Method for forming a dental prosthesis

A method of forming a dental prosthesis on a plurality of implants placed in bone comprising the acts of:

• attaching a conical abutment to each of the plurality of implants;
• securing a metallic first intermediate component to each of the conical abutments;
• applying a second intermediate component to each of the metallic first intermediate components via a snap-fit;
• placing a provisional prosthetic template over the second intermediate components, the provisional prosthetic template forming an inner cavity generally replicating shapes of teeth replaced by the provisional prosthesis;
• filling the provisional prosthetic template with a hardenable acrylic material;
• removing the provisional prosthetic template with the second intermediate components from the mouth;
• forming a provisional prosthesis from the hardenable acrylic material, the provisional prosthesis containing the second intermediate components;
• connecting the provisional prosthesis to the metallic first intermediate components by placing the second intermediate components on the metallic first intermediate components;
• creating a permanent prosthesis;
• removing the provisional prosthesis and the metallic first intermediate components after the act of creating a permanent prosthesis;
• and
• attaching the permanent prosthesis to the conical abutments.

A method of forming a provisional dental prosthesis on a plurality of implants placed in bone, the implants having abutments attached, the method comprising the acts of:

• securing a first intermediate component to each of the abutments;
• attaching a second intermediate component to each of the first intermediate components, the second intermediate component including a non-metallic structure;
• placing a provisional prosthetic template over the second intermediate components, the provisional prosthetic template forming an inner cavity generally replicating the shape of the provisional prosthesis;
• filling the provisional prosthetic template with a hardenable acrylic material to form a provisional prosthesis;
• removing the provisional prosthetic template.