Dental clamp for use in implant restorative dentistry

摘要

This dental clamp is for gripping a cylindrical abutment that is (i) mounted on an endosseus-type fixture that is implanted into a host jawbone and (ii) is located with its superior end tending to be flush with or beneath the exposed surface of gum tissue closely surrounding the abutment. The clamp comprises a pair of arms crossing each other in scissors fashion and a pivot joining the arms so that the portions of the arms on one side of the pivot constitute handles and the portions on the other side of the pivot constitute working portions. The working portions have free ends and confronting faces near the free ends that are movable together in response to the handles being moved together. Projecting laterally from the working portions are two flanges that bound a space of generally cylindrical form when the confronting faces are close together. Each of these flanges is shaped so as to be insertable between the abutment and the surrounding gum tissue. The flanges are adapted to grip the abutment therebetween in response to the handles being urged together when the flanges have been inserted between the abutment and the surrounding gum tissue.