Today, many experts consider dental implants to be the ideal way to replace your missing teeth. Of all the options, they’re the only ones that are embedded directly into your jawbone. As a result, they provide many unique advantages over alternatives like dentures or dental bridges. In fact, they’re so resilient that they have a 95% success rate even 10 years after their initial placement.
However, that hasn’t always been the case. There’s a long history of trial and error that eventually resulted in these artificial teeth as we know them today. Continue reading to learn more about the fascinating evolution of dental implants!
Prehistoric Problems
Tooth loss is not necessarily a recent phenomenon; people have been looking for ways to replace missing teeth for as long as they’ve existed. Archeologists have discovered fragments of makeshift prosthetics from various ancient cultures. For example, around 600 A.D., Chinese people used carved bamboo pegs to fill gaps in their grins. Around 1,000 B.C., Egyptians did the same thing using local materials like ivory and precious gems.
Unfortunately, the human body tends to reject such foreign materials, so these ancient attempts at replacing teeth didn’t last long.
Middle-Aged Europe
There weren’t any major advancements in replacement teeth until the Middle Ages in Europe, between 1500 and 1800. During this time, scientists sought materials that they hoped wouldn’t be rejected. They experimented with various metals and porcelain but to no avail. Without other viable options, people providing replacement teeth often sourced them from cadavers. Yikes!
Making Progress
Over time, great minds continued to experiment with different materials and methods for artificial teeth. Then, in the early 1900s, two brothers (Drs. Alvin and Moses Strock) observed a hip bone implant that utilized Vitallium. They adapted this material for dental use and, in the 1930s, had the first successful endosteal (in the bone) implant procedure using a metal device.
Additional progress occurred when a Swedish orthopedic surgeon (Dr. Brankemark) accidentally discovered that titanium can be used for dental implants. He was studying bone regeneration and placed a small amount of this metal into a rabbit’s femur. Later, when he went to remove it, he found he could not because it had fused with the bone. This development paved the way for these prosthetics as we know them today.
Contemporary Cures
Thanks to the ongoing evolution of dental technology, materials, and techniques, dental implants are now more reliable than ever. Your dentist has access to state-of-the-art equipment to place them as accurately as possible. Plus, your restoration can be customized to match the shade, shape, and size of your natural teeth for seamless results.
Although there were plenty of mistakes in the past, today, dental implants are one of the best ways to rebuild your smile’s appearance and functionality!
About the Author
Dr. Aarati Kalluri has more than 20 years of experience helping families build and maintain happy, healthy teeth. She first earned her Bachelor of Dental Surgery from India and a master’s degree in Prosthodontics at King George’s Medical University. Then, she moved to the United States and attended the University of California in San Francisco, where she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery. She has the experience and state-of-the-art equipment to perform dental implant surgery in the office, so you don’t have to seek outside providers. She is happy to provide a beautiful, lifelike restoration that’s intended to last. If you’d like a consultation, you can request one on the website or call (503) 352-5116.