US 6,981,871 B2
Dental attachment assembly and method
Scott Mullaly, San Marcos, Calif. (US); and Paul T. Zuest, Escondido, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Zest Anchors, Inc., Escondido, Calif. (US)
Filed on Jul. 05, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/190,921.
Prior Publication US 2004/0005530 A1, Jan. 08, 2004
Int. Cl. A61C 13/225 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 433—172 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dental attachment assembly, comprising:
an abutment member for attachment to a tooth root, implant, or adjacent tooth, the abutment member having a central axis, a first end, and an outer locating surface projecting away from the first end, the outer locating surface having at least two axially spaced retention portions;
a retention member having a first end and a skirt extending from the first end having an inner surface for engagement over the outer locating surface of the abutment member, the inner surface of the skirt having at least two axially spaced, snap engaging formations for releasable snap engagement with the respective retention portions of the abutment member; and
the axially spaced retention portions on the outer locating surface of the abutment member comprising two generally rounded, annular projections and the axially spaced, snap engaging formations on the inner surface of the skirt comprising two spaced, annular grooves for snap engagement over the annular projections on the abutment member.