ABUTMENT ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

An abutment assembly (1) for connecting a dental restoration (6) to a dental implant (5), comprising a post body (2), a coupling sleeve (4) and a screw arrangement (3). The post body (2) has an apical aperture (21), an occlusal aperture (22) and an axial passage (23) extending between the apical aperture (21) and the occlusal aperture (22). The screw arrangement (3) has an occlusal head portion (311) and an apical fastening thread portion (321). The coupling sleeve (4) has an apical opening (41), an occlusal opening (42), an axial bore (43) extending between the apical aperture (21) and the occlusal aperture (22), and a clip structure (44) configured to elastically deform from a liaising position to an intermediate position. The axial bore (43) of the coupling sleeve (4) is equipped with a head socket section (431) configured to receive the occlusal head portion (311) of the screw arrangement (3). The coupling sleeve (4) is configured such that the clip structure (44) is locked in the liaising position when the occlusal head portion (311) of the screw arrangement (3) is received in the head socket section (431) of the axial bore (43) of the coupling sleeve (4).

Claims

1. An abutment assembly for connecting a dental restoration to a dental implant, comprising a post body and a screw arrangement, wherein the post body has an apical aperture, an occlusal aperture and an axial passage extending between the apical aperture and the occlusal aperture, and wherein the screw arrangement has an occlusal head portion and an apical fastening thread portion, comprising a coupling sleeve, wherein the coupling sleeve has an apical opening, an occlusal opening, an axial bore extending between the apical opening and the occlusal opening, and a clip structure configured to elastically deform from a liaising position to an intermediate position, wherein the axial bore of the coupling sleeve is equipped with a head socket section configured to receive the occlusal head portion of the screw arrangement, and wherein the coupling sleeve is configured such that the clip structure is locked in the liaising position when the occlusal head portion of the screw arrangement is received in the head socket section of the axial bore of the coupling sleeve.

2. The abutment assembly of claim 1, wherein the clip structure of the coupling sleeve is configured to be elastically deformed towards the axial bore in the intermediate position.

3. The abutment assembly of claim 1, wherein the head socket section of the axial bore of the coupling sleeve has an inner coupling thread and the occlusal head portion of the screw arrangement has an outer coupling thread corresponding to the inner coupling thread of the axial bore of the coupling sleeve.

4. The abutment assembly of claim 3, wherein the screw arrangement and the coupling sleeve are configured to screw the screw arrangement through the apical opening into the head socket section of the axial bore of the coupling sleeve such that the inner coupling thread of the head socket section of the axial bore of the coupling sleeve and the outer coupling thread of the occlusal head portion of the screw arrangement inter-engage when the head socket section of the axial bore of the coupling sleeve receives the occlusal head portion of the screw arrangement.

5. The abutment assembly of claim 3, wherein the outer coupling thread of the occlusal head portion of the screw arrangement is configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a first distance, the apical fastening thread portion has a fastening thread being configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a second distance, and the first distance is smaller than the second distance.

6. The abutment assembly of claim 1, wherein the head socket section of the axial bore of the coupling sleeve has a conical seat tapering towards the apical opening of the coupling sleeve and the occlusal head portion of the screw arrangement has cone section corresponding to the conical seat of the axial bore of the coupling sleeve.

7. The abutment assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling sleeve comprises an essentially rigid frame portion and the clip structure of the coupling sleeve has a clipping arm extending from the frame portion of the coupling sleeve.

8. The abutment assembly of claim 7, wherein the frame portion of the coupling sleeve has a lateral window into which the clipping arm of the clip structure of the coupling sleeve extends.

9. The abutment assembly of claim 7, wherein the clipping arm is elastically deformable towards an axis of the coupling sleeve.

10. The abutment assembly of claim 1, wherein the clip structure of the coupling sleeve has a bulge forming a laterally outermost section of the coupling sleeve in the liaising position.

11. The abutment assembly of claim 1, wherein the screw arrangement has a single piece screw member equipped with the occlusal head portion and the apical fastening thread portion.

12. The abutment assembly of claim 11, wherein the single piece screw member comprises a radially extending collar section.

13. The abutment assembly of claim 1, wherein the screw arrangement comprises a coupling screw and a fastening screw, wherein the occlusal head portion is incorporated into the coupling screw and the apical fastening thread portion is incorporated into the fastening screw.

14. The abutment assembly of claim 13, wherein the axial passage of the post body has an inner sleeve thread and the coupling screw of the screw arrangement has an apical outer body thread corresponding to the inner sleeve thread of the axial passage of the post body.

15. The abutment assembly of claim 5, wherein the screw arrangement comprises a coupling screw and a fastening screw, wherein the occlusal head portion is incorporated into the coupling screw and the apical fastening thread portion is incorporated into the fastening screw, wherein the axial passage of the post body has an inner sleeve thread and the coupling screw of the screw arrangement has an apical outer body thread corresponding to the inner sleeve thread of the axial passage of the post body, and wherein the apical outer body thread of the coupling screw of the screw arrangement is configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a third distance and the first distance is smaller than the third distance.

16. The abutment assembly of claim 15, wherein the third distance is essentially identical to the second distance.

17. The abutment assembly of claim 13, wherein the axial passage of the post body has an inner implant thread and the fastening screw of the screw arrangement has an occlusal outer body thread corresponding to the inner body thread of the axial passage of the post body.

18. The abutment assembly of claim 5, wherein the screw arrangement comprises a coupling screw and a fastening screw, wherein the occlusal head portion is incorporated into the coupling screw and the apical fastening thread portion is incorporated into the fastening screw, wherein the axial passage of the post body has an inner implant thread and the fastening screw of the screw arrangement has an occlusal outer body thread corresponding to the inner body thread of the axial passage of the post body and wherein the occlusal outer body thread of the fastening screw of the screw arrangement is configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a fourth distance and the fourth distance is smaller than the second distance.

19. The abutment assembly of claim 18, wherein the fourth distance is essentially identical to the first distance.

20. The abutment assembly of claim 1, comprising a dental implant with a socket configured to receive the apical fastening thread portion of the screw arrangement.

21. The abutment assembly of claim 20, wherein the post body has a cone portion and the socket of the dental implant has a conical entry section configured to abut the cone portion of the post body.

22. The abutment assembly of claim 1, wherein the clip structure of the coupling sleeve is configured to provide a snap-fit connection between the coupling sleeve and the dental restoration.

23. The abutment assembly of claim 1, comprising a dental restoration having a cavity configured to receive the clipping structure of the coupling sleeve to connect the coupling sleeve to the dental implant.

24. The abutment assembly of claim 23, wherein the cavity of the dental restoration comprises a stem section and a cave section radially protruding the stem section.

25. The abutment assembly of claim 24, wherein the cavity of the dental restoration and the coupling sleeve are arranged such that the clip structure of the coupling sleeve can pass through the stem section of the cavity of the dental restoration when the clip structure of the coupling sleeve is in the intermediate position, and the clip structure of the coupling sleeve cannot pass through the stem section of the cavity of the dental restoration when clip structure of the coupling sleeve is in the liaising position.

26. The abutment assembly of claim 23, wherein the dental restoration has an abutting section and the post body has a corresponding shoulder portion configured to abut the abutting section of the dental restoration.

27. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] The abutment assembly according to the invention and the method according to the invention are described in more detail herein below by way of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0072] FIG. 1 shows an exploded side view of a first embodiment of an abutment assembly according to the invention;

[0073] FIG. 2 shows an exploded cross-sectional side view of the abutment assembly of FIG. 1;

[0074] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of a fastening screw and a post body of the abutment assembly of FIG. 1 in a first step of a first embodiment of a method according to the invention;

[0075] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of the fastening screw, the post body and a dental implant of the abutment assembly of FIG. 1 in a second step of the method of FIG. 3;

[0076] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of a dental crown and a coupling sleeve of the abutment assembly of FIG. 1 in a third step of the method of FIG. 3;

[0077] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional side view of the dental crown and the coupling sleeve of the abutment assembly of FIG. 1 in a fourth step of the method of FIG. 3;

[0078] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional side view of the dental crown, the coupling sleeve and a coupling screw of the abutment assembly of FIG. 1 in a fifth step of the method of FIG. 3;

[0079] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional side view of the abutment assembly of FIG. 1 in a sixth step of the method of FIG. 3;

[0080] FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional side view of the abutment assembly of FIG. 1 in a seventh step of the method of FIG. 3;

[0081] FIG. 10 shows an exploded side view of a second embodiment of an abutment assembly according to the invention;

[0082] FIG. 11 shows an exploded cross-sectional side view of the abutment assembly of FIG. 10;

[0083] FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional side view of a screw, a dental crown and a coupling sleeve of the abutment assembly of FIG. 10 in a step of a second embodiment of a method according to the invention;

[0084] FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional side view of the abutment assembly of FIG. 10 in another step of the method of FIG. 12;

[0085] FIG. 14 shows an exploded side view of a third embodiment of an abutment assembly according to the invention;

[0086] FIG. 15 shows an exploded cross-sectional side view of the abutment assembly of FIG. 14;

[0087] FIG. 16 shows a detail of FIG. 12 a cross-sectional side view of the abutment assembly of FIG. 14 after being processed in a third embodiment of a method according to the invention;

[0088] FIG. 17 shows an exploded side view of a fourth embodiment of an abutment assembly according to the invention;

[0089] FIG. 18 shows an exploded cross-sectional side view of the abutment assembly of FIG. 17;

[0090] FIG. 19 shows a cross sectional side view of a coupling sleeve and a dental crown of the abutment assembly of FIG. 17, while the coupling sleeve is connected to the dental crown;

[0091] FIG. 20 shows a cross sectional side view of the coupling sleeve and the dental crown of the abutment assembly of FIG. 17, after the coupling sleeve is connected to the dental crown;

[0092] FIG. 21 shows a cross sectional side view of the coupling sleeve, the dental crown and a screw member of the abutment assembly of FIG. 17, wherein the screw member is screwed into the coupling sleeve;

[0093] FIG. 22 shows a cross sectional side view of a post body and a dental implant of the abutment assembly of FIG. 17, wherein the post body is set into the dental implant;

[0094] FIG. 23 shows a cross-sectional side view of the abutment assembly of FIG. 17, while the dental crown equipped with the coupling sleeve and the screw member is mounted to the dental implant equipped with the post body;

[0095] FIG. 24 shows a cross-sectional side view of the abutment assembly of FIG. 17, after the dental crown equipped with the coupling sleeve and the screw member is mounted to the dental implant equipped with the post body.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0096] In the following description certain terms are used for reasons of convenience and are not intended to limit the invention. The terms right, left, up, down, under and above refer to directions in the figures. The terminology comprises the explicitly mentioned terms as well as their derivations and terms with a similar meaning. Also, spatially relative terms, such as beneath, below, lower, above, upper, proximal, distal, and the like, may be used to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. These spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different positions and orientations of the devices in use or operation in addition to the position and orientation shown in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is turned over, elements described as below or beneath other elements or features would then be above or over the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term below can encompass both positions and orientations of above and below. The devices may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Likewise, descriptions of movement along and around various axes include various special device positions and orientations.

[0097] To avoid repetition in the figures and the descriptions of the various aspects and illustrative embodiments, it should be understood that many features are common to many aspects and embodiments. Omission of an aspect from a description or figure does not imply that the aspect is missing from embodiments that incorporate that aspect. Instead, the aspect may have been omitted for clarity and to avoid prolix description. In this context, the following applies to the rest of this description: If, in order to clarify the drawings, a figure contains reference signs which are not explained in the directly associated part of the description, then it is referred to previous or following description sections. Further, for reason of lucidity, if in a drawing not all features of a part are provided with reference signs it is referred to other drawings showing the same part. Like numbers in two or more figures represent the same or similar elements.

[0098] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an abutment assembly 1 according to the invention. The abutment assembly 1 comprises a dental crown 6 as dental restoration, a coupling sleeve 4, a screw arrangement 3 consisting of a coupling screw 31 and a fastening screw 32, a post body 2 and a dental implant 5. The abutment assembly 1 has a central axis 11 along which the components of the abutment assembly 1 are positioned in FIG. 1.

[0099] The dental crown 6 is made of a ceramic material shaped to replace a natural tooth of a patient. The coupling sleeve 4 is made of titanium. It has a rigid frame portion 45 with an occlusal ring section 452, an apical ring section 454 and three axial pillar sections 453 connecting the occlusal ring section 452 and the apical ring section 454. In between the axial pillar sections 453 three lateral windows 451 are formed. The coupling sleeve 45 further has a clip structure with three clipping arms 44. Each of the clipping arms 44 extends from the occlusal ring section 452 of the frame portion 45 towards the apical ring section 454 into one of the lateral windows 451. Near their free bottom ends, each of the clipping arms 44 is equipped with a bulge outwardly of laterally projecting.

[0100] The clipping arms 44 are elastically transformable or bendable towards an interior of the coupling sleeve 4 through the respective lateral windows 451. In an initial or non-transformed state, the clipping arms 44 are in a liaising position. When being elastically bent or transformed towards the interior of the coupling sleeve 4, the clipping arms 44 are in an intermediate position. In the liaising position, the outer ends of the clipping arms 44 are the laterally outermost sections of the coupling sleeve 4. In other words, in the liaising position, the bulges of the clipping arms 44 define the largest circumference or diameter of the coupling sleeve 4.

[0101] The coupling screw 31 comprises an occlusal head portion 311 with an outer coupling thread 312 and an apical outer body thread 313. The fastening screw 32 has an occlusal outer body thread 323 and an apical fastening thread portion 321 with a fastening thread 322. The outer coupling thread 312 is configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a first distance, the fastening thread 322 is configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a second distance, the outer body thread 313 is configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a third distance, and the occlusal outer body thread 323 is configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a fourth distance. More specifically, the four threads are configured to achieve the four respective distances by, beyond others, appropriately adapting the pitches. Thereby, it achieves that the first and fourth distances are smaller than the second and third distances.

[0102] The post body 2 is made of titanium and has a flange-like shoulder portion 26 near the top or occlusal end. Adjacent to the shoulder portion 26, the post body 2 has a downwardly tapering cone portion 28. Further, an outer circumference of the post body 2 is equipped with an axial indexing groove 27.

[0103] In FIG. 2, the abutment assembly 1 is depicted in a cross-sectional view. Thereby, it can be seen that the dental crown 6 has a ceramic crown body with a central bore 62, which is open in an upward and a downward direction, forming a cavity 61. The cavity 61 comprises a lower cylindrical stem section 611 and an upper concave cave section 612.

[0104] The coupling sleeve 4 has an apical opening 41 at the apical ring section 454 of the frame portion 45, an occlusal opening 42 at the occlusal ring section 452 of the frame portion 45 and a straight axial bore 43 extending between the apical opening 41 and the occlusal opening 42. The axial bore 43 forms a head socket section 431 configured to receive the occlusal head portion 311 of the coupling screw 31. More specifically, the axial bore 43 is equipped with an inner coupling thread 432 corresponding to the outer coupling thread 312 of the coupling screw 31.

[0105] At the occlusal head portion 311, the coupling screw 31 is provided with a driver recess 314 for accommodating a screw-driver. Likewise, the fastening screw 32 is provided with a driver recess 324 at its occlusal end to accommodate a screw-driver.

[0106] The post body 2 has an apical aperture 21, an occlusal aperture 22 and a straight axial passage 23 extending between the apical aperture 21 and the occlusal aperture 22. Nearby the apical aperture 21, the axial passage 23 is equipped with an inner implant thread 25 corresponding to the occlusal outer body thread 323 of the fastening screw 32. Further, nearby the occlusal aperture 22, the axial passage 23 is equipped with an inner sleeve thread 24 corresponding to the apical outer body thread 313 of the coupling screw 31.

[0107] The dental implant 5 has a body socket 51 to accommodate and support the post body 2. At its lower end, the socket 51 is equipped with an inner fixation thread 52 corresponding to the fastening thread 322 of the implant screw 32. Further, the socket 51 has a conical entry section 53 corresponding to the cone portion 28 of the post body 2.

[0108] FIG. 3 shows a first step of the first embodiment of a method according to the invention to connect the dental crown 6 to the dental implant 5. The first step comprises obtaining the abutment assembly 1 and screwing the fastening screw 32 bottom up into the post body 2. In particular, the fastening screw 32 is screwed into the post body 2 until the occlusal outer body thread 323 of the fastening screw is located above the inner implant thread 25 of the post body 2.

[0109] In FIG. 4 a second step of the first method is illustrated. The post body 2 is set top down into the socket 51 of the dental implant 5 such that the cone portion 28 abuts the entry section 53. The fastening screw 32 is screwed into the dental implant 5 to fix the post body 2 to the dental implant 5. In particular, a suitable screw-driver accesses the driver recess 324 of the fastening screw 32 and rotates it about the axis 11. Thereby, the outer fastening thread 322 engages the inner fixation thread 52. At the same time, the occlusal outer body thread 323 of the fastening screw 32 engages the inner implant thread 25 of the post body 2. Since the fourth distance of the occlusal outer body thread 323 or the inner implant thread 25, respectively, is smaller than the second distance of the outer fastening thread 322 or the inner fixation thread 52, respectively, the cone portion 28 of the body portion 2 is pressed onto the conical entry section 53 of the dental implant 5 while fixing the fastening screw 32 to the dental implant 5 with a comparably large force. Like this, a tight and secure connection between the post body 2 and the dental implant is achieved.

[0110] FIG. 5 shows a third step of the first method. The coupling sleeve 4 is introduced bottom up into the cavity 61 of the dental crown 6. Thereby, the side walls of the neck section 611 of the cavity 61 inwardly force the clipping arms 44 such that they are elastically transformed into the intermediate position. In FIG. 6 a fourth step of the method is shown in which the coupling sleeve 4 is upwardly inserted into the cavity 61 such that the bulges of the clipping arms 44 are adjacent to the bulge section 612 of the cavity 61. At this location, the clipping arms 44 elastically move back to the liaising position such that they clip in or snap in the bulge section 612. Like this, a snap-fit connection between the coupling sleeve 4 and the dental crown 6 is established.

[0111] FIG. 7 shows a fifth step of the first method. The coupling screw 31 is screwed bottom up into the coupling sleeve 4 which is inserted into the cavity 61 of the dental crown 6. In particular, the coupling screw 31 is screwed into coupling sleeve 4 until the outer coupling thread 312 of the coupling screw 31 is partially located above the inner coupling thread 432 of the coupling sleeve 4.

[0112] In FIG. 8 a sixth step of the first method is shown in which the dental crown 6 together with the coupling sleeve 4 and the coupling screw 31 is set onto the post body 2 fastened to the dental implant 5 by means of the implant screw 32. FIG. 9 shows a seventh step of the first method. The coupling screw 31 is screwed into the post body 2 to fix the dental crown 6 to the post body 2 and, thereby, to the dental implant 5. In particular, a suitable screw-driver accesses the driver recess 314 of the coupling screw 31 and rotates it about the axis 11. Thereby, the apical outer body thread 313 engages the inner sleeve thread 24. At the same time, the outer coupling thread 312 of the coupling screw 31 engages the inner coupling thread 432 of the coupling sleeve 4. Since first distance of the outer coupling thread 312 or inner coupling thread 432, respectively, is smaller than the third distance of the apical outer body thread 313 or inner sleeve thread 24, respectively, a lower abutting face 63 of the dental crown 6 is pressed onto the shoulder portion 28 of the post body 2 while fixing the coupling screw 31 to the post body 2 with a comparably large force. At the same time, the occlusal head portion 311 of the coupling screw 31 is located adjacent to the clipping arms 44 thereby locking the clipping arms 44 in the liaising position. Like this, a tight and secure connection between the dental crown 6 and the post body 2 is achieved.

[0113] FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show a second embodiment of an abutment assembly 10 according to the invention having a central axis 110. The abutment assembly 10 comprises a dental crown 60 as a dental restoration, a coupling sleeve 40 and a dental implant 50 similar than the respective components of the first abutment assembly 1 described above. In particular, the dental crown 60 has a ceramic crown body with a central bore 620, which is open in an upward and a downward direction, forming a cavity 610. The cavity 610 comprises a lower cylindrical stem section 6110 and an upper concave cave section 6120.

[0114] The coupling sleeve 40 has a rigid frame portion 450 with an occlusal ring section 4520, an apical ring section 4540 and three axial pillar sections 4530 connecting the occlusal ring section 4520 and the apical ring section 4540. In between the axial pillar sections 4530 three lateral windows 4510 are formed. The coupling sleeve 450 further has a clip structure with three clipping arms 440. Each clipping arm 440 extends from the occlusal ring section 4520 of the frame portion 450 towards the apical ring section 4540 into one of the lateral windows 4510. Near their free bottom ends, each of the clipping arms 440 is equipped with a bulge outwardly or laterally projecting.

[0115] The clipping arms 440 are elastically transformable or bendable towards an interior of the coupling sleeve 40 through the respective lateral windows 4510. In an initial or non-transformed state, the clipping arms 440 are in a liaising position. When being elastically bent or transformed towards the interior of the coupling sleeve, the clipping arms 440 are in an intermediate position. In the liaising position, the outer ends of the clipping arms 440 are the laterally outermost sections of the coupling sleeve 40. In other words, in the liaising position, the bulges of the clipping arms 440 define the largest circumference or diameter of the coupling sleeve 40.

[0116] Further, the coupling sleeve 40 has an apical opening 410 at the apical ring section 4540 of the frame portion 450, an occlusal opening 420 at the occlusal ring section 4520 of the frame portion 450 and a straight axial bore 430 extending between the apical opening 410 and the occlusal opening 420. The axial bore 430 forms a head socket section 4310. More specifically, the axial bore 430 is equipped with an inner coupling thread 4320.

[0117] The abutment assembly 10 further comprises a screw member 30 equipped with an occlusal head portion 310 and an apical fastening thread portion 320 as a single piece screw arrangement. The occlusal head portion 310 is equipped with an outer coupling thread 330 and the apical fastening thread portion 320 is equipped with a fastening thread 340. The outer coupling thread 330 is configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a first distance and the fastening thread 340 is configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a second distance. The first distance is smaller than the second distance. In between the occlusal head portion 310 and the apical fastening thread portion 320 the screw member 30 has a rod portion without an outer thread.

[0118] The post body 20 has a flange-like shoulder portion 260 near the top or occlusal end. Adjacent to the shoulder portion 260, the post body 20 has a downwardly tapering cone portion 280. Further, the outer circumference of the post body 20 is equipped with an axial indexing groove 270. Further, the post body 20 has an apical aperture 210, an occlusal aperture 220 and a straight axial passage 230 extending between the apical aperture 210 and the occlusal aperture 220.

[0119] In FIG. 12 a step of the second embodiment of a method according to the invention to connect the dental crown 60 to the dental implant 50 is shown. It comprises obtaining the abutment assembly 10 and introducing the coupling sleeve 40 bottom up into the cavity 610 of the dental crown 60. Thereby, the side walls of the neck section 6110 of the cavity 610 inwardly force the clipping arms 440 such that they are elastically transformed into the intermediate position. The bulges of the clipping arms 440 are adjacent to the bulge section 6120 of the cavity 610. At this location, the clipping arms 44 are in the liaising position such that they are clipped in the bulge section 612.

[0120] The screw member 30 is screwed bottom up into the coupling sleeve 40. In particular, the screw member 30 is screwed until the outer coupling thread 330 of the screw member 30 is located partially above the inner coupling thread 4320.

[0121] FIG. 13 shows another step of the second method. The dental crown 60 together with the coupling sleeve 40 and the screw member 30 is set onto the post body 20 inserted into the socket 510 of the dental implant 50. Thereby, the screw member 30 extends through the axial passage 230 of the post body and the fastening thread 340 engages the corresponding inner fixation thread 520. At the same time, the outer coupling thread 330 engages the inner coupling thread 4320.

[0122] Since the first distance of the outer coupling thread 330 or inner coupling thread 4320, respectively, is smaller than the second distance of the fastening thread 340 or inner fixation thread 520, respectively, a lower abutting face 630 of the dental crown 60 is pressed onto the shoulder portion 280 of the post body 20 while fixing the screw member 30 to the post body 20 and the dental implant 50 with a comparably large force. At the same time, the occlusal head portion 310 of the screw member 30 is located adjacent to the clipping arms 440 thereby locking the clipping arms 440 in the liaising position. Like this, a tight and secure connection between the dental crown 60 and the dental implant 50 is achieved via the coupling sleeve 40 and the post body 20.

[0123] FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 show a third embodiment of an abutment assembly 19 according to the invention having a central axis 119. The abutment assembly 19 comprises a dental crown 69 as dental restoration, a coupling sleeve 49, a dental implant 59 and a screw arrangement with a coupling screw 319 and a fixing screw 329 similar to the respective components of the first abutment assembly 1 described above. In particular, the dental crown 69 has a ceramic crown body with a central bore 629, which is open in an upward and a downward direction, forming a cavity 619. The cavity 619 comprises a lower cylindrical stem section 6119 and an upper concave cave section 6129.

[0124] The coupling sleeve 49 has a rigid frame portion 459 with an occlusal ring section 4529, an apical ring section 4549, and three axial pillar sections 4539 connecting the occlusal ring section 4529 and the apical ring section 4549. In between the axial pillar sections 4539 three lateral windows 4519 are formed. The coupling sleeve 459 further has a clip structure with three clipping arms 449. Each clipping arm 449 extends from the occlusal ring section 4529 of the frame portion 459 towards the apical ring section 4549 into one of the lateral windows 4519. Near their free bottom ends, each of the clipping arms 449 is equipped with a bulge outwardly of laterally projecting.

[0125] The clipping arms 449 are elastically transformable or bendable towards an interior of the coupling sleeve 49 through the respective lateral windows 4519. In an initial or non-transformed state, the clipping arms 449 are in a liaising position. When being elastically bent or transformed towards the interior of the coupling sleeve, the clipping arms 449 are in an intermediate position. In the liaising position, the outer ends of the clipping arms 449 are at the laterally outermost sections of the coupling sleeve 49. In other words, in the liaising position, the bulges of the clipping arms 449 define the largest circumference or diameter of the coupling sleeve 49.

[0126] The coupling sleeve 49 further has an apical opening 419 at the apical ring section 4549 of the frame portion 459, an occlusal opening 429 at the occlusal ring section 4529 of the frame portion 459 and an axial bore 439 extending between the apical opening 419 and the occlusal opening 429. The axial bore 439 forms a head socket section 4319. The head socket section 4319 has a downwardly tapering cone section 4329.

[0127] The coupling screw 319 comprises an apical outer body thread 3139 and an occlusal head portion 3119 with a lower conical abutting section 3129. The fastening screw 329 has an occlusal outer body thread 3239 and an apical fastening thread portion 3219 with a fastening thread 3229. The fastening thread 3229 is configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a second distance, the apical outer body thread 3139 is configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a third distance, and the occlusal outer body thread 3239 is configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a fourth distance. The fourth distance is smaller than the second and third distances.

[0128] At an occlusal end, the coupling screw 319 is provided with a driver recess 3149 for accommodating a screw-driver. Likewise, the fastening screw 329 is provided with a driver recess 3249 at its occlusal end to accommodate a screw-driver.

[0129] The post body 29 has an apical aperture 219, an occlusal aperture 229 and a straight axial passage 239 extending between the apical aperture 219 and the occlusal aperture 229. Nearby the apical aperture 219, the axial passage 239 is equipped with an inner implant thread 259 corresponding to the occlusal outer body thread 3239 of the fastening screw 329. Further, nearby the occlusal aperture 229, the axial passage 239 is equipped with an inner sleeve thread 249 corresponding to the apical outer body thread 3139 of the coupling screw 319.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 16, after applying a third embodiment of a method according to the invention, the post body 29 is fixed to the dental implant 59 as described above in connection with FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 for the first abutment assembly 1. Also clipping the coupling sleeve 49 into the cavity 619 of the dental crown 69 is performed as described above in connection with FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 for the first abutment assembly.

[0131] However, the dental crown 69 is fixed to the post body 29 which is fixed to the dental implant 59 by introducing the coupling screw 319 through the central bore 629 of the dental crown 69. For this, the central bore 629 has to be dimensioned comparably large. The coupling screw 319 is arranged through the coupling sleeve 49 and its apical outer body thread 3139 engages the inner sleeve thread 249 of the post body 29. Thereby, the conical abutting section 3129 is pressed onto the cone section 4329 such that the coupling screw 319 is pressed to the coupling sleeve 49. Likewise, a lower abutting face 639 of the dental crown 69 is pressed onto the shoulder portion 269 of the post body 29. At the same time, the occlusal head portion 3119 of the coupling screw 319 locks the clipping arms 449 in the liaising position.

[0132] FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 show a fourth embodiment of an abutment assembly 18 according to the invention, having a central axis 118. The abutment assembly 18 comprises a dental crown 68 as dental restoration, a coupling sleeve 48, a screw member 38, a post body 281 and a dental implant 58.

[0133] Thereby, the dental crown 68 has a ceramic crown body with a central bore 628, which is open in a coronal upward direction and in an apical downward direction and which forms a cavity 618. The cavity 618 comprises a lower cylindrical stem section 6118 and an upper concave cave section 6128. The stem section 6118 is equipped with axial indexing indentations 6138.

[0134] The coupling sleeve 48 has a rigid frame portion 458 with a central ring section 4528 and an apical cylinder section 4548. The ring section 4528 has an asymmetrical outer circumference thereby forming an indexing geometry matching to the stem section 6118 with its indexing indentations 6138 of the cavity 618 of the dental crown 68.

[0135] The coupling sleeve 458 further comprises a clip structure with four clipping arms 448 regularly arranged around the central ring section 4528. The clipping arms 448 extend from the central ring section 4528 of the frame portion 458 in an occlusal or upward direction. Towards their top ends, the clipping arms 448 have a radially projecting bulge portion 4418. The clipping arms 448 of the clip structure are elastically deformable or bendable towards an interior of the coupling sleeve 48. In an initial or non-transformed state, the clipping arms 448 are in a liaising position. When being elastically bent or transformed towards the interior of the coupling sleeve 48, the clipping arms 448 are in an intermediate position. In the liaising position, the outer ends of the clipping arms 448 are the laterally outermost sections of the clip structure. In other words, in the liaising position, the bulge portions 4418 of the clipping arms 448 define the largest circumference or diameter of the clip structure.

[0136] The interior of the coupling sleeve 48 is formed by a straight axial bore 438 extending between an apical opening 418 located at an apical end of the cylinder section 4548 of the frame portion 458 and an occlusal opening 428 located at an occlusal end of the clipping arms 448. The axial bore 438 forms a head socket section 4318 at an interior side of the bulge portions 4418 of the clipping arms 448, which head socket section 4318 is equipped with an inner coupling thread 4328.

[0137] The screw member 38 is a single piece screw arrangement equipped with an occlusal head portion 318 and an apical fastening thread portion 328. The occlusal head portion 318 is equipped with an outer coupling thread 338 and the apical fastening thread portion 328 is equipped with a fastening thread 348. The outer coupling thread 338 is configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a first distance and the fastening thread 348 is configured to convert a rotational movement of about 360? into an axial movement of a second distance. Thereby, the first distance is smaller than the second distance.

[0138] In between the occlusal head portion 318 and the apical fastening thread portion 328, the screw member 38 has a rod portion 358 excluding an outer thread. The rod portion 358 has a radially projecting collar section 378 being the laterally outermost section of the screw member 38. The collar section 378 has a slanted or conical bottom end side.

[0139] The post body 281 has a partially cylindrical shape equipped with a flange-like shoulder portion 268. It is provided with a straight central axial passage 238. Adjacent to the shoulder portion 268, the post body 281 has a downwardly or apically tapering cone portion 288. Below or apically of the cone portion 288, an outer circumference of the post body 281 is equipped with axial indexing grooves 278. Similarly, above or occlusally of the shoulder portion 276, an outer circumference of the post body 281 is provided with axial indexing bulges 248. Further, the post body 281 has an apical aperture 211 and an occlusal aperture 228, wherein the passage 238 extends between the apical aperture 218 and the occlusal aperture 228.

[0140] The dental implant 58 has a socket 518 with an upwardly or occlusally widening cone section 538 which corresponds to the cone portion of the post body 281. Further, the socket 518 is equipped with an indexing structure matching the indexing grooves 278 of the post body 281. Below or apically of the indexing structure, the socket 518 is equipped with an inner fixation thread 528 which is the counterpart to the fastening thread 348 of the screw member 38.

[0141] In FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, the coupling sleeve 48 is shown when being placed into the dental crown 68 in a fourth embodiment of a method according to the invention. More specifically, as depicted in FIG. 19, the coupling sleeve 48 is upwardly inserted in the cavity 618 of the dental crown 68. Thereby, the coupling sleeve 48 is oriented such that the indexing geometry of the ring section 4528 fits the axial indexing indentations 6138 of the stem section 6118 of the cavity 618. Thus, the coupling sleeve 48 is in a predefined orientation to the dental crown 68 which cannot be changed by a rotational movement of the coupling sleeve relative to the dental crown 68. The indexing geometry of the ring section 4528 and the axial indexing indentations 6138 together form anti-rotational and guiding means.

[0142] Between the stem section 6118 and the cave section 6128, the cavity 618 has a constriction portion which has a smaller inner diameter than the outer diameter defined by the bulge portions 4418 of the clipping arms 448. Thus, for upwardly passing the constriction portion of the cavity 618, the clipping arms 448 are bent towards the interior of the coupling sleeve 48. In other words, the constriction portion inwardly forces the clipping arms 448 such that they are elastically transformed from the original liaising position into the intermediate position.

[0143] When being further upwardly moved, as depicted in FIG. 20, the clipping arms 448 are moved back into the liaising position and the bulge portions 4418 of the clipping arms 448 are located in the cave section 6128 of the cavity 618. Thus, when the coupling sleeve 48 is inserted into the cavity 618 of the dental crown 68, the clipping arms 448 snap into the cave section 6128 of the cavity 618. In this position, the coupling sleeve 48 is held in the dental crown 68.

[0144] FIG. 21 shows a next step of the method in which the screw member 38 is connected to the coupling sleeve 48 held in the dental crown 68. In particular, the screw member 38 is upwardly inserted into the coupling sleeve 48. More specifically, the screw member 38 is rotated such that the coupling thread 338 of the occlusal head portion 318 engages the coupling thread 4328 of the head socket section 4318 of the axial bore 438 of the coupling sleeve 48. By further rotating the screw member 38, it is upwardly moved until a flat upper end of the collar section 378 abuts the bottom end of the frame portion 458 of the coupling sleeve 48. Like this, it is prevented that the screw member 38 is inserted into the coupling sleeve 48 to an inappropriate extent.

[0145] In this configuration, the screw member 38 blocks any movement of the clipping arms 448 of the coupling sleeve 48. In particular, a movement of the clipping arms 448 towards the interior of the coupling sleeve 48 is prevented such that the clipping arms 448 are locked in the liaising position by the screw member 38. Like this, the coupling sleeve 48 together with the screw member 38 are fixed to the dental crown 68.

[0146] In FIG. 22 the post body 28 is shown in a further step of the method when being set into the socket 518 of the dental implant 58. Thereby, the cone portion 288 of the post body 281 abuts the cone section 538 of the socket 518 of the dental implant 58. The indexing structure of the socket 518 engage the indexing grooves 278 of the post body 28 such that the post body 28 is in a predefined orientation relative to the dental implant 58. The indexing structure of the socket 518 and the indexing grooves 278 of the post body 28 provide anti-rotational means.

[0147] FIG. 23 shows another step of the method, in which the assembly of the dental crown 68, the coupling sleeve 48 and the screw member 38 are set positioned in the post body 28 set in the dental implant 58. Thereby, the screw member 38 extends through the passage 238 of the post body 28 such that the bottom end of the thread portion 328 is arranged on top of the fixation thread 528 of the socket 518.

[0148] The indexing bulges 248 of the post body 28 are located in the indexing indentations 6138 of the cavity 618 of the dental crown 68 such that the dental crown 68 is in a predefined orientation relative to the dental implant 58.

[0149] In a further step of the method, the screw member 38 is turned such that its thread portion 328 engages the fixation thread 528 of the dental implant 58. By further rotating the screw member 38, as shown in FIG. 24, the post body 28 is pressed onto the dental implant 58 and a lower abutting face 638 of the dental crown 68 is pressed onto the top end of the shoulder portion 268 of the post body 28. In particular, since the first distance of the outer coupling thread 338 or inner coupling thread 4328, respectively, is smaller than the second distance of the fastening thread 348 or inner fixation thread 528, respectively, the abutting face 638 of the dental crown 68 is pressed onto the shoulder portion 288 of the post body 28 while fixing the screw member 38 to the post body 28 and the dental implant 58 with a comparably large force. Still, the occlusal head portion 318 of the screw member 38 is located adjacent to the clipping arms 448 thereby locking the clipping arms 448 in the liaising position. Like this, a tight and secure connection between the dental crown 68 and dental implant 58 is achieved via the coupling sleeve 48 and the post body 28.

[0150] This description and the accompanying drawings that illustrate aspects and embodiments of the present invention should not be taken as limitingthe claims defining the protected invention. In other words, while the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Various mechanical, compositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this description and the claims. In some instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Thus, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope and spirit of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below.

[0151] The disclosure also covers all further features shown in the Figs. individually although they may not have been described in the afore or following description. Also, single alternatives of the embodiments described in the figures and the description and single alternatives of features thereof can be disclaimed from the subject matter of the invention or from disclosed subject matter. The disclosure comprises subject matter consisting of the features defined in the claims or the exemplary embodiments as well as subject matter comprising said features.

[0152] Furthermore, in the claims the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. A single unit or step may fulfil the functions of several features recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. The terms essentially, about, approximately and the like in connection with an attribute or a value particularly also define exactly the attribute or exactly the value, respectively. The term about in the context of a given numerate value or range refers to a value or range that is, e.g., within 20%, within 10%, within 5%, or within 2% of the given value or range. Components described as coupled or connected may be electrically or mechanically directly coupled, or they may be indirectly coupled via one or more intermediate components. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.