Dental impression coping with retention

An impression coping for recording the position and orientation of a dental implant installed in a jawbone of a patient, the impression coping comprising:

• a body having proximal and distal portions, the proximal portion having an attachment portion adapted to be embedded in an impression material, the distal portion having a retention mechanism adapted to engage a coronal end of the dental implant, wherein the retention mechanism includes a locking member and a biasing member slideably moveable in a bore to bias the locking member against the coronal end of the dental implant, wherein the biasing member is a spring adapted to bias the locking member against an internal cavity of the dental implant and wherein the locking member is formed of a ceramic and the spring is formed of a corrosive resistant metal.

An impression coping, comprising:

• a body having a proximal portion adapted to be embedded in impression material and a distal portion with a retention mechanism adapted to engage a coronal end of a dental implant, wherein the retention mechanism includes a housing, a locking member, and a biasing member, wherein the biasing member biases the locking member to slideably move in the housing, wherein the biasing member is adapted to bias the locking member against a surface at the coronal end of the dental implant, wherein the housing includes a bore, wherein the locking and biasing members slideably move in the bore, wherein the locking member is formed of a ceramic, and the biasing member is formed of a corrosive resistant metal, and wherein the biasing member is one of ruby or silicone nitride, and the biasing member is one of titanium or steel.