Methods of Designing and Manufacturing Customized Dental Prosthesis for Periodontal or Osseointegration and Related Systems

• US 20120065756A1
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Natural Dental Implants AG
• Original Assignee: Natural Dental Implants AG
• Inventors: Rubbert, Ruedger, Berndt, Ernst-Ulrich, Marquard, Jakob Sebastian, Schmidt-Martens, Hauke, Nesbit, Lea Ellermeier
• Granted Patent: US 9,539,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/98
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0004 Computer-assisted sizing or machining of dental prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0013 using stereolithographic techniques
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0019 using three dimensional printing
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/082 Cosmetic aspects, e.g. inlays; Determination of the colour A61C19/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/30 Securing inlays, onlays or crowns
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0006 Periodontal tissue or bone regeneration support means for endoprosthetic bone substitute or bone graft implants A61F2/2846
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0012 characterised by the material or composition, e.g. ceramics, surface layer, metal alloy use of specific materials A61K6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0018 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0036 Tooth replica
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0048 Connecting the upper structure to the implant, e.g. bridging bars A61C8/0028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0075 Implant heads specially designed for receiving an upper structure if separable from the implant A61C8/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/0046 Data acquisition means or methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/58 specially adapted for dental implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/12 for dental implants or prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3804 characterised by specific cells or progenitors thereof, e.g. fibroblasts, connective tissue cells, kidney cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3865 Dental/periodontal tissues
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture

Abstract

Methods of manufacturing dental prosthesis/implants each to replace a non-functional natural tooth positioned in a jawbone of a specific pre-identified patient are provided. An example method includes the steps of receiving imaging data such as x-ray image data and surface scan data of a dental anatomy and/or a physical impression of the dental anatomy of a specific preidentified patient. The steps can also include forming a three-dimensional virtual model of at least portions of a non-functional natural tooth positioned in the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient based on the imaging and surface scan data, virtually designing a dental implant based upon the virtual model, exporting the data describing the designed dental implant to a manufacturing machine, and custom manufacturing the dental implant for the specific patient.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a dental implant to replace a non-functional natural tooth positioned in a jawbone of a specific pre-identified patient, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving data describing a dental anatomy associated with a non-functional natural tooth positioned in a jawbone of a specific pre-identified patient to include a three-dimensional outer surface shape of at least portions of a root of the non-functional natural tooth and data describing a three-dimensional outer surface shape of least portions of a crown of the non-functional natural tooth and surrounding gum tissue prior to removal of the non-functional natural tooth from the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient, to define received data;

forming at least one three-dimensional virtual model of at least portions of the non-functional natural tooth positioned in the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient responsive to at least portions of the received data, the at least one three-dimensional virtual model of the non-functional natural tooth including a modeled virtual root portion and a modeled virtual crown portion; and

designing a dental implant based upon the at least one virtual model of at least portions of the non-functional natural tooth, the step of designing the dental implant including the steps of;

forming a virtual dental implant body modeling a dental implant body, the virtual dental implant body having a virtual prosthesis interface modeling a prosthesis interface of the dental implant body to receive an occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component, the step of forming a virtual dental implant body including forming the virtual prosthesis interface to have a three-dimensionally contoured implant body surface shape at least partially correlated to a surface shape of an occlusally-facing surface of the modeled virtual crown portion, and

forming a virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component modeling an occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component, the step of forming a virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component including forming a complementing virtual dental implant body-receiving surface to define a complementing virtual interface surface modeling a complementing interface surface to receive occlusally-facing portions of the dental implant body, the prosthesis interface and the complementing interface surface to create a form locking fit therebetween.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein substantial portions of the three-dimensionally contoured implant body surface shape of the virtual prosthesis interface have a substantial asymmetrically contoured implant body surface shape.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component comprises a virtual crown component, and wherein the step of forming a virtual dental implant body includes:

separating a portion of the at least one three-dimensional virtual model along a virtual outer gum line representation, the separated portion including the modeled virtual root portion to define a virtual root body portion model;

copying at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion, the copy to include at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion forming a base shape of the virtual prosthesis interface;

reducing dimensions of the at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion to define a virtual prosthesis interface model; and

combining the virtual prosthesis interface model with the virtual root body portion model to form the virtual dental implant body.

4. A method as defined in claim 3,

wherein the step of receiving data describing a dental anatomy associated with the non-functional natural tooth positioned in the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient and data describing the three-dimensional outer surface shape of least portions of the crown of the non-functional natural tooth and surrounding gum tissue is performed by a computer having memory and having dental implant design program product stored in the memory of the computer;

and

wherein the steps of separating the portion of the at least one three-dimensional virtual model along the virtual outer gum line representation, copying at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion, reducing dimensions of the at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion, and combining the virtual prosthesis interface model with the virtual root body portion model to form the virtual dental implant body, and the step of forming the virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component, are performed on a graphical user interface operably coupled to the computer responsive to user manipulation of an input device.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the computer is adapted to perform the step of producing a set of digital data virtually defining the three-dimensionally contoured implant body surface shape, and wherein the method further comprises performing one or more of the following steps:

employing a machining process performed by a computer numerical control (CNC) based machining apparatus to form substantial portions of the dental implant body including the prosthesis interface responsive to the set of digital data; and

employing a rapid prototyping process performed by a computer numerical control (CNC) based rapid prototyping apparatus to form substantial portions of the dental implant body including the prosthesis interface responsive to the set of digital data.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the virtual prosthesis interface has an outward-facing circumferential edge, the method further comprising the step of designing the dental implant, to include the step of:

shaping the outward-facing circumferential edge of the virtual prosthesis interface of the virtual dental implant body to substantially match a shape of a corresponding outer gum line surrounding the dental implant described in the received data describing the gum tissue surrounding the non-functional natural tooth prior to removal of the non-functional natural tooth from the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the outward-facing circumferential edge of the virtual prosthesis interface models an outward-facing edge of the prosthesis interface, the method further comprising the step of fabricating the dental implant, to include the step of:

shaping the outward-facing circumferential edge of the prosthesis interface of the dental implant to substantially match a shape of the corresponding outer gum line surrounding the dental implant described in the received data describing the gum tissue surrounding the non-functional natural tooth prior to removal of the non-functional natural tooth from the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of forming a virtual dental implant body includes:

separating a portion of the at least one three-dimensional virtual model along a virtual bone-facing gum line representation, the separated portion including the modeled virtual root portion to define a virtual root body portion model,

copying at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion, the copy to include at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion forming a base shape of the prosthesis interface,

reducing dimensions of the at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion to define a prosthesis interface model, and

combining the virtual prosthesis interface model with the virtual root body portion model to form the virtual dental implant body; and

wherein the step of forming the virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component comprises defining virtual dimensions of an occlusally-facing surface to define a virtual transgingival cap model of a transgingival cap, the dimensions of the transgingival cap model being larger than the dimensions of the virtual prosthesis interface model.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

forming a virtual crown component model modeling a crown component of the dental implant, to include forming a complementing virtual transgingival cap-receiving surface modeling a transgingival cap-receiving surface of the crown component shaped and positioned to receive occlusally-facing portions of the transgingival cap.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the step of forming a virtual crown component model includes separating a portion of the at least one three-dimensional virtual model along a virtual outer gum line representation, the separated portion including the modeled virtual crown portion.

11. A method as defined in claim 9,

wherein the step of receiving data describing a dental anatomy associated with the non-functional natural tooth positioned in the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient and data describing the three-dimensional outer surface shape of least portions of the crown of the non-functional natural tooth and surrounding gum tissue is performed by a computer having memory and having dental implant design program product stored in the memory of the computer;

and

wherein the steps of separating the portion of the at least one three-dimensional virtual model along the virtual outer gum line representation, copying at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion, reducing dimensions of the at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion, and combining the virtual prosthesis interface model with the virtual root body portion model to form the virtual dental implant body, and the step of forming the virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component, are performed on a graphical user interface operably coupled to the computer responsive to user manipulation of an input device.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the computer is adapted to perform the step of producing a set of digital data virtually defining the three-dimensionally contoured implant body surface shape, and wherein the method further comprises performing one or more of the following steps:

employing a machining process performed by a computer numerical control (CNC) based machining apparatus to form substantial portions of the dental implant body including the prosthesis interface responsive to the set of digital data; and

employing a rapid prototyping process performed by a computer numerical control (CNC) based rapid prototyping apparatus to form substantial portions of the dental implant body including the prosthesis interface responsive to the set of digital data.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the prosthesis interface has an outward-facing circumferential edge, the method further comprising the step of fabricating the dental implant, to include:

shaping the outward-facing circumferential edge of the prosthesis interface of the dental implant to substantially match a shape of a corresponding bone crest line surrounding the dental implant as described in the received data describing the dental anatomy associated with a non-functional natural tooth prior to removal of the non-functional natural tooth from the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the dental implant body includes a root body section comprising a titanium material, wherein the step of forming a virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component comprises forming a virtual model of a transgingival cap modeling a transgingival cap, wherein the transgingival cap comprises a ceramic material, wherein the implant body includes a root body section, wherein the prosthesis interface includes an outward-facing circumferential edge, and wherein the method further comprises the step of:

connecting the dental implant body with the transgingival cap at the prosthesis interface, the step of connecting performed prior to insertion of the root body section into the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient; and

wherein the transgingival cap is sized and shaped so that when connected to the dental implant body and when the root body section is inserted into the jawbone of the patient, the outward-facing circumferential edge of the prosthesis interface is substantially below an outer gum line of the specific pre-identified patient surrounding lingual-facing, labial-facing, and proximal-facing surfaces of the non-functional natural tooth as determined prior to extraction thereof from the jawbone of the patient.

15. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving data describing a dental anatomy associated with the non-functional natural tooth positioned in the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient and data describing a three-dimensional outer surface shape of least portions of a crown of the non-functional natural tooth and surrounding gum tissue includes the steps of:

receiving data describing a three-dimensional X-ray image of at least portions of the patient'"'"'s dentition defining x-ray image data, and

receiving data describing one of the following;

a physical impression of a dental anatomy and a surface scan of the dental anatomy, defining impression image data made prior to removal of the non-functional natural tooth from the jawbone of the specific patient; and

wherein the step of forming the at least one three-dimensional virtual model of at least portions of the non-functional natural tooth includes;

combining the x-ray image data and impression image data, and

forming the at least one three-dimensional virtual model of the non-functional natural tooth responsive to the x-ray image data and the impression image data.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of fabricating the dental implant body, to include:

shaping the prosthesis interface to have the three-dimensionally contoured surface shape at least partially correlated to a surface shape of an occlusally-facing surface of the crown of the nonfunctional tooth to thereby create the form locking fit with the complementing interface surface of the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component when positioned therein.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, further comprising the step of fabricating the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component, to include:

shaping the complementing interface surface of the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component to have a three-dimensionally contoured surface shape substantially dimensionally matching the three-dimensionally contoured surface shape of the prosthesis interface to thereby create the form locking fit therebetween.

18. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the dental implant body includes a root body portion, the method further comprising the step of fabricating the dental implant body, to include the step of:

shaping an outer surface of the root body portion of the dental implant body to have a custom three-dimensional surface shape approximately dimensionally matching a three-dimensional inner-surface shape of corresponding surface portions of one or more intra jawbone anatomical features associated with the non-functional natural tooth of the specific pre-identified patient.

19. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the virtual dental implant body comprises a root body section modeling a root body section of the dental implant body, the root body section of the dental implant body having a three-dimensional outer surface shape approximately dimensionally matching a three-dimensional surface shape of corresponding surface portions of one or more intra jawbone anatomical features associated with the non-functional natural tooth of the specific pre-identified patient, the one or more intra jawbone anatomical features comprising at least one of the following:

a three-dimensional outer surface shape of the root portion of the non-functional natural tooth of the specific pre-identified patient, a three-dimensional inner surface shape of a bone socket for the root portion of the non-functional natural tooth of the specific pre-identified patient, and a combination of the three-dimensional outer surface shape of the root portion and three-dimensional inner surface shape of the bone socket for the root portion of nonfunctional natural tooth of the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient.

20. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the prosthesis interface has an outward-facing circumferential edge, wherein the dental implant body includes a longitudinally extending axis, and wherein a center portion of the prosthesis interface is substantially raised in a direction of the longitudinally extending axis over the outward-facing circumferential edge to create a male portion of the form locking fit with respect to the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component when positioned thereon.

21. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the dental implant body includes a root body portion having an occlusal-facing surface, a lingual-facing side portion, a labial-facing side portion, and a pair of proximal-facing side portions, and wherein the three-dimensionally contoured implant body surface shape of the prosthesis interface includes a substantial asymmetric positive raising extending from the dental implant body, and wherein the method further comprises the step of fabricating the dental implant body to include the step of:

shaping the substantial asymmetric positive raising to have a first rising contour extending from portions of the occlusal-facing surface of the root body portion adjacent a center of the lingual-facing side portion and a second rising contour extending from portions of the occlusal-facing surface of the root body portion adjacent a center of the labial-facing side, the second rising contour being substantially different than the first raising contour when viewed along a cross-section of the dental implant extending between the lingual-facing side portion and labial-facing side portion and when viewed along a cross-section of the dental implant extending between the labial-facing side portion and lingual-facing side portion, respectively.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component comprises a crown custom manufactured for the specific pre-identified patient receiving the dental implant, and wherein an outline of a cross-section of the substantial asymmetric positive raising is shaped to follow an outline of a corresponding cross-section of the crown custom manufactured for the pre-identified patient.

23. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the prosthesis interface has an outward-facing circumferential edge, wherein the dental implant body includes a longitudinally extending axis, and wherein a center portion of the prosthesis interface is substantially indented in a direction of the longitudinally extending axis over the outward-facing circumferential edge to create a female portion of the form locking fit with respect to the occlusally facing dental prosthesis component when positioned thereon.

24. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

fabricating the dental implant body having the prosthesis interface, to include shaping the prosthesis interface to have the three-dimensionally contoured surface shape at least partially correlated to a surface shape of an occlusally-facing surface of the crown of the nonfunctional tooth; and

imaging the prosthesis interface to thereby obtain prosthesis interface imaging data describing the as-manufactured three-dimensional asymmetrical contour of the prosthesis interface, and

wherein the step of forming the complementing virtual interface surface includes forming the complementing interface surface of the virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component to dimensionally match the three-dimensionally contoured surface shape of the prosthesis interface responsive to the prosthesis imaging data to thereby enhance accuracy of the form locking fit.

25. A method as defined in claim 24, further comprising the step of fabricating the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component to include shaping the complementing interface surface of the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component to match the three-dimensionally contoured surface shape of the imaged prosthesis interface.

26. A method of manufacturing a dental implant to replace a non-functional natural tooth positioned in a jawbone of a specific pre-identified patient, the method comprising the step of:

designing a dental implant based upon at least one virtual model of at least portions of a non-functional natural tooth positioned in a jawbone of a specific pre-identified patient, the at least one three-dimensional virtual model of the non-functional natural tooth including a modeled virtual root portion and a modeled virtual crown portion, the step of designing the dental implant including the steps of;

forming a virtual dental implant body modeling a dental implant body, the virtual dental implant body having a virtual prosthesis interface modeling a prosthesis interface of the dental implant body to receive an occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component, the step of forming a virtual dental implant body including forming the virtual prosthesis interface to have a three-dimensionally contoured implant body surface shape at least partially correlated to a surface shape of an occlusally-facing surface of the modeled virtual crown portion, and

forming a virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component modeling an occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component, the step of forming a virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component including forming a complementing virtual dental implant body-receiving surface to define a complementing virtual interface surface modeling a complementing interface surface to receive occlusally-facing portions of the dental implant body, the prosthesis interface and the complementing interface surface to create a form locking fit therebetween.

27. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein substantial portions of the three-dimensionally contoured implant body surface shape of the virtual prosthesis interface have a substantial asymmetrically contoured implant body surface shape.

28. A method as defined in claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

receiving data describing a dental anatomy associated with the non-functional natural tooth positioned in the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient to include a three-dimensional outer surface shape of at least portions of a root of the non-functional natural tooth and data describing a three-dimensional outer surface shape of least portions of a crown of the non-functional natural tooth and surrounding gum tissue prior to removal of the non-functional natural tooth from the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient, to define received data; and

forming the at least one three-dimensional virtual model of at least portions of the non-functional natural tooth positioned in the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient responsive to at least portions of the received data.

29. A method as defined in claim 28, wherein the step of receiving data describing a dental anatomy associated with the non-functional natural tooth positioned in the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient and data describing a three-dimensional outer surface shape of least portions of a crown of the non-functional natural tooth and surrounding gum tissue includes the steps of:

receiving data describing a three-dimensional X-ray image of at least portions of the patient'"'"'s dentition defining x-ray image data, and

receiving data describing one of the following;

a physical impression of a dental anatomy and a surface scan of the dental anatomy, defining impression image data made prior to removal of the non-functional natural tooth from the jawbone of the specific patient; and

wherein the step of forming the at least one three-dimensional virtual model of at least portions of the non-functional natural tooth includes;

combining the x-ray image data and impression image data, and

forming the at least one three-dimensional virtual model of the non-functional natural tooth responsive to the x-ray image data and the impression image data.

30. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component comprises a virtual crown component, and wherein the step of forming a virtual dental implant body includes:

separating a portion of the at least one three-dimensional virtual model along a virtual outer gum line representation, the separated portion including the modeled virtual root portion to define a virtual root body portion model;

copying at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion, the copy to include at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion forming a base shape of the virtual prosthesis interface;

reducing dimensions of the at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion to define a virtual prosthesis interface model; and

combining the virtual prosthesis interface model with the virtual root body portion model to form the virtual dental implant body.

31. A method as defined in claim 30, further comprising the step of:

receiving data describing a dental anatomy associated with the non-functional natural tooth positioned in the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient to include a three-dimensional outer surface shape of at least portions of a root of the non-functional natural tooth and data describing a three-dimensional outer surface shape of least portions of a crown of the non-functional natural tooth and surrounding gum tissue prior to removal of the non-functional natural tooth from the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient, to define received data, the step of receiving data describing a dental anatomy associated with the non-functional natural tooth positioned in the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient and data describing the three-dimensional outer surface shape of least portions of the crown of the non-functional natural tooth and surrounding gum tissue being performed by a computer having memory and having dental implant design program product stored in the memory; and

wherein the steps of separating the portion of the at least one three-dimensional virtual model along the virtual outer gum line representation, copying at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion, reducing dimensions of the at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion, and combining the virtual prosthesis interface model with the virtual root body portion model to form the virtual dental implant body, and the step of forming the virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component, are performed on a graphical user interface operably coupled to the computer responsive to user manipulation of an input device.

32. A method as defined in claim 31, wherein the computer is adapted to perform the step of producing a set of digital data virtually defining the three-dimensionally contoured implant body surface shape, and wherein the method further comprises performing one or more of the following steps:

employing a machining process performed by a computer numerical control (CNC) based machining apparatus to form substantial portions of the dental implant body including the prosthesis interface responsive to the set of digital data; and

employing a rapid prototyping process performed by a computer numerical control (CNC) based rapid prototyping apparatus to form substantial portions of the dental implant body including the prosthesis interface responsive to the set of digital data.

33. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the virtual prosthesis interface has an outward-facing circumferential edge, the method further comprising the step of designing the dental implant, to include the step of:

shaping the outward-facing circumferential edge of the virtual prosthesis interface of the virtual dental implant body to substantially match a shape of a corresponding outer gum line surrounding the dental implant described in image data describing the gum tissue surrounding the non-functional natural tooth prior to removal of the non-functional natural tooth from the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient.

34. A method as defined in claim 33, wherein the outward-facing circumferential edge of the virtual prosthesis interface models an outward-facing edge of the prosthesis interface, the method further comprising the step of fabricating the dental implant, to include the step of:

shaping the outward-facing circumferential edge of the prosthesis interface of the dental implant to substantially match a shape of the corresponding outer gum line surrounding the dental implant described in the image data describing the gum tissue surrounding the non-functional natural tooth prior to removal of the non-functional natural tooth from the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient.

35. A method as defined in claim 26,

wherein the step of forming the virtual dental implant body includes:

separating a portion of the at least one three-dimensional virtual model along a virtual bone-facing gum line representation, the separated portion including the modeled virtual root portion to define a virtual root body portion model,

copying at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion, the copy to include at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion forming a base shape of the prosthesis interface,

reducing dimensions of the at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion to define a prosthesis interface model, and

combining the virtual prosthesis interface model with the virtual root body portion model to form the virtual dental implant body; and

wherein the step of forming the virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component comprises defining virtual dimensions of an occlusally-facing surface to define a virtual transgingival cap model of a transgingival cap, the dimensions of the transgingival cap model being larger than the dimensions of the virtual prosthesis interface model.

36. A method as defined in claim 35, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

forming a virtual crown component model modeling a crown component of the dental implant, to include forming a complementing virtual transgingival cap-receiving surface modeling a transgingival cap-receiving surface of the crown component shaped and positioned to receive occlusally-facing portions of the transgingival cap.

37. A method as defined in claim 36, wherein the step of forming a virtual crown component model includes separating a portion of the at least one three-dimensional virtual model along a virtual outer gum line representation, the separated portion including the modeled virtual crown portion.

38. A method as defined in claim 36, further comprising the step of:

receiving data describing a dental anatomy associated with the non-functional natural tooth positioned in the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient to include a three-dimensional outer surface shape of at least portions of a root of the non-functional natural tooth and data describing a three-dimensional outer surface shape of least portions of a crown of the non-functional natural tooth and surrounding gum tissue prior to removal of the non-functional natural tooth from the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient, to define received data, the step of receiving data describing a dental anatomy associated with the non-functional natural tooth positioned in the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient and data describing the three-dimensional outer surface shape of least portions of the crown of the non-functional natural tooth and surrounding gum tissue being performed by a computer having memory and having dental implant design program product stored in the memory; and

wherein the steps of separating the portion of the at least one three-dimensional virtual model along the virtual outer gum line representation, copying at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion, reducing dimensions of the at least portions of the modeled virtual crown portion, and combining the virtual prosthesis interface model with the virtual root body portion model to form the virtual dental implant body, and the step of forming the virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component, are performed on a graphical user interface operably coupled to the computer responsive to user manipulation of an input device.

39. A method as defined in claim 38, wherein the computer is adapted to perform the step of producing a set of digital data virtually defining the three-dimensionally contoured implant body surface shape, and wherein the method further comprises performing one or more of the following steps:

employing a machining process performed by a computer numerical control (CNC) based machining apparatus to form substantial portions of the dental implant body including the prosthesis interface responsive to the set of digital data; and

employing a rapid prototyping process performed by a computer numerical control (CNC) based rapid prototyping apparatus to form substantial portions of the dental implant body including the prosthesis interface responsive to the set of digital data.

40. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the prosthesis interface has an outward-facing circumferential edge, the method further comprising the step of fabricating the dental implant, to include:

shaping the outward-facing circumferential edge of the prosthesis interface of the dental implant to substantially match a shape of a corresponding bone crest line surrounding the dental implant as described in image data describing the dental anatomy associated with a non-functional natural tooth prior to removal of the non-functional natural tooth from the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient.

41. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the dental implant body includes a root body section comprising a titanium material, wherein the step of forming a virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component comprises forming a virtual model of a transgingival cap modeling a transgingival cap, wherein the transgingival cap comprises a ceramic material, wherein the implant body includes a root body section, wherein the prosthesis interface includes an outward-facing circumferential edge, and wherein the method further comprises the step of:

connecting the dental implant body with the transgingival cap at the prosthesis interface, the step of connecting performed prior to insertion of the root body section into the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient; and

wherein the transgingival cap is sized and shaped so that when connected to the dental implant body and when the root body section is inserted into the jawbone of the patient, the outward-facing circumferential edge of the prosthesis interface is substantially below an outer gum line of the specific pre-identified patient surrounding lingual-facing, labial-facing, and proximal-facing surfaces of the non-functional natural tooth as determined prior to extraction thereof from the jawbone of the patient.

42. A method as defined in claim 26, further comprising the step of fabricating the dental implant body, to include:

shaping the prosthesis interface to have the three-dimensionally contoured surface shape at least partially correlated to a surface shape of an occlusally-facing surface of a crown of the nonfunctional tooth to thereby create the form locking fit with the complementing interface surface of the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component when positioned therein.

43. A method as defined in claim 42, further comprising the step of fabricating the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component, to include:

shaping the complementing interface surface of the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component to have a three-dimensionally contoured surface shape substantially dimensionally matching the three-dimensionally contoured surface shape of the prosthesis interface to thereby create the form locking fit therebetween.

44. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the dental implant body includes a root body portion, the method further comprising the step of fabricating the dental implant body, to include the step of:

shaping an outer surface of the root body portion of the dental implant body to have a custom three-dimensional surface shape approximately dimensionally matching a three-dimensional inner-surface shape of corresponding surface portions of one or more intra jawbone anatomical features associated with the non-functional natural tooth of the specific pre-identified patient.

45. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the virtual dental implant body comprises a root body section modeling a root body section of the dental implant body, the root body section of the dental implant body having a three-dimensional outer surface shape approximately dimensionally matching a three-dimensional surface shape of corresponding surface portions of one or more intra jawbone anatomical features associated with the non-functional natural tooth of the specific pre-identified patient, the one or more intra jawbone anatomical features comprising at least one of the following:

a three-dimensional outer surface shape of a root portion of the non-functional natural tooth of the specific pre-identified patient, a three-dimensional inner surface shape of a bone socket for the root portion of the non-functional natural tooth of the specific pre-identified patient, and a combination of the three-dimensional outer surface shape of the root portion and three-dimensional inner surface shape of the bone socket for the root portion of nonfunctional natural tooth of the jawbone of the specific pre-identified patient.

46. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the prosthesis interface has an outward-facing circumferential edge, wherein the dental implant body includes a longitudinally extending axis, and wherein a center portion of the prosthesis interface is substantially raised in a direction of the longitudinally extending axis over the outward-facing circumferential edge to create a male portion of the form locking fit with respect to the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component when positioned thereon.

47. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the dental implant body includes a root body portion having an occlusally-facing surface, a lingual-facing side portion, a labial-facing side portion, and a pair of proximal-facing side portions, and wherein the three-dimensionally contoured implant body surface shape of the prosthesis interface includes a substantial asymmetric positive raising extending from the dental implant body, and wherein the method further comprises the step of fabricating the dental implant body to include the step of:

shaping the substantial asymmetric positive raising to have a first rising contour extending from portions of the occlusally-facing surface of the root body portion adjacent a center of the lingual-facing side portion and a second rising contour extending from portions of the occlusally-facing surface of the root body portion adjacent a center of the labial-facing side, the second rising contour being substantially different than the first raising contour when viewed along a cross-section of the dental implant extending between the lingual-facing side portion and labial-facing side portion and when viewed along a cross-section of the dental implant extending between the labial-facing side portion and lingual-facing side portion, respectively.

48. A method as defined in claim 47, wherein the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component comprises a crown custom manufactured for the specific pre-identified patient receiving the dental implant, and wherein an outline of a cross-section of the substantial asymmetric positive raising is shaped to follow an outline of a corresponding cross-section of the crown custom manufactured for the pre-identified patient.

49. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the prosthesis interface has an outward-facing circumferential edge, wherein the dental implant body includes a longitudinally extending axis, and wherein a center portion of the prosthesis interface is substantially indented in a direction of the longitudinally extending axis over the outward-facing circumferential edge to create a female portion of the form locking fit with respect to the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component when positioned thereon.

50. A method as defined in claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

fabricating the dental implant body having the prosthesis interface, to include shaping the prosthesis interface to have the three-dimensionally contoured surface shape at least partially correlated to a surface shape of an occlusally-facing surface of a crown of the nonfunctional tooth; and

imaging the prosthesis interface to thereby obtain prosthesis interface imaging data describing the as-manufactured three-dimensional asymmetrical contour of the prosthesis interface, and

wherein the step of forming the complementing virtual interface surface includes forming the complementing interface surface of the virtual occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component to dimensionally match the three-dimensionally contoured surface shape of the prosthesis interface responsive to the prosthesis imaging data to thereby enhance accuracy of the form locking fit.

51. A method as defined in claim 50, further comprising the step of fabricating the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component to include shaping the complementing interface surface of the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component to match the three-dimensionally contoured surface shape of the imaged prosthesis interface.