This comparative dental implant investigation evaluated the hypothesis that differences may exist in the interfacial nature of the oral tissues related to various implant materials and designs. The study investigated undecalcified bone and support tissues apposing titanium and ceramic one-stage and two-stage root-form and blade-type endosteal dental implants placed into the mandibles of adult mongrel dogs. Animals were euthanized at periodic internals and the tissue prepared for computerized morphometric and associated morphologic protocols. This study demonstrated dynamic support tissue at the implant interface involving both mineralized and unmineralized tissues. Longitudinal analyses after 1 year of prosthetic loading suggest that titanium implant systems, both blade and root-form, appear to be apposed by more bone than ceramic systems. Subjectively, the bone appears denser after longer periods of load, perhaps because of more complete lamellar compaction of the bone supporting the implants. Keywords: alumina oxide ceramic, bone, dental implants, fibrous connective tissue, interface, morphometry, scanning electron microscopy, titanium