If you were to look back at how dentistry was performed 50-60 or even 100 years ago, it would look vastly different than today. Not only have dental offices changed in appearance, but equipment, technology, materials, and even procedures are far more efficient, customized, and safe. The same can be said for dental implants. These unique restorations have been around for quite some time, but when initially created, they looked far different. So how have they changed? Let’s take a look!
The Early Days
If you were to go back as far as 600 A.D., you would find that the ancient Mayan civilization used seashells and carved stone fragments to replace their missing teeth. By embedding these objects into their jawbone, it essentially, “restored their smile” and surprisingly even fused with the bone.
Fast forward to the 1950s, and instead of relying on the shells and stone, researchers discover the ability for titanium to fuse directly with living tissue in the jawbone. How did this happen? A Swedish orthopedic surgeon implanted titanium into the leg bones of a rabbit. After his unsuccessful attempts to remove it, he, by accident, realized that titanium is an ideal material that can be used to fuse with the bone.
The Past Decades
With the new information surrounding titanium and its unique ability when combined with bone, dental implants became more popular in the following years and decades. Initially, these restorations had a smooth surface. With additional research, it was later discovered that this design feature wasn’t ideal for the bone to grow against. Instead, creating an implant with a roughened surface made for a more successful fusing, otherwise known as “osseointegration.” With this new revelation, patients are required to spend close to 6 months recovering at home before being able to move forward with the remaining parts of treatment.
Today’s Dental Implant
While the style of dental implants has only slightly varied over the year (i.e. ceramic implants or metal-free), titanium implants remain the most commonly used. But what makes today’s implants different from those of 60-70 years ago? Time. As creatures of habit, with newer, faster technology all around us, and the ability to receive almost instant gratification, patients are looking for a solution that decreases the recovery time and allows for quicker, more beautiful results.
Today, nearly all dental implants have “threads” that make them look similar to a screw. Along with the shape of the implant and your dentist’s ability to prepare the placement site, they can be inserted into the jawbone and receive an artificial restoration on the same day. This is proven to be most beneficial when replacing visible teeth. Why? Because you do not use these front teeth to chew as much as you do your back teeth (molars).
This method of single-tooth replacement makes it easy for a person to walk in with an incomplete smile and walk out with renewed confidence and enhanced aesthetics – all without having to wait!
Also, dentistry experts have adopted new techniques to help individuals with more than one missing tooth. By fusing two or more dental crowns, they can create a dental implant bridge as well as implant-retained dentures. This prevents patients from settling for more traditional alternatives that do not offer the same stability, functionality, or longevity.
From shells and stones to same-day tooth replacement, you can see how dental implants have changed over the years. If you keep watching, who knows what they’ll discover in the next 10, 20, or even 30 years?
About the Author
Dr. James Moreau graduated from the LSU School of Dentistry in 1980. Developing MoreSMILES as a preventative and advanced restorative practice, he offers a vast array of comprehensive services, each designed to help you achieve a healthier smile. Need to replace missing teeth? With dental implants, he and his team can give you the restored smile of your dreams, offering an enhanced appearance and boosted confidence. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of dental implants, please contact us at (985) 809-7645 today!