Cradle for positioning a final dental prosthesis and a system incorporating the cradle

A device configured for use at a surgical site in a patient's mouth, said device comprising:

• a cradle fabricated specifically for a particular patient;
• a channel defined in an interior surface of the cradle;
• said channel being generally U-shaped in cross-section and being shaped and sized to conform the particular patient's upper or lower jaw;
• and
• an aperture defined in the cradle and extending between an exterior surface and the interior surface thereof;
• said aperture being adapted to allow access to the surgical site therethrough;
• wherein the cradle has a U-shaped wall that includes a first end and a second end that are laterally spaced apart from each other;
• wherein the aperture is a single U-shaped aperture which originates a distance inwardly from the first end of the wall and terminates a distance inwardly from the second end thereof;
• and wherein a first region of the wall is located between the aperture and the first end of the wall and a second region of the wall is located between the aperture and the second end of the wall.

A device configured for positioning and holding a dental component at a surgical site on a particular patient's upper or lower jaw;

• said device comprising:
• a cradle that interlocking engages the dental component;
• said cradle being fabricated specifically to fit the particular patient's upper or lower jaw, said cradle comprising:
• a first wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface is shaped to conform to a region of the patient's upper or lower jaw;
• wherein the first wall defines an aperture therein which extends between the interior and exterior surfaces;
• said aperture being adapted to permit access to the surgical site therethrough when the interior surface of the cradle is located adjacent the region of the patient's upper or lower jaw;
• wherein the first wall is U-shaped and includes a first end and a second end that are laterally spaced apart from each other;
• and wherein the aperture is a U-shaped aperture which originates a distance inwardly from the first end and terminates a distance inwardly from the second end;
• and wherein a first region of the first wall is located between the aperture and the first end of the first wall and a second region of the first wall is located between the aperture and the second end of the first wall;
• one or more holes defined in the first wall, each hole extending between the interior and exterior surfaces of the first wall.