The History of Dental Implants

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Most people now know that dental implants are the best way to replace a tooth. Heck, Dr. Brown decided to name his practice after them way back in 1985! But do you know their history? Let the implant pros at Implant Dentistry of Florida give you a little historical tour of the incredible dental implant.

They’re not exactly a new thing

It’s tempting to think of dental implants as a brand-new thing. As recently as 15 years ago few people had heard of them. In reality, the modern dental implant has been in use since the 70s, right there with bell-bottoms and polyester shirts. Dr. Brown started receiving his specializing implant training way back in 1982.

Attempts have been made to replace missing teeth far longer than K.C. and the Sunshine Band were singing, though. Dental implants have been tried as far back as humans were using tools. The earliest attempts at dental implants on record can be found in the Mayan civilization dating back to 600 A.D. Archeologists have found ancient skulls where missing teeth have been replaced with a variety of materials ranging from carved stones such as jade to fragments of seashells. And despite how that sounds, many of those early implants actually fused into the jawbone!

They weren’t wood

George Washington, probably the president most known for his dental issues, could have really used implants. His first tooth was extracted at age 24 and over the years they kept coming out. Uh, hello George. Diligent brushing? Ever heard of it? When he was inaugurated in 1789, he had but a single remaining tooth. And his dentures, while not the wood of legend, were ill fitting. If only he could have had implants, just not seashell implants.

As with many technological advances, modern dental implant technology was arrived upon by accident. In 1952, a Swedish orthopedic surgeon had placed a small titanium screw into a bone to study how it could be used to help broken bones fuse back together. But after it had been in the bone for a few months, he tried to remove it and found that the jawbone had completely enveloped it. This property that titanium has of fusing with the bone is called osseointegration and is the basis of the modern dental implant.

And the rest, as they say, is dental history!

If you’re missing a tooth, or have severe damage to a tooth or teeth, dental implants are the best replacement option. Call Dr. Brown and our team at Implant Dentistry of Florida, (321) 372-7700, to schedule your appointment.

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