Although it may seem like durable, natural-looking dental implants are relatively new, the truth is that people have been trying to permanently replace missing teeth for centuries! Here’s a closer look at the history of how today’s remarkable restorations got their start, and how hundreds of years of history can benefit your mouth today!
How it Started….
Believe it or not, dental implants aren’t exactly a new invention. In fact, the earliest known attempts to permanently replace lost teeth date all the way back to 600 A.D. in China, when they attempted to attach hand carved bamboo pegs to the jawbone. By 1000 B.C., Egyptians tried similar techniques using ivory, jade, and precious metals. Sadly, none of these restorations were successful, and it was back to the drawing board.
From 1500 to 1800, doctors in Europe attempted to create dental implants yet again, this time using gold and porcelain. However, it wasn’t until the 1900s when two brothers by the names of Alvin and Moses Strock attempted the procedure with a metal called vitallium which was currently being used for hip replacements that today’s iterations of dental implants came about.
Then in 1952, a doctor named Per-Ingvar Branemark accidentally made a discovery that would change the face of the dental implant industry forever, when he realized he could not remove a titanium implant that was attached to a rabbit femur because it had become integrated with the bone. By 1965, Branemark had successfully attached a titanium implant to a human bone!
Dr. Branemark continued his research, and by the 1990s, had developed a zygomatic implant that could be used to replace teeth in patients with serious deterioration in their maxilla and therefore needed to shift the placement of the implant so it could still fuse with the bone.
How it’s Going…
Today, we’re still using titanium implants, along with another metal free option, zirconia, which is ideal for people with metal allergies or who want a more realistic looking implant. In combination with more advanced technologies like CT scans and bone grafting, these treatments are now even more precise and long-lasting than ever.
If you’re considering upgrading your grin with permanent, lifelike dental implants, you can feel confident that you’ve got centuries of history backing your smile. Only unlike those early experiments, your beautiful, natural-looking restorations are safer and more realistic than ever before, giving your teeth the best odds for lasting a lifetime!
About Our Practice
At Sound Dentistry, we’ve got everything you need for a successful dental implant treatment: a caring and talented dentist, periodontist, and prosthodontist on staff! That means we can complete your entire dental implant treatment right here, in house, with trusted experts that understand how to make your newly restored teeth a success! If you’re ready to permanently restore your healthy, beautiful smile with these durable, lifelike restorations, schedule a consultation for dental implants with us today by visiting our website or calling 508-321-7874.