Considering the advanced technology they represent and the fact that they’re a relatively modern creation, very few people have any knowledge at all about dental implants. Usually, people tend to be made aware of them only after they’ve visited their dentist and have been informed about the many different teeth replacement options available to them. This is unfortunate, however, because there are a lot of people who could benefit greatly from having an increased awareness of the treatments available to them concerning prosthetic teeth and likewise would be able to dramatically improve their lifestyles as well as their natural appearance.
A dental implant is essentially an artificial tooth root that a doctor installs into your jawbone to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Almost always made out of titanium, the dental implant forms an integrated structure within living bone that reinforces the prosthetic device that will be installed. The purpose of this is to enhance or restore the functionality of a patient’s mouth that has been compromised either by disease or by misfortune and allows the patient to once again perform with all the expected behavior of teeth and feel confident about their appearance.
A brief history of dental implants
In reality, dental implants are a very modern technology employing advanced surgical procedures that are safe and efficient. However, the actual history of bone implants dates back to the Mayan civilization which is considered to have had the earliest known examples. Archaeologists have found a fragment of a Mayan mandible, a lower jaw piece dating from around 600 A.D, which had three tooth-shaped pieces of an animal shell placed into the sockets of three missing lower teeth. Originally, this discovery was thought to be of a tribalistic ritual and not related to dentistry. However, a professor by the name of Amadeo Bobbio studied this particular specimen and noted compact bone growth around two of the implants, a discovery which led him to make the conclusion that the implants were in fact placed during life, thus confirming their effective role as replacement teeth!
Fortunately, that is merely a fascinating look at the practice divorced from modern sensibility and science, considering how safe and hygienic the procedure is today. For that fact we have the work of a Swedish surgeon to thank, one by the name of Branemark, who discovered the adaptive properties of titanium and how it easily fuses to bone in a natural way. Although he first considered that titanium should be limited to knee and hip surgery, he went on to understand the effective use it had in the mouth and even placed the first titanium dental implant into a human volunteer around 1965.
From there, he established a commercial partnership with a Swedish defense company in order to develop and market his implants. To this date over 7 million Branemark dental implants have been placed into the mouths of patients making the company a leading provider of the device.
How dental implants generally work
A dental implant works by being installed into the jawbone of a patient in order to fuse with the bone itself, creating a strong bond. This is achieved by the use of titanium which is what the implant is most likely made out of. The dental implant, mostly resembling a large screw, is carefully placed into a precision hole (or osteotomy) made by the surgeon which is then sealed up and sutured in order to let the location heal.
The titanium is chosen on account of its wonderful properties when placed into bone. Titanium tends to fuse with bone rather excellently due to the osteoblasts, small cells responsible for bone formation, and their remarkable tendency to grow on and into the surfaces of implanted titanium. This response by the bone cells causes a seamless structure to form between the metal and the bone, creating a very natural integration that is just like regular bone repairing itself. It is this kind of fascinating response to the metal that allows dental implants to perform so excellently and achieve the notable reputation they possess among dentists and the patients who’ve received them.
Even though the history and science behind dental implants might seem complicated, the end result is really quite natural and looks no different from the teeth you were born with. It is towards this end that not only dentistry but general cosmetic surgery strives to perfect itself, helping you achieve the look and performance that you desire.