With the incredible advances in dental implant technology in recent years, it is easy to think that they are the conveniences of a modern invention but in actuality, dental implants have a vast history and are far from a recent medical phenomenon. Throughout recorded history, civilizations have continually searched for ways to replace teeth for almost as long as humans have been around. Perhaps it’s because of the natural process of shedding infant teeth as we grow or perhaps it’s just the sheer utility of having a full mouth of teeth, but no society has implicitly wanted their members to go without those important bones, at least without looking to available resources for solutions.
The earliest forms of recorded teeth replacement were, as one may expect, dentures. While it wasn’t technologically or medically possible to implant teeth in the gums with ancient medical methods, many civilizations looked for ways to replace the utility of teeth. Some of the oldest examples on record are over fourteen hundred years old with replacement teeth made of bone or various kinds of metals. There are likely older examples that archeologists simply haven’t discovered yet (and possibly may never find) on the reality that some organic materials simply degrade over hundreds and even thousands of years. Individuals may even think of George Washington’s famous “wooden teeth” (really made of animal bone) as another example of how far dental technology has come in this modern age.
The modern era of implants began in the 1950s.; these early implants used newer metals to replace teeth for those individuals who could not tolerate dentures, and since then the procedure has only improved from there. New polymers and techniques have made implants more life-like and easier for the body to tolerate, but the most effective changes have been in the teeth that can be replaced. While older implant procedures had to replace all of the natural teeth, today’s implants can replace a few – or even one single tooth with relative ease. This simple procedure has allowed many more individuals to fix their smiles and improve their quality of life without having to worry about a complicated, overly invasive procedure.
Dental implants have changed rapidly over the years and they are still making advancements today. Many oral surgeons who offer the procedure are constantly brushing up on new techniques and technologies to provide their patients the most realistic and complication-free implants as possible. For those in the industry, it is a very exciting time – changes in technology and information are advancing quickly and the future of dental implants holds un-limitless potential.
If you would like to find out if dental implants are a viable solution to restore your smile and enhance your life, learn from one of the top Oral and Maxillofacial specialists in the industry, located right here in Houston, OMSH.
Contact them today for a consultation and take advantage of all of the technological advancements that dental implants have developed!
