Brånemark established the concept of osseointegrated dental implants as a predictable modality for treatment of edentulous patients. He defined osseointegration as bone-to-implant contact at the microscopic level. Osseointegration was a revolutionary concept in implant dentistry. While earlier pioneers never considered direct bone anchoring of the implant, and even established interposition of fibrous tissue between implant and bone as desirable to mimic periodontal ligament function, Brånemark et al. demonstrated that direct bone apposition at the implant surface was not only possible, but long lasting.