| abstract |
Dental implants for supporting and positioning artificial teeth or prosthetic devices are provided. The dental implant is adapted to be installed and ultimately oseointegrated into a predrilled osteotomy site of either the maxilla or mandible. The dental implant has a generally cylindrical body with an apical threaded portion which is screwed and secured into the bone. The cylindrical body also includes an internal threaded bore extending from the second end into the cylindrical body along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body. An integral hexagonal shaped protrusion, when viewed along the bore of the cylinder, is preferably provided and extends from the end of the implant proximal the gingiva of the patient. The internal bore of the cylinder extends concentrically through both the annular base and the hexagonal protrusion. The hexagonal protrusion will mate with as corresponding shaped female recess in an abutment which supports and positions artificial teeth or other prosthetic devices above the gingiva or alveolar mucosa which is located above the bone. The abutment rests on both the annular base and the hexagonal projection This mating relation prevents the abutment from rotating around hexagonal projection and thereby maintains the orientation of the abutment and corresponding artificial teeth or prosthetic devices within the mouth. |