How Dental Implants Have Evolved Through Time

Dental implants have been around for a lot longer than you probably thought. They have been used in dentistry for not tens or even hundreds, but thousands of years! As you probably already knew, tooth loss isn’t just a modern-day issue. Since we are naturally problem solvers, us humans have been searching for solutions to missing teeth to make life easier. Read on to learn about the history of dental implants and how they evolved into what they are today.

Ancient Dental Implants

Going all the way back to ancient times – around 2000 B.C., the first versions of dental implants were made from carved bamboo pegs in the civilization of ancient China. Moving ahead, the first recorded case of a metal replacement tooth comes from an Egyptian king from approximately 100 B.C. A copper peg was hammered into his upper jaw.

It was common for missing teeth to be replaced with teeth from animals or other people, but this would result in a high infection rate. Other things that were used to replace teeth included rare gems, like jade, and seashells. It wasn’t for quite a few years that dental implants became more common and advanced.

Dental Implant Developments

Once we made it to the 18^th century, researchers were beginning to experiment with gold and alloys to make dental implants. In the 19^th century, a doctor mounted a porcelain crown on a platinum disc. None of these methods ended up showing much success.

In 1952, an orthopedic surgeon discovered that titanium cylinders fuse together with bone. It was hypothesized that titanium may be the most ideal material to use for dental implants, so the first titanium dental implant was placed in a volunteer in 1965.

Modern Dental Implants

In the 1970s, modern dental implants began to make their first appearances. As time has gone on and dental technology has gotten more advanced, dental implants have become more customizable and natural-looking. Now, implants are available to people who are missing one tooth, multiple teeth, or even all of their teeth. Dental implants have a success rate of upwards of 95% and are the only tooth replacement option available that preserves the integrity of the jawbone and prevents deterioration. Ultimately, they have become a preferred tooth replacement option by dentists.

If you’ve struggled with tooth loss, talk to your dentist about your options for restoring your smile. Dental implants may be the solution you’ve been looking for!

About the Author

Dr. Shandy Condie is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for over 20 years. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Creighton School of Dentistry and has trained at the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, completing courses focused on cosmetic, restorative, and neuromuscular dentistry. Currently, she’s a proud member of the American Dental Association and Arizona Dental Association. For more information on dental implants or to schedule a consultation at her office in Gilbert, visit her website or call (480) 279-3100.