Patent ID: 7431589

Claim:
A locking cap for a rigid dental implant, the locking cap being formed of a material that is rigid but relatively softer than the material forming the dental implant, the locking cap comprising at one end a substantially spheroidal or ovoidal head portion having a driver gripping surface formed therein; a substantially annular skirt portion at the second end and comprising an annular wall defining a plurality of slotted apertures extending therethrough, separated by relatively thin and structurally weak sections of the annular wall, the slotted apertures extending circumferentially along the annular wall; and an axially extending intermediate portion, between the skirt and head portion, having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the spheroidal head or of the skirt portion or major diameter of an ovodial portion and extending longitudinally therebetween; the intermediate portion having an axial bore extending therethrough and having an internal circumferential surface; the internal circumferential surface within the intermediate member is threaded; and wherein the locking cap can be threadedly connected to an implant having an outwardly extending threaded connector.