Dental implant being biocompatible means that the implant is

• A. Interlocks with or chemically bonds to surrounding bone
• B. Bioactivity is highly desirable
• C. Does not bond with bone
• D. Lacks mechanical stability

Answer: (A)

Biocompatibility means the implant can stay in the body without causing harmful reactions and can interact with surrounding tissue in a way that supports function. For a dental implant, this is realized when the bone forms a stable connection with the implant surface, either by mechanical interlocking or by chemical bonding at the bone–implant interface. This osseointegration provides the necessary stability to withstand chewing forces and maintain long-term success.

The other ideas aren’t the defining feature of biocompatibility here: some biocompatible materials are bioinert and don’t actively bond with bone; an implant that does not bond with bone would fail to integrate and isn’t biocompatible in practice; and lacking mechanical stability would compromise function, not reflect biocompatibility.