Method and apparatus for isolating a work object

A method for temporarily isolating a dental implant mounted in a jawbone and gum tissue of a patient after using an impression material to obtain an impression of an abutment portion of the dental implant and adjacent gum tissue, the dental implant comprising an outwardly extending annulus substantially thereabout, the method comprising:

• removing the impression material from the dental implant, leaving the abutment portion of the dental implant substantially exposed;
• and then
• after removing the impression material, encapsulating at least a portion of the abutment portion of the dental implant with a first portion of a plastic housing and encapsulating at least the outwardly extending annulus with a second portion of the housing by pressing the housing onto the implant until a recess and a projection come into registry and the projection and recess snap together, below the gum line, the second portion of the housing being thicker than the first portion of the housing and having a height extending between a first end of the second portion of the housing, proximate the annulus, and a second end of the second portion of the housing;
• and
• occluding an area by the second portion of the housing defined by at least a portion of the height of the second portion and the thickness of the second portion to resist incursion of the gum tissue into the area and onto said annulus, the second portion having a sufficient height to extend above an upper surface of the gum tissue.

A method for isolating a dental implant mounted in a jawbone of a patient:

• applying impression material to an abutment portion of a dental implant mounted in the jawbone of a patient to obtain an impression of an abutment portion of the dental implant and adjacent gum tissue, the dental implant having an outwardly extending annulus substantially thereabout;
• removing the impression material, leaving the abutment portion substantially exposed;
• after removing the impression material and before mounting a permanent prosthesis to the abutment portion, encapsulating at least the substantially exposed abutment portion of the dental implant and the outwardly extending annulus with a housing via a snap fit between the housing and the annulus after removing the impression material and before mounting a permanent prosthetic;
• and
• establishing a zone of isolation with respect to the abutment portion and the annulus by the housing, the zone of isolation starting proximate the annulus and extending a sufficient distance from the annulus to protrude from the gum line, preventing intrusion of gum tissue into the zone of isolation;
• and then:
• removing the housing from the abutment after a permanent prosthesis is formed based, at least in part on the removed impression material, again substantially exposing the abutment portion;
• and
• attaching the permanent prosthesis to the again substantially exposed abutment portion.