| abstract |
A dental prosthetic implant which has angular rotational capability and improved locking between the implant fixture and the abutment prosthesis. The rotation and locking system includes an implant fixture with an internal spherical radius at its upper portion. A top seat with the same spherical radius is secured to the top portion of the fixture. A locking element configured as a sphere with flexible locking fingers on its lower portion and an internal cylindrical bore through its center that has a conically tapered lower portion is received between the implant fixture and the main body of the abutment. The conically tapered lower portion may taper inwardly or outwardly and is engaged by a similarly configured portion of the flexible fingers. A threaded portion of the locking screw engages in a threaded bore in the implant providing the force to bias the flexible fingers outwardly into firm engagement with a complementarily configured surface on the fixture, as well as increasing the pressure between the upper surface of the locking element and the nether surface of the top seat. |