An implant analog is for supporting an article that is used to develop a dental
prosthesis. The analog provides a main body for being anchored in a model of a
mouth of a patient. The main body includes an upper surface for contacting the
article that is used to develop a dental prosthesis. The analog includes a groove
extending inward along a periphery of the main body below the upper surface for
receiving a soft modeling material that replicates gingival tissue. Material for
forming a soft tissue model flows into the groove to create a corresponding rib
in the soft tissue model that allows the soft tissue model to be properly registered
on the underlying stone model.