The Ancient History of Dental Implants
Our ancient ancestors didn’t know anything about the scientific method, but they demonstrated a lot of ingenuity in their efforts to develop effective tooth replacement solutions. Civilizations such as the Ancient Chinese, Mayans, Egyptians, and Celts experimented with all sorts of materials, including iron, bamboo, copper, ivory and shells.
Of course, none of these material were biocompatible like the titanium fixtures in modern dental implants. That’s why these ancient implants never formed a permanent bond with the patients’’ teeth. And we can only guess how painful these ancient implants must have been.
Modern Dental Implants and the Wonders of Osseointegration.
As we know now, modern dental implants are a great way to restore your smile. They look, feel, and function like your regular teeth. You never have to take them out for any reason and they work to enhance the overall health of your smile. Dental implants will never get tooth decay and you take care of them the same way you care for your natural teeth.
Another important and often overlooked benefit of dental implants is the extremely strong bond that develops between the your jawbone and the implant fixture.Dental implant fixtures are made from titanium, a highly biocompatible material. This allows the jawbone to attach to the implant fixture in a manner that is very similar to the way your natural teeth are held in place. Discovered by Dr. Per Brånemark, the Father of Modern Dental Implants, this naturally-occurring process is known as osseointegration.
Like a lot of scientific discoveries, such as Teflon, Velcro, and the microwave oven, the biocompatible nature of titanium was discovered on accident. Dr. Brånemark was conducting an experiment on the blood flow in rabbits when he noticed that the rabbits’ bones were attaching themselves to the titanium instruments Dr. Brånemark was using. Dr. Brånemark later used this knowledge to design biocompatible dental implant fixtures.
Your Implant Dentist in Cherry Hill
Studying history helps us appreciate the benefits of modern technology and dentistry. Call our office in Cherry Hill to arrange your consultation with Dr. Donn and discover what our dental implants can do for your smile.