Snap-in healing cap and insertion tool
AssigneeNobel Biocare AB
InventorAjay Kumar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A healing cap is provided for covering of an implant installed in a patient's mouth. The healing cap comprises a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is adapted to be inserted within a coronal opening formed in the implant. The healing cap further includes resilient fingers for engaging corresponding surfaces formed within the coronal opening of the implant. The distal end of the healing cap can include an indentation for receiving a snapping portion of an insertion tool.
Claims27
A combination comprising a dental implant, a healing cap for covering a top surface of the implant and a tool for inserting and removing the healing cap;
- the dental implant having a coronal opening;
- the healing cap comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being configured with one or more prongs adapted to be inserted into the coronal opening of the implant and to engage and secure the healing cap to the implant, the one or more prongs of the proximal end adapted such that a healing cap removal force is required to disengage the healing cap from the dental implant, the distal end of the healing cap including an indentation having a neck with a diameter smaller than a diameter of a lower portion of the indentation;
- the insertion tool comprising a first portion with one or more prongs adapted to be inserted into the indentation, the first portion being adapted such that a first removal force is required to remove the one or more prongs of the first portion from the indentation, the first removal force being less than the healing cap removal force.
A set of dental components comprising a dental implant, a healing cap for covering a top surface of the dental implant when installed in a patient's jawbone and an insertion tool,
- the healing cap comprising a first end adapted to be snappingly mated to the implant with a healing cap removal force and further comprising a second end adapted to completely cover the top surface of the implant,
- the insertion tool including a first portion to be snappingly mated to the second end of the healing cap with a first removal force, the first removal force being less than the healing cap removal.
A method of installing and removing a healing cap that covers a top surface of an implant installed in a patient's jawbone, comprising in sequence:
- engaging in a snap fit a first portion of an insertion tool with a top portion of the healing cap;
- positioning the healing cap over a dental implant;
- inserting a proximal end of the healing cap into a coronal opening of the implant until the proximal end engages the coronal opening in a snap fit so as to secure the healing cap to the implant;
- and
- separating the first portion of the insertion tool from the top portion of the healing cap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.