Patent ID: 8128402

Claim:
A dental implant for supporting a dental restoration in a jawbone, the dental implant comprising: a body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a coronal end and an apical end, the coronal end forming, in part, a coronal surface that extends generally transverse to the longitudinal axis and the apical end, in part, forming an annular surface that extends generally transverse to the longitudinal axis; an external surface extending between the coronal surface and the annular surface and generally facing away from the longitudinal axis of the dental implant, the external surface including a threaded surface that extends substantially to the apical end of the body; a first inner surface concentric with the external surface, the first inner surface generally facing toward the longitudinal axis of the dental implant, at least a portion of the first inner surface including internal grooves in the first inner surface that do not extend completely through the body to the external surface, the first inner surface defining an opening facing in an apical direction; and a second inner surface that intersects with the first inner surface along an outer circumference of the second inner surface and extends generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the dental implant and faces in a generally apical direction; wherein the dental implant is sized and configured to be implanted in a patient's jawbone.