Patent ID: 8292621

Claim:
A healing abutment assembly for use with a dental implant, comprising: a holder having opposite first and second ends and opposite outer and inner surfaces extending between the ends, the inner surface defining a hollow portion traversing the holder in a longitudinal direction from the first end toward the second end, an inwardly facing flange extending from the inner surface of the holder at a position in proximity to the second end to define an opening that is cross sectionally smaller than the hollow portion; and a plurality of nestable shells each having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of each said shell being open to permit nesting of the respective shell with the holder or another one of the shells, the proximal end of each of said shell includes a base plate extending across the proximal end and configured to be mounted substantially in registration with the second end of the holder and having an opening that is registered with an opening of the holder, each of said shell includes a side wall extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface flaring radially outward from an outer surface of the base plate, the inner surface of the side wall being configured to nest securely with the outer surface of the holder or the outer surface of another of the nestable shells.