In modern times, dental implants are regarded as the gold standard of tooth replacement. They are strong, long-lasting, and highly successful. However, it has been a long road for them to get where they are today! In fact, this form of tooth replacement has been thousands of years in the making. Would you like to learn more about the evolution of dental implants? This blog post shares some fascinating information.
The Earliest Dental Implants
The first documented dental implant devices date back to 4,000 years ago. In ancient Chinese culture, bamboo pegs were carved out and attached to the bones in the mouth to replace missing teeth. About 2,000 years later, the Egyptians did something similar, but they used precious metals instead. It seems that they also used materials like elephant ivory and jade.
While these ancient implants may have seemed innovative during their times, they were not functional. They could not successfully bond with the jawbone, nor could they provide reliable chewing function. It seems they were more for aesthetics than anything else.
The Beginning of Modern Dental Implants
In the early 20th century, interest in dental implants was renewed. Dr. E. J. Greenfield experimented with using 24K gold to replace lost teeth. Unfortunately, his efforts failed. Later on, two brothers, Drs. Alvin and Moses Strock, used Vitallium as a means of tooth replacement. It bonded with the surrounding bone and became the first successful dental implant material.
In 1952, another milestone in the evolution of dental implants was reached. Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark was experimenting with titanium placed in a rabbit femur. When he went to remove the titanium, he found it was impossible because it had fused with the surrounding bone. His unintentional discovery led to the development of titanium dental implants, which were first used in humans in 1965. In the 1980s, dental implants began to receive widespread acceptance in the dental community.
Dental Implants Continue to Move Forward
Since the 1980s, even more advancements have been made in the dental implant field. For example, zygomatic implants (which are placed in the cheekbone instead of the jaw), mini implants, and techniques like All-on-4 have been developed. Ongoing research is sure to bring even more fascinating and exciting developments.
Dental implants are a modern marvel! Talk to a qualified care provider to find out how this amazing treatment may be able to benefit you.
Meet the Practice
At Piney Point Dental Implant Center, our oral surgeons are proud to provide a range of dental implant services for the Houston community, including dental implant surgery, bone grafting, zygomatic dental implants, and more. To learn more about these treatments or to request a consultation, get in touch with our office at 713-597-7340.