Do you remember the saying “practice makes perfect”? Parents and teachers usually mean that they want you to put more time and effort into your performance, but history itself is chock-full of instances where humanity had to do quite a bit of “practicing” before they got something right.
The progress it took to make dental implants what they are today is no exception! Keep reading for a brief yet informative history of this top-notch dental restoration.
Not Your Grandma’s Dental Implants
The very first dental implants can be traced all the way back to 4,000 years ago, and needless to say, they were very different than what you might be familiar with. Instead of titanium (which wouldn’t be produced until 1910), the ancient Chinese made “implant posts” out of bamboo. Bamboo is known for being incredibly sturdy and flexible, but was ultimately not biocompatible. Eventually, the body rejected these replacement attempts.
Across the globe, the Mayans tried using seashells, but these didn’t fare much better. 2,000 years later, the Egyptians placed precious metals and jewels below the gumline. However, the effectiveness and practicality of these dental implants was questionable at best.
A Swedish Physician and His Rabbit Femur
There would finally be a huge breakthrough with dental implant technology in 1952. Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark, a Swedish physician, was conducting some experiments that involved a rabbit femur. One night, he accidentally left a titanium device attached to the bone. When Dr. Branemark returned later, he found that the two materials had completely fused together. He couldn’t pull them apart without breaking the bone!
Dr. Branemark came to realize that certain materials were biocompatible with bone matter. His titanium device was so similar to the femur’s biological structure that the bone accepted and started growing around the metal. Using titanium implant posts, the Swedish physician was able to place history’s first successful dental implant in 1965.
The Dental Implants You Would Receive Today
Dr. Branemark’s implants were so effective that his basic design is still used today. Modern patients can expect to receive a titanium post, inserted below the gumline and anchored to the jawbone, that will be connected to a crown, denture, or bridge. While very few things are well and truly perfect, dental implants come pretty close! With this type of restoration, you can enjoy all your favorite foods, superior comfort, and natural-looking aesthetics.
And to think, it only took a couple thousand years to get here!
About the Author
Dr. Matthew Scarpitti is passionate about dental implants, and has extensive experience with oral surgery and creating quality tooth replacements. If you’d like to learn more about dental implants and how they could benefit you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Scarpitti. He would be happy to discuss this treatment with you in further detail! To contact his office, call 407-658-1111.