The History of Dental Implants

Dental implants have changed the face of modern dentistry. They have been called the “gold standard” of teeth replacement for more reasons than one. More than any other available option, they can mimic the feel, function and look of natural teeth. But how did implants dentistry evolve to become such a superior solution in restorative dentistry? Here’s a closer look at the history of dental implants.

As early as 600 AD, we have records that the Mayan civilization tried to substitute missing teeth. Archeologists have dug up primeval skulls that contained evidence of tooth replacement materials such as wood, stone and even small pieces of seashells.

However, it was not until 1952, that a Swedish orthopedic surgeon (Dr. Branemark) chose to place a tiny titanium cylinder into a bone in hopes of learning how the bone would heal. From this experiment, we learned that the titanium actually fused to the surrounding bone, which eventually gave way to the remarkable idea of a dental implant.

In 1970s, modern dental implants were first used. While they have evolved significantly over the years to improve in design, the basic concept of using titanium to replace a tooth root and anchor a prosthetic tooth (or teeth) remained the same.

At first, dental implants were only used on patients who needed to replace a full arch of missing teeth or for those that had trouble wearing traditional dentures due to bone loss. In addition, dental implants were not customized like they are today. Early dental implants were a one-size-fits-all approach.

Today’s dental implants rely on cutting-edge imaging and technology to provide a very precise tooth replacement system that looks and feels natural. We also have bone grafting to help patients qualify for dental implants. Lastly, we now use dental implants to replace a single missing tooth, to secure a full denture and everything in between. A modern implants dentist can even provide implant supported dentures in a single day using the All-on-4 implant dentures system.

To learn more about the innovative solution of dental implants, call Dr. Wayne Suway today. We stay at the forefront of restorative dentistry so that our patients can easily attain the beautiful, healthy and confident smile they deserve after missing teeth.