Patent ID: 7491058

Claim:
A dental assembly, comprising: a ceramic spacer and an adapter for securing the spacer in a lateral direction and a rotational direction relative to an implant, said adapter comprising a first portion configured to cooperate with the spacer and a second portion configured to cooperate with the implant to secure the spacer relative to the implant, the first portion defining a geometry which exceeds a geometry of a corresponding recess in the spacer when the first portion is not inserted into the recess of the spacer, the first portion comprising parts that are moved resiliently inwardly when the first portion is inserted into the recess of the spacer, wherein the adapter is completely enclosed by the spacer and the implant when the spacer is fitted on the implant, and wherein the first portion of the adapter additionally comprises at least one slit configured to give the first portion resilient properties to secure the adapter to the spacer, and wherein the second portion comprises outwardly projecting members configured to generally restrict rotation of the second portion relative to the implant.