The history of dental implants is a long one, and it’s a story of both technology and anatomy.
If you’re curious about how dental implants went from ancient materials to modern titanium, the story starts thousands of years ago.
What’s the History of Dental Implants?
Dental implants history is evolved over thousands of years, from ancient bamboo and metal pegs to modern titanium and zirconia implants. Dr. Brånemark’s discovery of osseointegration in 1952 led to the first successful titanium implant in 1965. Today, implants boast high success rates, durability, and costs between €3,000 to €5,000 in Europe.
Early Tooth Replacement Attempts
Early Tooth Replacement Attempts Dental implants have a long history, with early tooth replacement attempts dating back thousands of years.
Ancient civilizations were quite resourceful in their approaches to dental restoration.
Ancient Innovations
China: Around 4,000 years ago, the Chinese used bamboo pegs to replace missing teeth. This was an early attempt at dental prosthetics, but not very durable.
Egypt: The Egyptians used precious metals and ivory for dental restoration. These materials served a functional purpose but also showed off the individual’s wealth and status. Ivory in particular was used to mimic the look of natural teeth.
Mayan Civilization: The Mayans were the first to use dental implants, using shells to replace missing teeth as early as 600 AD.
This involved embedding the shells into the jawbone, a precursor to modern implant techniques (1).
Middle Ages
Etruscans and Phoenicians: During the Middle Ages the Etruscans and Phoenicians made some progress in dental restoration.
They used gold bands and ivory to create simple dental bridges and crowns. This was more advanced than earlier attempts and gave better stability and aesthetics.
Medieval Europe: Dental practices in medieval Europe were basic.
But there were some instances of using animal teeth or carved bone as replacement for human teeth.
These were experimental and mostly failed.
These early attempts paved the way for future developments in dental implantology.
Although the materials and techniques were primitive by today’s standards, they were the start of a long history of dental restoration.
18th and 19th Centuries
18th and 19th Centuries The 18th and 19th centuries saw major developments in dental implantology driven by experimentation and the search for better materials.
Metal Alloys
During this period metal alloys were used in dental procedures.
Early attempts were using gold and other metals to create dental implants.
Although they failed often, these experiments were important to understand the limitations and possibilities of metal in dental applications.
Gold Implants: Gold was one of the first metals used because of its biocompatibility and resistance to corrosion.
But it was too soft to be used for long term in implants and failed often.
Platinum and Lead: Other metals like platinum and lead were also tried.
These were stronger than gold but toxic and didn’t integrate well with bone tissue.
Pioneering Research: Researchers of that time like John Hunter documented their findings on the use of metals in dental restoration.
Their work paved the way for future implant materials (1).
These experiments may have been rough but it was a step towards more reliable and durable solutions.
The learnings from these early experiments were applied to later developments especially the focus on biocompatible materials that can integrate with human bone.
20th Century: Modern Implants
20th Century: Modern Implants The 20th century was a game changer for dental implants alternatives, with major discoveries and technological advancements that laid the foundation for modern practices.
Osseointegration
In 1952 Dr. Per-Ingvar Brånemark made a breakthrough discovery that changed dental implantology: osseointegration.
This is the direct structural and functional connection between living bone and the surface of a load bearing artificial implant.
Brånemark’s accidental discovery was during a study on bone healing and regeneration where he found that titanium chambers had bonded to the bone tissue of a rabbit’s leg (1).
This was the start of titanium’s biocompatibility and the use of titanium in dental implants.
Impact to Dental Implantology: Osseointegration allowed for implants to be anchored to the jawbone, making it more stable and long lasting.
Clinical Trials: Initial clinical trials showed high success rate, many patients experienced improved oral function and quality of life.
First Titanium Implant
The first titanium dental implant was placed in 1965 and a new era in dental implant technology was born.
This was done by Dr. Brånemark himself who implanted a titanium device to a patient’s jaw.
The implant integrated to the bone and a prosthetic tooth was attached.
Long term: The patient kept the implant for over 40 years (2).
Widespread use: After this, titanium implants became popular in the dental community and more research was done to improve implant design and materials.
These developments in the 20th century laid the foundation for modern dental implantology and gave patients reliable and long term solutions for tooth replacement.
Modern Innovations and Technologies
Modern Innovations and Technologies The modern era of dental implants is all about innovation and refinement of techniques and materials for better patient outcomes.
Implant Materials and Design
In recent years there have been significant improvements in implant materials and design.
The focus is on stability, biocompatibility and aesthetics.
Zirconia Implants: Zirconia has become a popular alternative to titanium due to its tooth like colour and excellent biocompatibility.
Studies have shown that zirconia implants have similar success rate to titanium with the added benefit of reduced plaque accumulation (1).
Surface Modifications: Advances in surface technology have led to the development of implants with better osseointegration.
Techniques like sandblasting and acid etching increase the surface area and promotes faster and stronger bone integration.
Current Practices and Technologies
Modern dental implantology uses the latest technologies and practices to improve patient outcomes and efficiency.
Digital Imaging: Digital imaging and computer guided surgery has changed the way implants are placed. These technologies provide precise measurements and visualisation and reduces surgical time.
Immediate Loading: Immediate loading protocols where implants are placed and restored in one visit is becoming popular.
This gives faster restoration time and better patient satisfaction.
Minimally Invasive Techniques: Advances in surgical techniques have led to the development of minimally invasive procedures that reduces patient discomfort and accelerates healing.
Flapless surgery and keyhole approach is gaining popularity for its benefits in reducing recovery time and postoperative complications.
These modern innovations and technologies is the continuous effort to improve dental implantology and give patients the best care with the latest technology and materials.
Conclusion & Key-Takeaways
Conclusion & Key-Takeaways:
The history of dental implants is a story of human ingenuity and the pursuit of better oral health.
From bamboo pegs and shells of ancient civilisations to the discovery of osseointegration and titanium implants, each era has contributed to the development of dental implantology.
Modern developments is making implants more effective and reliable for patients worldwide.
Conclusion
In summary, the history of dental implants is a story of scientific progress and technological advancements, for tooth replacement today.
FAQ
References
Rutkowski JL, et al. Long-term follow-up of a patient with Parkinson’s disease under nursing care after replacement of fixed implant-supported prostheses with an implant overdenture: a case report. Int J Implant Dent. 2023;9:1-10.
Article: Long-term follow-up of a patient with Parkinson’s disease under nursing care after replacement of fixed implant-supported prostheses with an implant overdenture: a case reportCho JM, et al. Long-term steroid therapy and Denosumab treatment leading to peri-implant medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: a case report. J Dent Implant Res. 2024;43(3):27-32.
Article: Long-term steroid therapy and Denosumab treatment leading to peri-implant medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: a case reportAmin OA, et al. Assessment of stability of early loaded nano-coated hydroxyapatite implants in posterior maxilla. J Dent Implant Res. 2024;43(1):1-8.
Article: Assessment of stability of early loaded nano-coated hydroxyapatite implants in posterior maxilla
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