Have you ever wondered how older generations handled dental problems? It’s something of a stereotype nowadays to joke about anyone from 1890 and on down the timeline having less than ideal teeth. When and how did we go from tooth decay and loss being the norm to being able to craft prosthetics that look and feel like natural teeth?
That’s a good question. Are you ready for a brief history lesson? We’ll trace the beginnings and advancements of tooth replacement techniques. By the end, you’ll see just how far dental implants have rocketed the industry forward!
The Ancients’ Version of Dental Implants
In the beginning, there were bones and seashells. Early Etruscans in Italy replaced teeth with pearly whites from deceased animals or humans. This method seems far more problematic than the Mayan’s material of choice: seashells. There’s something endearing about the idea of having a seashell tooth. However, these “implants” were ultimately unsuccessful.
Controversial Dental Decisions in The Victorian Era
Those Victorians were at it again with insane-sounding ideas. Although, admittedly, filling an empty dental socket with a tooth made of metal is one of the milder ones. Unfortunately for them, the human body usually rejected these replacements. Which may or may not have had something to do with the mercury mixed into the metal amalgamation.
Inventing The First Dental Implants
Before we got dental implants as we know them today, Drs. Alvin and Moses Strock successfully fashioned replacements out of Vitallium in the early 1900’s. It goes without saying that these lasted much longer than previous solutions. However, it wouldn’t be until 1952 that modern dental implants would see development.
Contemporary Dental Implants and The Importance of Titanium
Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark was researching the healing process of bones one day in 1952. Doing what scientists do, he tried placing titanium into a rabbit’s femur. The result was he couldn’t remove it! The titanium had fused with the bone. Dr. Branemark just discovered a process known as osteointegration. It turns out that titanium specifically plays well with our bones. Over time, bone matter grows around the material in complete integration.
Realizing this, Dr. Branemark theorized that dental implants made with titanium posts would be much more stable and powerful than alternatives. He was right, although scientists wouldn’t come to accept his work widely until 1982 – even though Dr. Branemark performed a successful titanium placement as early as 1965! Dental implants continue to see improvements in application today, but the titanium post system is as good as it gets.
The Modern Relevance of Dental Implant History
Knowing where we started with tooth replacement versus where we are now really illustrates the advantages of modern dental implant technology.
Implant treatment went from being largely unsuccessful to peaking at a 95% success rate. Not only can you count on your dental implants to be successful, but you can also eat and talk confidently, knowing that your jawbone and titanium post are completely integrated. Finally, a dental implant might not be as novel as a seashell, but they definitely give your smile a more consistent, stain-resistant look!
Now that you know the facts, are you convinced? If dental implants sound enticing, give your dentist a call. They’ll be happy to arrange for a dental implant consultation.
About the Author
Dr. Bikram Singh finds dental implants just as fascinating as you do. He considers dentistry an art-form, and would be happy to improve your smile’s aesthetics and reliability with dental implants. To schedule a consultation, call his office at 919-460-5454 or explore his website for more details.