Abstract: A dental implant is specifically designed to properly distribute the forces exerted on the bone by the implant and to foster optimum osteal and/or fibro-osteal integration of the implant with the bone, thereby to improve the quality and longevity of proper implant function. The shaping and location of various surfaces of the implant are specifically designed to minimize both under- and over-stressing of the bone which leads to failure, and to maximize the formation and advantageous functioning of a peri-implant ligament, direct bone apposition, or combinations thereof. Novel structure may be provided so that heads of different shapes and inclinations can be selectively used with the implant to meet the patient's individual physiologic requirements, while at the same time facilitating submerged healing.