Dental implant having a recessed surface for sealing

Apparatus comprising:

• a dental implant having a central longitudinal axis, a lateral external surface, and a distal implant portion that extends from a distal implant end along up to 50% of a longitudinal length of the implant, the implant being shaped so as to define:
• a lumen therethrough having (a) at least one distal opening through a distal external surface of the distal implant portion, and (b) a lateral opening open to the lateral external surface, and
• a recessed surface that (a) is recessed from the lateral external surface, (b) is outside of the lumen, and (c) completely surrounds the lateral opening;
• and
• a delivery tube having a proximal tube end and a distal tube end, which distal tube end is removably coupled to the recessed surface such that the delivery tube is in fluid communication with the lumen via the lateral opening.

Apparatus comprising:

• a dental implant having a central longitudinal axis, a lateral external surface, and a distal implant portion that extends from a distal implant end along up to 50% of a longitudinal length of the implant, the implant being shaped so as to define:
• a lumen therethrough having (a) at least one distal opening through a distal external surface of the distal implant portion, and (b) a lateral opening open to the lateral external surface, and
• a recessed surface that (a) is recessed from the lateral external surface, (b) completely surrounds the lateral opening, and (c) faces away from the central longitudinal axis;
• and
• a delivery tube having a proximal tube end and a distal tube end, which distal tube end is removably coupled to the recessed surface such that the delivery tube is in fluid communication with the lumen via the lateral opening.

A method comprising:

• providing a dental implant having a central longitudinal axis, a lateral external surface, and a distal implant portion that extends from a distal implant end along up to 50% of a longitudinal length of the implant, the implant being shaped so as to define (a) a lumen therethrough having (i) at least one distal opening through a distal external surface of the distal implant portion, and (ii) a lateral opening open to the lateral external surface, and (b) a recessed surface that is recessed from the lateral external surface and completely surrounds the lateral opening;
• forming a portion of a bore in an alveolar ridge;
• inserting the implant into the bore at least until the distal opening comes into fluid communication with a surface of a Schneiderian membrane facing the ridge;
• and
• while the implant is in the bore, injecting a material through the lateral opening into the lumen and out of the at least one distal opening.