Method and apparatus for producing a dental implant

An apparatus for producing an electronic model of a dental implant, comprising:

• at least one data interface configured to receive a computed tomography file from a computed tomography apparatus, wherein the computed tomography file includes an acquired in vivo image of at least a volume corresponding to a root of a tooth;
• a core design module configured to determine, from at least the computed tomography file, a core design corresponding substantially to at least a portion of the natural shape of the root of the tooth;
• a computer-aided design module configured to receive the core design and modify the core design to produce an implant design that differs in shape from the input file, and output a fabrication model file corresponding to the implant design.

A dental implant, comprising:

• a core shape corresponding at least partly to the morphology of a natural root of a particular tooth;
• and
• a fixture element including an abutment registration feature configured to fix the position of an abutment relative to the fixture element.

A method for fabricating a dental implant, comprising:

• receiving a data file corresponding to at least partly to the morphology of a natural root of a particular tooth;
• and
• forming a dental implant from titanium 6-4 in a shape corresponding to the data file.

A kit for equipping a practitioner to insert a custom dental implant, comprising:

• a dental implant having a core shape corresponding at least partly to the morphology of a natural root of a particular tooth;
• and
• a calibrated tool for removing cortical bone from the particular socket of the particular natural root and retaining a cortical collar corresponding to a fine scale feature region formed on the surface of the dental implant.