Ten, solid, 99.7% Al 2O3 implants were sur'gically placed bilaterally in the mandibles of Rhesus monkeys and were then placed in function after two to four weeks. After 95 to 179 days, bone blocks were surgically removed. Load-bearing capacity of the six successful implants was determined as the maximum load that did not produce plastic deformation. The average of this value was 57.5 kg. Histological examination showed excellent bone-implant compatibility.