Patent ID: 8403668

Claim:
A retention system for retaining a prosthesis onto a dental implant, comprising: a dental implant configured to be inserted within a bone in a patient's oral cavity; an abutment securable to the dental implant; a prosthesis defining a receiving channel for positioning upon the abutment; and, one or more shape memory elements securable along a portion of the abutment, wherein the one or more shape memory elements extends radially relative to the abutment when the elements are in a locking configuration such that the one or more shape memory elements are in contact with the prosthesis in the locking configuration and are secured against the prosthesis; wherein the one or more shape memory elements are actuatable upon application of heat, electrical, or electromagnetic energy to transition between a low-profile configuration where the one or more shape memory elements remains retracted and the radially extended locking configuration.