History of Dental Implants
 The history of dental implants is fascinating, as it dates back more than 4000 years. The modern implants we see these days have a high success ratio, made possible due to the research and innovations contributed by our ancestors. Since the beginning of civilization, humans have imparted great importance to a complete set of teeth as it is considered a standard of beauty. A lot of materials have been used to replace damaged and broken teeth, such as bamboo pegs and seashells, but what made the process excruciatingly painful was that the body kept rejecting these foreign entities. The methods were traumatic to the jawbone, and the only solution was to find a suitable material to fuse with the surrounding bone without causing irritation and infections. The discovery of titanium as a biocompatible material was a breakthrough in restorative dentistry procedures and allowed the patient to live a healthy and normal life despite having one or several teeth replaced and restored.Ancient Methods of Dental ImplantsThe ancient Chinese and Egyptians used different materials to replace missing teeth. Chinese used bamboo pegs, and an Egyptian mummy was found to have a copper peg inserted into the jawbone. Some of these procedures were done postmortem, and some were carried out in living patients. The dental implants were installed without local or IV anesthetics, so we can only imagine the unbearable pain the patients had to endure. In 2500 BC, Egyptians used gold wires to stabilize loose teeth. Early methods also involved using gold, silver, and other alloys to replace the tooth, but the human body rejected them. The Mayan population was probably the first to utilize shells as prosthetic teeth successfully. The archeologists found bone growth and calculus around the teeth, which indicated that the implant wasn't only for aesthetic purposes but was functional. Journey Towards Advancement in Dental TechnologyIn 1700, Dr. John Hunter successfully implanted an underdeveloped human tooth into a rooster's comb and found that the vessels from the comb started growing into the tooth's pulp. J. Maggiolo performed an unsuccessful dental implant surgery when a gold crown was placed at a site where a tooth was freshly extracted. However, there was excessive inflammation and swelling of the gums, which led to the rejection of the implant. Drs. Alvin and Moses StrockDrs. Alvin and Moses Strock used screw fixtures made with vitallium to replace lost teeth in humans and dogs. The biocompatible material provided anchorage and an efficient replacement for the missing teeth, and the brothers are considered the pioneers of the first successful dental implant in history. Dr. Per-Ingvar Brånemark and OsseointegrationDr. Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered the process of osseointegration in 1952 while observing bone healing in rabbits. He observed that titanium fuses well with the bone and hypothesized that a similar concept could be applied to dental procedures. His contribution to dental implantology is unmatched and never forgotten. Find a Dentist That You Can TrustAt Del Mar Dental, we exercise all care and caution to make sure that your dental implant surgeries and experiences are successful and comfortable. Reach out to our professionals, Dr. Bacon and , or call us at (817) 710-2609 to book an appointment. |
