Fixed hybrid dental attachment assembly and methods of use

A dental attachment assembly convertible between a patient-removable state and a non-patient-removable state by interchanging retention members, the dental attachment assembly comprising:

• an abutment member configured to attach to a tooth root, implant, or adjacent tooth, the abutment member having
• an upper end, and
• an outer locating surface portion extending downwardly from the upper end, the outer locating surface portion configured to extend above a tissue level when the abutment member is secured in a tooth root or implant;
• a cap configured to be in a recess of a dental appliance;
• a non-patient-removable retention member comprising a snap engaging portion configured to couple to the abutment member to form a non-patient-removable attachment to the abutment member based on a retentive force of 10 to 75 pounds to convert the dental attachment assembly to a non-patient-removable state, the non-patient-removable retention member having an upper end comprising a swivel joint configured to form swivel engagement within the cap in the recess in the dental appliance, and a continuous, unbroken skirt extending from the upper end of the non-patient-removable retention member to engage over the outer locating surface portion of the abutment member, the continuous, unbroken skirt having a rounded, convex outer surface, the non-patient-removable retention member comprising a rigid material configured to provide the retentive force of 10 to 75 pounds when the non-patient-removable attachment forms to convert the dental attachment assembly to the non-patient-removable state;
• wherein the abutment member comprises an engaging portion configured to engage the snap engaging portion of the non-patient-removable retention member to form snap engagement between the non-patient-removable retention member and the abutment member based on the retentive force of 10 to 75 pounds, wherein the outer locating surface portion is outwardly tapered at least adjacent the upper end of the abutment member for centering the non-patient-removable retention member over the abutment member as the engaging portion engages the snap engaging portion;
• wherein the abutment member is configured to engage with a patient-removable replacement retention member to form a patient-removable attachment to the patient-removable replacement retention member to convert the dental attachment assembly to a patient-removable state based on a retentive force of less than 10 pounds, wherein the patient-removable replacement retention member comprises:
• a resilient material more resilient than the rigid material to provide the retentive force of less than 10 pounds when the patient-removable attachment forms to convert the dental attachment assembly to a patient-removable state,
• a second upper end, and
• a second continuous, unbroken skirt extending from the second upper end over the outer locating surface portion of the abutment when the abutment member is engaged with the patient-removable replacement retention member, in place of the first-non-patient-removable retention member, and
• wherein the cap has a cavity configured to contain the swivel joint, the cavity having a concave inner surface to be disposed over the outer surface of the continuous, unbroken skirt when the snap engagement forms, wherein the swivel joint and cap cavity together permit swiveling of the cap relative to the non-patient-removable retention member of the dental appliance converted to the non-patient-removable state when the dental attachment assembly is in the non-patient-removable state and the snap engagement is formed.