Dental implants are considered the gold standard when it comes to tooth replacement. Although today’s implants are commonly made out of titanium or zirconia, they’ve undergone various changes over time. Keep reading to learn more about the history of dental implants and how they’ve evolved.
The Early Years of Dental Implants
You can date dental implants as far back as A.D. 600, but you should not expect to learn about their real success during this time. The methods used often proved unsuccessful and extremely painful.
Nearly 4,000 years ago, the Chinese carved bamboo pegs and used them as replacement teeth, which were affixed to the bone. Fast forward 2,000 years, and Egyptians were using precious metals and attaching them to the underlying bone.
Metal implants were first discovered by archaeologists who found metal implants within an Egyptian king from 1,000 B.C.
18th Century Dental Implants
As time passed, many researchers and dental experts struggled to find a material that would successfully integrate with the bone. For example, gold and alloys were commonly used during this time, but they were never successful.
Dentists in the 19th century then tried using silver and porcelain, but they, too, were rejected by the body.
20th Century Dental Implants
Using different materials over the centuries remained futile until brothers Alvin and Moses Strock, both doctors, created dental implants from Vitallium that were successfully implanted into the jawbone.
By the early 1950s, Dr. Per-Ingvar Brånemark, an orthopedic surgeon and professor, is believed to have laid the framework for modern dental implants. Using a rabbit’s femur and a piece of titanium, he fused the two and discovered he could not remove it. This was purely an accident, but it became useful in dental implant placement. He tried it on one of his patients in 1965, resulting in a tremendous breakthrough in the field because of how effective it was.
Today’s Dental Implants
Titanium remains one of the primary materials used to create dental implants, with more than 7 million being transplanted from the Brånemark System. Millions more from other companies have also been placed, making it a sought-after solution by countless individuals.
The success rate of these implants remains around 95% upon initial placement and can remain just as high after 10 years with proper care.
Shells, bamboo pegs, and other materials catalyzed what would become titanium dental implants – a revolutionary addition to the field of dentistry that continues to change lives every day.
About the Author
Dr. Colin Holman earned his DDS at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. Committed to pursuing far more continuing education hours than is required, he is trained and experienced in placing and restoring dental implants for patients suffering from tooth loss. With the entire process happening in-house, patients can remain in one convenient location. If you’re without one or more teeth and want to know more about this permanent solution, visit our website or call (405) 735-6600 to schedule a consultation.
