Dental implants are widely considered to be the gold standard when it comes to tooth replacement, capable of bringing back any number of teeth and lasting for decades. However, that wasn’t always the case. Just like any technology, the first implants were rather rudimentary, but that’s to be expected as they date back over 4,000 years ago! Keep reading to learn how they went from basic to state-of-the-art and might be just what you need to close the gaps in your smile.
Ancient Implants
The earliest known dental implants came in the form of small bamboo pegs that come from Ancient China. A brisk 2,000 years later, Egyptians swapped the wood for precious metals, with one found in an Egyptian king from 1,000 B.C. Indigenous tribes in Central and South America used shells to replace teeth, and some were even found to be carved in the shape of tooth roots.
The Beginning of Modern Dental Implants
The story of modern-day dental implants begins with Swedish orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Per-Ingvar Brånemark, who was studying bone healing and regeneration in 1952. The method he used sounds strange on the surface but ultimately proved successful: he placed pieces of titanium in the femurs of rabbits.
He discovered that the titanium naturally fused with the bone, making it extremely strong and secure. This process is called osseointegration, and it’s the source of today’s implant’s stability.
Back to the Present Day
Fortunately, implants have progressed even further since Dr. Brånemark’s initial breakthrough, leading to today’s implants being more reliable and natural-looking while also having an impressive 95% success rate after 10 years. Plus, while implants were initially just for bringing back single teeth, the treatment is now able to replace entire rows with just four to six posts.
It was a long and winding journey, but dental implants have now become the go-to solution for many patients hoping to enjoy full smiles again. If you’re ready to leave your life with missing teeth in the past, just reach out to a dentist today to get care that an Egyptian king could have only dreamed of.
About the Author
Dr. Sheren Elsaid started her career wanting to become a physician, but she soon found herself drawn to dentistry. She earned her dental degree from Temple University and completed her residency through the NYU Langone Dental Medicine Program. Today, she has taken several advanced courses focused on dental implants and only uses the latest technology to plan and perform treatments. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Elsaid and learn how you could instantly save $500 on dental implants at Zen Dental Care, reach out to us today.