Soft-tissue preservation arrangement and method

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present invention, a soft tissue preservation arrangement includes a hollow shell defining an interior volume extending from a proximal opening to a distal opening. The proximal opening is defined by a first perimeter that is smaller than a second perimeter defining the distal opening such that the shell tapers outwardly from the first perimeter to the second perimeter. The second perimeter is asymmetrically scalloped. The hollow shell either (1) is transparent or semi-transparent or (2) has a color configured to correspond to a color of a gingival tissue or a tooth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A soft tissue preservation arrangement comprising:
 a hollow shell defining an interior volume extending from a proximal opening to a distal opening, the proximal opening being defined by a first perimeter that is smaller than a second perimeter defining the distal opening such that the shell tapers outwardly from the first perimeter to the second perimeter, the second perimeter being asymmetrically scalloped, the hollow shell is one of group selected from transparent, semi-transparent, or having a color configured to correspond to a color of a gingival tissue or a tooth.   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow shell is transparent. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow shell is semi-transparent 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a luting compound for coupling the hollow shell to a post positioned in the interior volume, the luting compound having a color configured to correspond to a color of a gingival tissue at an implantation site, the luting compound being visible through a surface of the shell. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the luting compound is a pink color. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the luting compound is a brown color or a blue color. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a luting compound for coupling the hollow shell to a post positioned in the interior volume, the luting compound having a color configured to correspond to a color of a tooth adjacent to an implantation site, the luting compound being visible through a surface of the shell. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the shell has a pink color. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a post configured to be coupled to an implant; and   a plurality of spokes adjustably coupling an outer surface of the post to an inner surface of the shell, the plurality of spokes being configured to allow the shell to be adjustably moved relative to the post.   
     
     
         10 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the shell is mechanically decoupled from a post prior to a luting compound being applied to the shell and the post. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the asymmetrically scalloped shape of the second perimeter includes a distal peak, a mesial peak opposite the distal peak, a lingual valley between the distal peak and the mesial peak, and a facial valley opposite the lingual valley 
     
     
         12 . A dental restoration method comprising:
 extracting a tooth to form a bone socket and a soft tissue socket;   inserting an implant into the bone socket;   coupling a post to the implant;   selecting a shell from a plurality of shells based on an analysis of the soft tissue socket, the shell defining an interior volume extending from a proximal opening to a distal opening, the proximal opening being defined by a first perimeter that is smaller than a second perimeter defining the distal opening such that the shell tapers outwardly from the first perimeter to the second perimeter, the second perimeter being asymmetrically scalloped, the hollow shell being transparent or semi-transparent;   placing the shell into the soft tissue socket such that the post extends in the interior volume of the shell, the shell being independently movable relative to the post; and   applying a luting compound to an interior space between an outer surface of the post and an inner surface of the shell so as to fixedly couple the shell to the post, the luting compound having a color corresponding to a color of the soft tissue socket or the tooth, the luting compound being visible through the shell.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising selecting the luting compound from a plurality of premade luting compounds having different colors. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising preparing the luting compound based on an analysis of the color of the soft tissue socket or the tooth. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the analysis includes a comparing the soft tissue socket or the tooth with a plurality of shade guides. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the shell is adjustably coupled to the post prior to the post being coupled to the implant and the shell being placed in the soft tissue socket. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the shell is mechanically decoupled from the post prior to the luting compound being applied. 
     
     
         18 . A soft tissue preservation arrangement comprising:
 a hollow shell defining an interior volume extending from a proximal opening to a distal opening, the proximal opening being defined by a first perimeter that is smaller than a second perimeter defining the distal opening such that the shell tapers outwardly from the first perimeter to the second perimeter, the second perimeter being asymmetrically scalloped;   a post configured to be coupled to a dental implant; and   a plurality of spokes adjustably coupling the post to the hollow shell, the plurality of spokes being configured to allow the shell to be adjustably moved relative to the post.   
     
     
         19 . The arrangement of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of spokes are configured to allow the shell to be moved in an x-dimension, a y-dimension, and a z-dimension. 
     
     
         20 . The arrangement of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of spokes are further configured to allow the shell to be rotated about the x-dimension, the y-dimension, and the z-dimension.