Dental restoration system and method

A method for replacing an entire arch of a patient's jaw, the method comprising:

• extracting every tooth in a patient's arch to define a corresponding number of post-extraction root sockets, wherein each tooth is extracted atraumatically to substantially maintain the patient's original alveolar bone and original keratinized gingiva, thereby defining a bony/gingival ridge along the arch;
• after a period of healing time, installing a plurality of straight implants less than the number of post-extraction root sockets into corresponding post-extraction root sockets, each straight implant having an implant axis that is substantially coaxially aligned with a tooth socket axis of the corresponding post-extraction tooth socket and having a threaded opening for receiving an abutment screw with a thread axis extending substantially along the implant axis;
• allowing for osseointegration of each of the straight implants into newly ossifying bone of the corresponding post-extraction root sockets;
• providing a dental restoration device, comprising:
• a body extending between a gingival side and an occlusal/incisal side, wherein the body includes integrally formed teeth portions corresponding in number to a number of post-extraction tooth sockets of an entire maxillary or mandibular arch of a patient, each tooth portion having a tooth axis extending buccally/labially between the gingival side and the occlusal/incisal side;
• an ovate pontic portion defined on each tooth portion on the gingival side of the body, the ovate pontic portion of each tooth portion substantially conforming in shape to a corresponding post-extraction tooth socket defined by keratinized gingiva covered interdental and interseptal bone of the patient after a tooth is extracted;
• and
• a plurality of abutment holes extending through corresponding teeth portions from the gingival side to the occlusal/incisal side, wherein each abutment hole includes a longitudinal axis that is substantially coaxially aligned with the tooth axis of the corresponding tooth portion and the tooth socket axis of the corresponding post-extraction tooth socket;
• placing an abutment within each of the plurality of abutment holes;
• seating the body of the dental restoration device against the bony/gingival ridge such that the ovate pontic portions of each tooth portion engage a corresponding post-extraction tooth socket;
• passing an abutment screw through each abutment;
• and
• threadably securing the abutment screws within the threaded openings of the corresponding straight implants.