Dental implant system having enhanced soft-tissue growth features

1. A dental implant system, comprising:

a dental implant having a generally cylindrical body and a central axis, the dental implant having a distal end for anchoring in a patient's bone and a proximal end opposing the distal end, the proximal end including a lateralized surface and an abutment-engaging region, the abutment-engaging region being surrounded by the lateralized surface, the lateralized surface defining a soft-tissue attachment interface and being roughened to promote soft-tissue attachment, the lateralized surface being disposed at a negative slope from the perimeter of the cylindrical body toward the distal end relative to the central axis; and

an abutment having an upper portion for supporting a tooth-like prosthesis and a lower portion for engaging the abutment-engaging region of the dental implant, the lower portion having a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the implant at the proximal end, the lower portion including a first surface with a soft-tissue enhancing material, the first surface of the lower portion being sloped inwardly from the upper portion, the first surface of the lower portion of the abutment and the lateralized surface of the dental implant facing each other and defining a circumferentially extending recess having a V-shaped cross-section for receiving and attachment to the soft tissue.

2. The dental implant system of claim 1 , wherein the lateralized surface is roughened by laser treatment, etching, acid etching, mechanical etching, sandblasting, plasma treatment, or any combination thereof.

3. The dental implant system of claim 1 , wherein the lateralized surface includes micro-machined grooves.

4. The dental implant system of claim 1 , wherein the mean surface roughness of the lateralized surface is between about 1.3 and 3.0 microns.

5. The dental implant system of claim 1 , wherein the abutment-engaging region of the dental implant is smooth.

6. The dental implant system of claim 1 , wherein the abutment-engaging region includes:

an inner wall of a bore of the implant configured to receive and seal a complimentary outer wall of the abutment;

a horizontal wall adjacent to the inner wall configured to engage a lower end of the abutment to limit axial movement of the abutment; and

an anti-rotational section distal of the horizontal section having a non-round cross-section and configured to engage with a stem of the abutment having a non-round cross-section.

7. The dental implant system of claim 6 , wherein the implant further comprises a threaded bore distal of the inner wall, the threaded bore configured to threadably receive a screw holding the abutment on the implant.

8. The dental implant system of claim 1 , wherein the dental implant is constructed from titanium, including alloys thereof, and the abutment is constructed from titanium, including alloys thereof, titanium nitride, a ceramic, or a polymer.

9. The dental implant system of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is also disposed at a negative slope relative to the central axis.

10. The dental implant system of claim 1 , wherein the soft-tissue enhancing material is collagen.

11. The dental implant system of claim 1 , wherein the lateralized surface has an outer circumferentially extending surface and an inner circumferentially extending surface, the outer surface being in contact with a collar section of the implant and the inner surface being in contact with the abutment-engaging region.

12. The dental implant system of claim 1 , wherein the negative slope is defined by an angle in the range for about 30 to 60° relative to the central axis.

13. The dental implant of claim 1 , wherein the lateralized surface is a planar surface that lacks any steps or sharp corners.

14. A dental implant system, comprising:

a dental implant having a generally cylindrical body and a central axis, the dental implant having a distal end for anchoring in a patient's bone and a proximal end opposing the distal end, the proximal end including a lateralized surface and an abutment-engaging region, the abutment-engaging region being surrounded by the lateralized surface, the lateralized surface defining a soft-tissue attachment interface and lacking any sharp angles or corners to prevent abrading of the soft tissue, the lateralized surface being disposed at a negative slope from the perimeter of the cylindrical body toward the distal end relative to the central axis; and

an abutment having an upper portion for supporting a tooth-like prosthesis and a lower portion for engaging the abutment-engaging region of the dental implant, the lower portion including a first surface with at least one soft-tissue enhancing material, the first surface of the lower portion being sloped inwardly from the upper portion, the first surface of the lower portion of the abutment and the lateralized surface of the dental implant facing each other and defining a circumferentially extending recess having a V-shaped cross-section for receiving and attachment to the soft tissue, wherein the dental implant system is platform-switched.

15. The dental implant system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one soft-tissue enhancing material is collagen.

16. The dental implant system of claim 14 , wherein the abutment includes the first surface with a first soft-tissue enhancing material and a second soft-tissue enhancing material.

17. The dental implant system of claim 14 , wherein the lateralized surface is roughened to promote soft tissue attachment.

18. The dental implant system of claim 14 , wherein the lateralized surface includes micro-machined grooves.