The
earliest endeavors for dental implant tooth substitutes on record dates back to
the Mayan civilization, to 600 AD. Archeologists recovered primeval skulls in
which the teeth had been replaced with materials the ranged from wood, stones,
and jewels to small pieces of seashells.
Like most scientific progresses, the finding of what makes todays
dental implants so successful was unexpected. In 1952, a Swedish orthopedic
surgeon, named Dr. Branemark, placed a very small titanium cylinder into a bone
to learn how the bone would heal. What he discovered was that the titanium
cylinder had fused (melded to the bone.) Out of this experiment dental implants
would be born within two decades.
In
1970s, modern dental implants made their first appearance. Of course, over the
past four decades, the original dental implant has undergone several
improvements in both structure and design, but has always been based on the
original theme.
Dental implants were first made available to individuals who had
lost all of their teeth and had difficulty wearing dentures, mainly because they
had lost of much of their jawbone were dentures set. Today, most dental implants
are used in place of dentures, for multiple teeth that are missing, or to
replace a single tooth.
When dental implants were first designed, they were a one size
fits all. The original dental implants were all the same circumference, while
the length of each tooth varied depending on the type of tooth it was replacing.
The dental implants were smoothed out and polished by a machine, but still did
not produce the natural looking dental implants we have today.
Now, with the help of state-of-the-art equipment and advanced
technology, implants come in a wide variety of sizes and shape to match the
teeth that are missing. The surfaces of today’s dental implants give them a more
natural look and feel. In addition, the surface of the dental implant also
attaches to the bone much easier and for a longer period of
time.
Dr.
Branemark's discovery has left an impression on dental professionals, all over
the world, including Dr. Todd Britten. If you are considering dental implants to
improve your smile’s health, beauty, and function, be sure to contact our
Clearwater, FL office to schedule an appointment.
www.brittenperio.com
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