History of Dental Implants
Dentist West Linn
 Throughout the history of civilization, a complete set of teeth has been valued, both for aesthetic and functional reasons. The value placed on teeth inspired the development of several tooth replacement options, which in turn gave rise to dental implants. Dental implants have been around as early as 2000 BC. They have advanced over the years. Most of the original practices, however, were painful, barbaric, and sometimes fatal. If you are looking for a dental implant today, you should be thankful. You will experience a safe experience with less discomfort.
One of the best ways to reduce dental implant discomfort is by working with a professional dentist. ZenTech Dentistry pays close attention to every detail from the evaluation and treatment of your bone health to the integration of the implant. We take care to ensure the success of your dental implant surgery.
Early Days of Teeth Implants
The earliest known attempt was back in 2000 BC in ancient China. Carved bamboo pegs were utilized to replace missing teeth. But these plant-based organic materials probably perhaps did not last that long. Around 1000 BC, is when the metal prosthetic was placed in Egypt. It is considered the first recorded case when a metal tooth replacement was inserted in the jawbone. However, it was not clear whether the implant was hammered into a person's jawbone after or before death.
During an archaeological dig in France, an iron tooth was discovered in a Celtic grave in early 300 BC. The researchers believed that this tooth was replaced after death since the pain of hammering the iron tooth into the jaw without anesthesia was not possible for the patient. Ancient cultures in America made use of seashells and stone to replace lost teeth. Only 2000 years ago, it was a common practice of replacing a tooth with an animal tooth. However, these implants were rejected due to decay and infection.
The Emergence of Modern-Day Dental Implants
With the advance in research, the modern-day implant discovery was stumbled upon by accident. A Swedish researcher and physician took a small titanium cylinder and implanted it on the lower legs of rabbits. After some time, the researcher noted that he could not remove the titanium cylinder on the rabbit legs. Upon removal of the metal, he noted that the metal had fused with the bone and it was not easy to remove it. With this knowledge, the Swedish researcher noted that human bones can bear the long-term presence of titanium and it can be used as an artificial tooth anchor.
What the Future Holds
Today, dental implants have over a 95% success rate in patients. Computer-aided designs and special coatings on implant surfaces continue to reduce healing time and help to lower the risk of implant failure and complications. There is also an all-on-6 implant procedure which is used to replace the whole lower or upper jaw. People with missing teeth prefer having dental implants because of how implants prevent bone loss. A hundred years from now, it is hypothesized that there will be robotic-assisted implantation. If you have any questions, you can refer to our dental implant FAQ for more details.
At ZenTech Dentistry, we are committed to providing you with innovative and outstanding implant technology. Please feel free to contact us to arrange an appointment to discuss any further questions. |
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