US 7,341,454 B2
	Attachment mechanism for dental implants
Alan R. Balfour, Petaluma, Calif. (US); Bradly S. McAllister, Tigard, Oreg. (US); and Joseph Edward Carchidi, West Bridgewater, Mass. (US)
Assigned to ACE Surgical Supply Co, Inc., Brockton, Mass. (US)
Filed on May 05, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/122,696.
Application 11/122696 is a continuation of application No. 10/265522, filed on Oct. 03, 2002, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/326707, filed on Oct. 04, 2001.
Prior Publication US 2005/0208453 A1, Sep. 22, 2005
Int. Cl. A61C 8/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 433—173  [433/174]

2 Claims

1. A dental implant comprising an elongated base having opposed first and second end portions for receipt in an osteotomy, the base having an integrally formed head portion extending from the second end portion of the base and having a coronal surface, and a thread-less prosthetic attachment mechanism integrally formed on the head portion for receiving and attaching thereto a selected prosthesis, the prosthetic attachment mechanism including a plug receiving bore formed in the base through the coronal surface, the bore having a generally cylindrical, smooth attachment surface with a self-locking taper in series with a female anti-rotational polygonal surface disposed on the first end portion side of the cylindrical smooth, attachment surface, further comprising a prosthetic attachment having a generally cylindrical plug having an outer surface formed with a self-locking taper complimentary to the plug receiving bore, the plug having a first end portion beyond the taper formed as a polygonal surface complimentary to the female polygonal surface in the plug receiving bore and a prosthetic receiving post extending coronally from the cylindrical plug, at least a portion of the prosthetic attachment being tubular formed with an internal threaded portion to allow for threaded engagement with a screw removal tool to enable removal of the prosthetic attachment.