Believe it or not, the history of dental implants begins more than 1300 years ago with the ancient Mayans. Back in 600 AD, a young woman was missing some of her lower teeth. The same as any modern woman, she wanted her smile beautified. She received what is perhaps one of the world’s first dental implants. It was made from pieces of shell shaped to resemble teeth.
A 1930s archaeological dig led Dr. Wilson Popenoe in Honduras turned up the ancient dental implant. Similar discoveries were made when excavating ancient Egyptian artifacts. The Egyptian implants were made from shells and ivory. It was decades after these archaeological discoveries before the modern world caught up with the Mayans’ dental technology.
Twenty years after archaeologists discovered the mandible, a Swedish professor named Per-Ingvar Brånemark made the first big stride towards today’s dental implant procedures (known as oral implantology). In 1951, this orthopedic surgeon happened upon the concept quite by accident, but a fortuitous accident it was.
Professor Brånemark and his research team were studying microscopic aspects of the bones’ healing process in lab at the University of Lund. During one of their experiments, a titanium metal cylinder was screwed into the thighbone of an animal test subject.
As it would turn out, perhaps their most important discovery was not made until after the initial experiment was wrapped up. Upon further examination of the bone and metal cylinder, Professor Brånemark observed something surprising: the metal cylinder had fused with the bone.
It didn’t take long to realize the enormous potential of this technique. Dr. Brånemark began focusing on how he could use osseointegration, which is what he named the phenomenon, to help humans. During his studies, he found that titanium screws could serve as bone anchors for teeth.
Titanium, researchers came to realize, was the only consistently successful material for dental implants. Before Dr. Brånemark’s work, other doctors had been toying with the idea of dental implants for years. A host of other metals, including silver and gold, had failed. Even human teeth (from donors) were tried.
The science developed through the 70's and 80's. Various shapes and designs were tried.
Commercial oral implantology grew during the 1980s. Osseointegration was being used to permanently affix bridges and individual teeth into patients’ mouths. The implants proved to be successful in over 90% of the cases. The modern dental implant had arrived!
Over the next two decades, technology has only continued to improve the process. Today's dental implant is a safe, predictable replacement for missing teeth. Implants are now considered the standard of care in dentistry.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
A Bridge to Nowhere
Replace Those Bridges to Nowhere
Dental Implants Preferred Option for Aging Bridges
CHICAGO, May 28, 2008 – Aging dental bridges are a maintenance headache and a recipe for oral-health disaster. They are difficult to floss, often decay, and require replacement with longer bridges. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), these bridges to nowhere should be replaced with permanent dental implants.
“Many of us have had the same bridges in our mouths for twenty years or more. They were put in at a time when bridgework was considered to be the norm for replacing missing or compromised teeth,” said Olivia Palmer, DMD of Charleston, SC, an associate fellow of AAID and diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology.
“An old bridge is basically worthless for preserving good dental health. In essence, it’s a bridge to nowhere,” Palmer said. “So why keep a bridge to nowhere? For most patients, implants are a much better treatment alternative because they preserve the bone of the jaw, can be flossed easily, do not decay, and function just like natural teeth. Also, to get implants you don’t have to sacrifice healthy teeth, which is required with bridgework,” she added.
According to AAID President Jaime Lozada, DDS, director, graduate program, implant dentistry, Loma Linda University, in the last decade prosthodontic treatment planning has changed dramatically because of the acceptance of dental implants as a viable long-term option for replacing missing teeth. “Why consider higher-risk procedures when dental implants are more predictable and a better alternative,” he said.
Palmer explained that bridges generally fail after 5-10 years as patients have trouble flossing them. “Because these bridges link missing tooth spaces to adjacent teeth, many patients find it very difficult to floss the bridge. Therefore, root surfaces below and around bridgework often decay, if not kept meticulously clean by flossing. It is impossible to repair this marginal decay, so the entire bridge must be replaced,” she explained.
Palmer added that, as a result, teeth supporting the old bridge often are lost, requiring insertion of longer bridges that further compromise dentition.
Today highly precise computer guided dental implant surgery has made the procedure faster, highly predicable, long-lasting and 97 percent successful, which is far superior to outcomes with bridges. Palmer, therefore, advises anyone with one or more missing teeth who might consider having a first bridge inserted or replacing an old one to weigh the benefits of implants before getting treatment.
“Many Baby Boomers are coping with dental problems associated with advancing age, and for most that means replacing aging bridgework,” said Palmer. “With an estimated two of three Americans having at least one missing tooth, implants are becoming the preferred tooth-replacement option. Implant surgery is one of the safest, most precise and predictable procedures in dentistry,” she said
Dental Implants Preferred Option for Aging Bridges
CHICAGO, May 28, 2008 – Aging dental bridges are a maintenance headache and a recipe for oral-health disaster. They are difficult to floss, often decay, and require replacement with longer bridges. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), these bridges to nowhere should be replaced with permanent dental implants.
“Many of us have had the same bridges in our mouths for twenty years or more. They were put in at a time when bridgework was considered to be the norm for replacing missing or compromised teeth,” said Olivia Palmer, DMD of Charleston, SC, an associate fellow of AAID and diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology.
“An old bridge is basically worthless for preserving good dental health. In essence, it’s a bridge to nowhere,” Palmer said. “So why keep a bridge to nowhere? For most patients, implants are a much better treatment alternative because they preserve the bone of the jaw, can be flossed easily, do not decay, and function just like natural teeth. Also, to get implants you don’t have to sacrifice healthy teeth, which is required with bridgework,” she added.
According to AAID President Jaime Lozada, DDS, director, graduate program, implant dentistry, Loma Linda University, in the last decade prosthodontic treatment planning has changed dramatically because of the acceptance of dental implants as a viable long-term option for replacing missing teeth. “Why consider higher-risk procedures when dental implants are more predictable and a better alternative,” he said.
Palmer explained that bridges generally fail after 5-10 years as patients have trouble flossing them. “Because these bridges link missing tooth spaces to adjacent teeth, many patients find it very difficult to floss the bridge. Therefore, root surfaces below and around bridgework often decay, if not kept meticulously clean by flossing. It is impossible to repair this marginal decay, so the entire bridge must be replaced,” she explained.
Palmer added that, as a result, teeth supporting the old bridge often are lost, requiring insertion of longer bridges that further compromise dentition.
Today highly precise computer guided dental implant surgery has made the procedure faster, highly predicable, long-lasting and 97 percent successful, which is far superior to outcomes with bridges. Palmer, therefore, advises anyone with one or more missing teeth who might consider having a first bridge inserted or replacing an old one to weigh the benefits of implants before getting treatment.
“Many Baby Boomers are coping with dental problems associated with advancing age, and for most that means replacing aging bridgework,” said Palmer. “With an estimated two of three Americans having at least one missing tooth, implants are becoming the preferred tooth-replacement option. Implant surgery is one of the safest, most precise and predictable procedures in dentistry,” she said
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
