12) configured to be positioned within a gingiva of the patient when the gingiva former (1) is mounted to the implant construction. It further comprises a mounting structure (13) configured to connect an intermediate element to the gingiva former (1) such that the intermediate element extends towards an oral cavity of the patient when the gingiva former (1) is mounted to the implant construction. The mounting structure (13) has a clipping geometry (131) configured to snap-fit with a corresponding clipping structure of the intermediate element to temporarily mount the intermediate element to the gingiva former (1).