Patent ID: 8794965

Claim:
A method for providing a mouth with a dental prosthesis, the method comprising the steps of: securing an implant abutment to an implant fixture within a mouth, wherein the implant abutment comprises an opening adapted for facilitating engagement between the implant abutment and the implant fixture; blocking the opening in the implant abutment to prevent entry of impression material therein; obtaining an impression of the implant abutment and unblocking the opening, wherein the impression comprises a location corresponding to the implant abutment; removing the implant abutment from the mouth, securing the implant abutment to a second implant fixture external to the mouth, and placing the implant abutment in the location corresponding to the implant abutment in the impression such that the second implant fixture protrudes therefrom; placing mold material into the impression, a cavity of a transfer member, or combinations thereof; placing the second implant fixture into the cavity while placing the impression over the cavity to form a mold; removing the impression from the transfer member, wherein the mold, the second implant fixture, and the implant abutment attached thereto are retained within the mold such that the implant abutment protrudes therefrom; modifying the implant abutment while the implant abutment protrudes from the mold and is attached with the transfer member to form a modified implant abutment; disengaging the modified implant abutment from the second implant fixture and engaging the modified implant abutment to the implant fixture in the mouth; blocking the opening in the modified implant abutment to prevent entry of impression material therein; placing a gingival refraction cord around the implant abutment to retract gingival tissue therefrom; removing the gingival retraction cord and obtaining a second impression of the modified implant abutment; using the second impression to fabricate a temporary crown; and installing the temporary crown over the modified implant abutment.