It is incorrect to assume that one implant design and surgical technique will suffice for all clinical situations. Some implant types and techniques are best used in denser bone, while others perform well in cancellous bone. Understanding how different designs and surgical techniques can best be used is a key to success in implant dentistry. Based on the available literature on this topic, there is no reliable data from well-designed studies that conclusively proves one type of dental implant design or geometry to be superior to others. More research is needed to elucidate the effect of intrinsic factors (implant design) as well as extrinsic factors (surgical techniques, bacterial plaque, occlusal loading and time of loading) in the maintenance of healthy peri-implant tissue and long-term survival of different implant designs.