# US 10,368,965 B2 · Systems and methods for dental abutments with cement-retained crowns > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,368,965 B2 - Document ID: US10368965B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/656,202 - Filed: 2017-07-21 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-22 - Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Applicants: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Inventors: Danieli C. Rodrigues; Lucas C. Rodriguez; Juliana Saba; Chandur Wadhwani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368965B2 ## CPC - A61C 8/0054: {having a cylindrical implant connecting part} - A61C 8/0022: {Self-screwing (A61C8/0028 takes precedence)} - A61C 8/0048: {Connecting the upper structure to the implant, e.g. bridging bars (A61C8/0028 takes precedence)} - A61C 8/0068: {with an additional screw} - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) ## Abstract Devices and methods for dental abutments. Particular embodiments include a dental abutment comprising a base portion, and a generally cylindrical neck portion extending from the base portion, where the generally cylindrical neck portion comprises a first end proximal to the base portion, a second end distal from the base portion, an outer surface, and an inner surface forming a central lumen. Certain embodiments include a plurality of vent holes extending from the outer surface of the generally cylindrical neck portion to the central lumen, where the plurality of vent holes are located proximal to the base portion of the abutment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dental abutment comprising: a base portion; a generally cylindrical neck portion extending from the base portion, wherein the generally cylindrical neck portion comprises: a first end proximal to the base portion; a second end distal from the base portion; an outer surface; and an inner surface forming a central lumen; and a plurality of vent holes extending from the outer surface of the generally cylindrical neck portion to the central lumen, wherein—the plurality of vent holes are located proximal to the base portion of the abutment; and the plurality of vent holes are directly adjacent to the base portion of the abutment, wherein the plurality of vent holes are tangential to the base portion of the abutment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dental abutment of claim 1 wherein: the generally cylindrical neck portion comprises a length extending from the first end to the second end; and a distance between the first end and a center of a vent hole in the plurality of vent holes is less than twenty percent of the length of the generally cylindrical neck portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dental abutment of claim 1 wherein: the generally cylindrical neck portion comprises a length extending from the first end to the second end; and a distance between the first end and a center of a vent hole in the plurality of vent holes is less than ten percent of the length of the generally cylindrical neck portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dental abutment of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vent holes comprises vent holes with a diameter between 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dental abutment of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vent holes comprises vent holes with a diameter between 0.6 mm and 0.9 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dental abutment of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vent holes comprises vent holes with a diameter of approximately 0.7 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The dental abutment of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vent holes comprises at least four vent holes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The dental abutment of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vent holes comprises at least eight vent holes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The dental abutment of claim 1 wherein: the first end of the generally cylindrical neck portion has a first diameter; the second end of the generally cylindrical neck portion has a second diameter; and the first diameter is between 1.0 and 1.10 times the second diameter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A system comprising: an abutment according to claim 1; a dental implant; an abutment screw configured to couple the abutment to the dental implant; and a crown configured to couple to the abutment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein: the abutment screw comprises a first end configured to thread into the dental implant; the abutment screw comprises a second end opposite the first end; and the system further comprises a tapered insert configured to engage the second end of the abutment screw. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein: the crown comprises an interior cavity having a first volume; the central lumen and the plurality of vent holes have a second combined volume; and the first volume is between 1.0 and 1.2 times the second combined volume. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method of coupling a dental crown to an abutment, the method comprising: obtaining a dental crown comprising an interior cavity; placing cement in the interior cavity of the dental crown; and coupling the dental crown to an abutment according to claim 1 by engaging the interior cavity of the dental crown with the generally cylindrical neck portion of the abutment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the cement is distributed through the plurality of vent holes after engaging the interior cavity of the dental crown with the generally cylindrical neck portion of the abutment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein: the abutment is coupled to a dental implant via an abutment screw prior to coupling the dental crown to the abutment; the abutment screw comprises a first end configured to thread into the dental implant; the abutment screw comprises a second end opposite the first end; and the system further comprises a tapered insert configured to engage the second end of the abutment screw. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein: the interior cavity of the dental crown and the generally cylindrical neck portion of the abutment form a margin when fully engaged; and a first portion of the cement is directed from the margin when the interior cavity of the dental crown and the generally cylindrical neck portion of the abutment are fully engaged. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the first portion of the cement is less than 20 cubic millimeters. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising removing the first portion of the cement.