Gingival contoured abutment

Claim 1

A dental prosthesis comprising a fixture for insertion in an accommodating hole in the edentulous area of the alveolar bone of a patient as a substitute for a missing natural tooth root, an abutment coupled with the fixture, the abutment having a scalloped contour adapted to follow the gingival margin of the patient, the scalloped contour of the abutment facing in a direction away from said fixture and having a first scallop contour portion adapted to interproximally correspond to the mesial and distal contour of adjacent gingiva, said first contour portion being raised relative to a second scallop contour portion which is adapted to correspond to the facial and lingual contour of adjacent gingiva, and means for coupling a dental restoration to the abutment whereby the contoured abutment cooperates in preventing collapse of the papilla onto the abutment while maintaining papillary integrity.