Abstract: A dental implant comprising a foundation shaft having a head spaced apart from a supporting ring with a carrier body slidably positioned therebetween is disclosed. The movement of the carrier body is limited to the distance between the head and the supporting ring less the length of the foundation shaft occupied by the carrier body. The second end of the foundation shaft includes a securing means for fixing the dental implant to the jaw bone. An aperture is formed in an elongated body for receiving a resilient force dampening means which maintains contact of the carrier body with the head in the absence of masticatory movement of the jaw and also resists axial movement of the tooth assembly generated by masticatory movement of the jaw thereby cushioning the masticatory forces received by the foundation shaft during use. A connecting means secures the elongated body to the carrier body such that upon the attachement of the artificial tooth to the elongated body-carrier body, a tooth assembly is defined.