The History of Implant Dentistry

---

Our Toronto dental professionals recognize that dental implants are quickly becoming one of the most popular options for replacing missing teeth. They are a sturdy and permanent way to replace a single or entire upper and/or lower set of missing teeth. More and more of our downtown Toronto dental patients are asking for dental implants, so for this post, we'll explore the history behind these hi-tech and natural-looking tooth replacements.
 
History has shown us that dental implants aren't entirely a new concept. Archaeologists have dug up skeletons that are 4,000 years old from Chinese dynasties that have implements such as bamboo pegs secured into the bone as an artificial tooth replacement. In more recent history we have also seen indications that jade, sea shells and animal bones were also used as ancient dental implants.
 
Thankfully, today's dental implants are quite improved from past approaches. The modern-day inspirations for dental implants started in the mid-20th century when Bothe, Beaton and Davenport first used titanium as a dental implant material and noticed the metal had properties of osseointegration, where bone would grow well around the dental implant.
 

The First Titanium Implant

 
As dentists and researchers further gathered information on titanium and other materials for the purposes of dental implants, orthopaedic surgeon Per-Ingvar Branemark implanted the first titanium dental implant into a human volunteer in 1965. From this initial implantation, Dr. Branemark continued his research. In 1978, he created two-stage threaded titanium implants that were placed and then had artificial teeth attached to them. Some of the implants Dr. Branemark put in during this time were known to have lasted up to 40 years.
 

Improving Surfaces

In the 1980s, dental implant research was directed at finding the best materials and shapes for those receiving dental implants. For example, Drs. Schroeder and Straumann from Switzerland performed research regarding design, such as how rough the surface was as well as incorporating different materials, such as titanium alloys that included cobalt. Their research contributed so significantly to the dental implant field they are considered the fathers of modern implant dentistry.
 
Today's dental implants, such as those offered at H&M Dental & Associates of downtown Toronto, can hold a single tooth or can be implanted in such a way that the implants can hold an entire upper or lower set of teeth as an alternative to traditional dentures. Knowledge of how to enhance the bone before placing the dental implant and improved materials for the crown means that a person with dental implants can smile and eat as confidently as a person that does not.
 
For more information on implant dentistry, call Toronto Dentist, Dr. Benjamin Ghotbi at H&M Dental and Associates at (416) 977-3974, today.

Sources: Bothe, R.T.; Beaton, K.E.; Davenport, H.A. (1940). "Reaction of bone to multiple metallic implants". Surg Gynecol Obstet 71: 598–602./ Fraunhofer, J.A. von (2013). Dental materials at a glance (Second edition. ed.). John Wiley & Sons. p. 115. / https://www.nobelbiocare.com/us/en/home/company/media---news/articles/all/the-man-who-made-people-smile.html