Dental Implants Through the Ages
May 31, 2016
You may be surprised to find out that dental implants have been around in some form for well over 4000 years. As human discovery and technology has advanced, so have the methods for replacing lost teeth. Today, Dr. Leo A. Tokarczyk stays abreast of current research and uses cutting-edge technology to help patients who need dental implants in Marshfield, MO.
Prehistoric Placeholders
As early as 2500 B.C. the Egyptians were using old teeth as placeholders for missing teeth. This prevented healthy teeth from shifting to fill the gap and let the person enjoy as normal a jaw configuration as possible. Gold wire was used for over 1000 years to secure these types of placeholders and has also been found among the Etruscans, who favored fragments of animal bone for their false teeth.
Mayan Meets Modern
By 600 A.D, the Mayans had made the first real advancement in dental implants, though the gravity of their discovery would not be fully understood for another 1300 years. They inserted pieces of shell into the socket left by a lost tooth, where, sometimes, the shell took root and became permanent, in a process that would later become known as osseointegration. Skeletons with this type of implant have also been found in other areas of the world, including the Middle East and Rome.
By 1960, an orthopedic surgeon from Sweden, Per-Ingvar Brånemark, had studied and named this process after stumbling upon it accidentally during a research project. He spent the next several years perfecting and trademarking the method, which led to the standardizing of implants throughout the dental industry.
Today’s implants are decidedly more comfortable and functional than those of 4000 years ago, and offer the patient many benefits:
- Function like a normal tooth
- Can be made to match the shape and size of natural teeth
- Prevent bone loss due to their anchoring in the jawbone
Contact Us Today
Call today at 417-882-2880 or toll free at 800-346-4604 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tokarczyk. Our friendly staff is always happy to provide answers for any questions you may have.