Dental implant and tool and method for effecting a dental restoration using the same

A dental implant comprising:

• an elongate implant fixture assembly having a first end a second end, said implant fixture assembly being adapted for attachment to a jaw bone at a first end thereof and having a first longitudinal axis;
• an abutment for mounting on said second end of said impl fixture assembly, said abutment having a second longitudinal axis;
• a fastener for connecting said abutment to said second e of said implant fixture assembly such that (i) said abutment adjustably movable on said second end of said implant fixture assembly when the connection formed by said fastener is loose, and (ii) upon disposition of said second longitudinal axis of a selected angle to said first longitudinal axis, said abutment is fixedly connectable on said second end of said implant fixture assembly when the connection formed by said fastener is tight;
• and
• securement means for preventing movement of said abutment relative to said implant fixture assembly when the connection formed by said fastener is tight;
• wherein said implant fixture assembly comprises a tubular housing having external threads for said attachment to the jaw bone;
• wherein said implant fixture assembly further comprises a floating nut captured in said housing at said second end thereof, said floating nut having internal threads for threaded engagement with said fastener;
• and
• wherein said securement means comprise an opening having a polygonal transverse cross-section at said second end of said housing and substantially polygonal external transverse cross-section defined by said floating nut, whereby when said fastener is tightened, at least some of the sides of said external transverse cross-section of said floating nut engage at least some of the sides of said floating nut engage at least some of the sides of said transverse cross-section of said opening at said second end of said housing.

A method for effecting a dental restoration, the method comprising the steps of:

• attaching an implant fixture assembly to a jaw bone;
• attaching an abutment to said fixture assembly by a retaining screw so as to permit tilting movement of said abutment on said implant fixture assembly;
• tilting said abutment on said implant fixture assembly so as to place a longitudinal axis of said abutment at a selected angle to a longitudinal axis of said implant fixture assembly;
• and
• tightening said retaining screw so as to secure said abutment to said implant fixture assembly at said selected angle and engage securement means for preventing movement of said abutment relative to said fixture assembly;
• wherein said implant fixture assembly includes a floating nut therein, and said step of attaching said abutment to said implant fixture assembly comprises advancing said threaded shank portion of said screw into said floating nut;
• and
• wherein said floating nut and said implant fixture assembly together define securement means comprising an opening having a polygonal transverse cross-section at said second end of said housing and a substantially polygonal external transverse cross-section defined by said floating nut, whereby when said fastener is tightened, at least some of the sides of said external transverse cross-section of said floating nut engage at least some of the sides of said transverse cross-section of said opening at said second end of said housing.