A dental implant evaluation unit is disclosed and described. The dental implant evaluation includes a body portion having threads that mimic the general thread pattern of an actual dental implant, without attempting to copy any of the osseointegrative features of the actual implant. A threaded collar is associated with the body portion, and, in certain embodiments, a safety flange is screwed to the threaded collar. The safety flange prevents the dental implant evaluation unit from infiltrating the sinus of a patient when testing the fit of a maxillary implant. The dental implant evaluation unit can be used by a dentist to evaluate the proper size and fit for an actual dental implant by installing the dental implant evaluation unit, and imaging the same, prior to installing the actual dental implant.

A method of taking a scan of a patient's oral cavity may include providing an anatomical healing cap that can be received within a subgingival void of a given tooth position. The method may also include taking a first scan (e.g., an extraoral scan) of the anatomical healing cap before seating the anatomical healing cap into the subgingival void of the given tooth position, where the anatomical healing cap is coupled to an implant disposed adjacent the anatomical healing cap. Further, the method can involve taking a second scan (e.g., an intraoral scan) of the anatomical healing cap and surrounding surfaces, and then integrating the two scans into an overall oral cavity scan. Reference points from the first scan may be used to align the second scan with the first scan, integrating the two together.

A dental implant assembly comprising a healing component (10) removably attachable to a coronal end of a dental implant (40) and an impression component (20) having an outer surface, an upper portion (21) and a lower portion (22) and being removably attachable to the healing component (10). The healing component (10) has an internal bore (13) for receiving at least part of the lower portion (22) of said impression component (20) therein and the internal bore having a shoulder on an inner surface thereof acting as an axial locator providing an endstop for axial movement of said impression component (20) within said bore (13). The assembly further comprises a rotational locator limiting rotational movement between said impression component (20) and said healing component (10), the rotational locator comprising a formation on said outer surface of the impression component (20) and/or a formation on said inner surface of said bore (13) of the healing component (10). Using this assembly, a digital impression recording positional information about the dental implant can be taken without having to remove the healing component (10) from the implant (40).

A temporary alignment system and method for holding a dental coping to an implant abutment using the same threads in the abutment that are used for definitive attachment are disclosed. The disclosed temporary fasteners initially orient and hold a coping against an abutment with a force along the same axis as the semi-definitive screw. The aligned coping can be picked-up in a closed-tray impression process without unscrewing the temporary fastener. Embodiments include threaded posts that release copings from the abutment through axial forces. Some embodiments include a threaded post with separable cap that is picked-up with the coping. Methods for converting an existing prosthesis for screw attachment to implants in a single visit and digital capture of the converted prosthesis are described.

Methods and dental prosthetics for providing soft tissue adhesion to a temporary healing abutment, or other dental prosthetic (e.g., temporary or permanent). Existing prosthetics generally do not provide any significant adhesion of the soft tissue surrounding the prosthetic, to the outer surface of the prosthetic itself. Because of the presence of gaps between such structures, or simple non-adhesion even where the structures may touch (but be free and unattached relative to one another), there is a tendency for pathogenic microbes to enter into such space between the structures, and for the soft gingival tissue to recede, particularly in patients with thin type periodontal tissue. The present disclosure provides materials and/or surface treatment (e.g., texturing) that ensures good bonding between the prosthetic and the soft tissue, reducing risk of infection, and reducing undesirable gingival recession surrounding the prosthetic anchored on a dental implant.

A dental insert consists of a spherical body of a medical grade elastomer. The body has a circumference with a plurality of outwardly extending projections of uniform size and shape distributed evenly about the circumference. The body is not more than 10 mm in diameter, as measured from an outer extremity of the projections. This dental insert has application in implant dentistry and endodontics.

A two part modelling aid (1, 100) for connection to a dental implant component (200), the modelling aid comprising a hollow base part (10, 110) comprising an open apical end (14, 114), an open coronal end (16, 116) and a tubular side wall (12, 112) extending from the apical to coronal end along a linear longitudinal axis (L.sub.B), the side wall having an interior and an exterior surface, one of said surfaces comprising an anti-rotation section (18, 118) having a non-circular symmetric cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a hollow angled part (30, 30) comprising an open apical end (34, 134), an open coronal end (36, 136) and a tubular side wall (32, 132) extending between the apical end and coronal end and having an interior and exterior surface, the tubular side wall forming an apical portion (35, 135) of the angled part extending along a first linear axis (L.sub.1), and a coronal portion (37, 137) of the angled part extending along a second axis, the second axis being non-coaxial to the first axis such that the tubular sidewall creates a non-linear channel (38, 138), the apical portion being sized and shaped to form a friction fit with the base part, wherein, when the base part is connected to the angled part, a closed channel (60, 160) is formed extending from the apical end of the base part to the coronal end of the angled part, the first axis of the apical portion of the angled part being coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the base part and the anti-rotation section of the base part being exposed on a surface of the base part.

An abutment system is for attachment to a dental implant having a threaded bore and for engaging the surrounding gingival tissue. The abutment system includes a base and a polymeric abutment cap. The base includes a lower region and an upper region. The lower region includes an anti-rotational feature for non-rotationally mating with one of the dental implants. The upper region includes a first anti-rotational structure and a first axial retention structure. The polymeric abutment cap has a second anti-rotational structure for mating with the first anti-rotational structure and a second axial retention structure for mating with the first axial retention structure. The abutment cap has an upper surface that includes information markers. The information markers define a unique code that provides information concerning the abutment cap and the underlying dental implant.

Disclosed herein an implant system for a denture. The denture implant system includes: an abutment and a screw configured to connect the abutment to a denture. The abutment comprises: an apex portion configured to face the denture and have linear edges that are parallel at least in an intermediate area, a thread hole provided in one end area of the apex portion and configured to accommodate the screw, and a fixture hole which is spaced apart from the thread hole and is formed toward a fixture engagement portion under the apex portion.

Methods and apparatuses for managing soft tissue in preparation for a restorative implant procedure. The methods and apparatuses may be used shape the soft tissue in a manner that improves an emergence profile of the restorative implant, thereby providing a natural-looking and protective base for the implant. The apparatuses may include a tissue shaping feature, which may be used with one or more dental aligners, to apply a tissue shaping pressure to the soft tissue. The methods may be integrated with orthodontic treatment planning systems to provide a specialized treatment plan.