Oral implantology has been a controversial dental therapeutic procedure for many years. Periodontics, as a specialty, did not really get involved until the word, osseointegration, was placed in the implant nomenclature by Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark and the attendant success rate for osseointegrated prostheses was presented in a fully documented format. In March 1985, the definition of the scope of periodontics was provisionally changed by the Executive Council of the American Academy of Periodontology to include the discipline of oral implantology. Requirements for Advanced Specialty Education Programs in Periodontics with an effective date of January 1, 1986, include a statement as to the desirability of including implantology in some form in the postdoctoral curriculum. Many implant materials and designs are presently being used in endosseous dental implantology; studies are in progress to evaluate the short- and long-term response of hard and soft tissues to these materials. Continuing, nonbiased research is needed to fully understand and use this promising modality.