History Of Dental Implants And Today’s Technology

Dental implants have nowadays become the most preferred tooth-replacement option. But, have you ever wondered how old is the implant technology and how it evolved into its modern form?

The earliest known use of implants for tooth replacement dates back to the 6th century AD when the Mayans used seashells and carved stones used as artificial teeth. Later, in 300BC, scientists discovered a false tooth made of iron while uncovering a Celtic grave in France. Perhaps, the first recorded case of tooth implantation was obtained from the body of an Egyptian king around 1000 BC, who had a copper peg in his upper jaw that was used as an implant.

In the 1500s, teeth were collected from the underprivileged or cadavers and replaced missing teeth. In 1809 , J. Maggiolo implanted a gold implant tube into a fresh tooth extraction socket. Despite allowing the implant site to heal, the gold tube failed to anchor itself within the jawbone due to inflammation.

Modern Dental Implants

Efforts to use different implant materials and techniques continued without much success until, in the 1960s, a Swedish orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Per-Ingvar Brånemark, made a breakthrough discovery. Dr. Brånemark discovered an interesting capability of titanium alloys which allows them to fuse with the surrounding bone. This property, called osseointegration, forms the basis of modern implant technology.

How Successful are Dental Implants Today?

Modern-day dental implants are made from high-quality materials that make them highly durable, strong, and esthetically pleasant. Modern implants are made from titanium alloys are shaped like screws to facilitate their anchorage with the adjacent bone. Once the implant is inserted into the jawbone, the titanium alloy promotes the formation of bone around them. As a result, they become firmly embedded within the bone to serve as a replacement tooth root.

Once the implant becomes firmly embedded, your dentist will place a suitable prosthesis over it to complete the artificial tooth. Depending on the number of missing teeth, your dentist may attach a crown, denture, or a completely fixed bridge over the implants for tooth replacement.

Benefits of Modern Day Implants

Contemporary dental implants in Pasadena offer the following benefits over the conventional tooth replacement options like dentures and bridges:

1. Excellent esthetics

2. High success rate

3. Lifelong durability

4. Restore ability to eat food without difficulty

5. Absolutely safe for use in the oral cavity, unlike dentures and bridges, which may cause allergy and other problems.

6. Only 4 or 6 teeth are required to replace all missing teeth in a jaw.

Dental implants look, function, and feel just like natural teeth. If you are looking for a reliable, safe, and long-lasting tooth replacement option, dental implants in Pasadena should be your first choice. So, book an appointment with Dr. Baghdasarian by calling at (626) 314-3550 and walk away with a beautiful and healthy smile.