An implant includes an implantable body portion adapted to be at least partially recessed within a patient's alveolar bone, and which has a peripheral surface portion which is configured to stimulate and/or facilitate the engagement of osteoblasts and other bone tissues with the implant. The implant body provides bone engaging regions along one or more of the distal and/or mesial implant surfaces which are elongated relative to bone engaging regions on the lingual and/or buccal surfaces of the implant body. In particular, the implantable portion of the implant body includes a bone engaging surface which, when the implant body is fully seated within the patient's jaw bone, extends from a distal portion of the implant body to a remote proximal-most edge. The proximal-most edge has a contour selected to generally follow a predetermined crestal outline of the supporting bone tissue. The bone engaging surface could include an externally threaded portion in which the proximal-most thread patterns are configured to generally fallow the surface contour of alveolar and/or lamellated bone, an acid etched, physically abraded or other roughened or textured peripheral surface of the implant body, a porous coated surface which, for example, could consist of titanium, metal or ceramic beads and/or a chemically coated portion. Chemical coatings far use with the bone engaging surface could comprise bioreactive coatings, including coatings formed from hydroxyapatite and other compounds suitable for stimulating bone tissue growth, and which facilitate the anchoring of the implant body by bone tissues following its placement.
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