History of Dental Implants
Edmonds, WA
 Dental implants are effective teeth replacement solutions when compared to other interventions available today. This is because they function like ordinary teeth, are long-lasting, and preserve the integrity of your oral tissue. However, the idea of replacing the lost tooth with an artificial tooth is not new. It has been existing for centuries.
Evidence of basic dental implants has dated back to 2000 BC when researcher’s unearthed bamboo pegs alleged to be used to replace the tooth lost in ancient China. Other ancient civilizations tried to replace missing teeth with shells, human teeth, and animal teeth. Modern dental implants involve the use of titanium posts that offer support to your dental restorations. This post is implanted into the jawbone and the bone fuses with the implant to stabilize them within your jaw. Perrinville Family Dentistry helps patients enjoy smiling and eating again. We provide dental implants as a treatment to meet many different needs.
Ancient Dental Dilemmas
About 4000 years ago, the people of China understood the importance of having a working set of teeth. Thus, they tried to improvise their own versions utilizing pegs of a woody bamboo plant to make implants. You can imagine how uncomfortable and painful this may have caused these ancient people. 1000 years later, Egypt used metal implants, only among royalty. A copper peg was attached to the body of the Egyptian king by archaeologists. Whether this was done to assist in the afterlife or to improve his chewing in his mortal life is not known. But a solution was found and the need was recognized.
The Mayans may have been very successful to use the shell as a dental implant in the 1930s. A young Mayan woman was found with an implant that was made from a seashell. Originally, it was thought that the implant was placed after she died. But it was later discovered that her jawbone had begun to fuse to the implant meaning that it was placed when she was alive.
The Beginning of Modern Implants
In the early 1950s, a Swedish surgeon named Per-Ingvar Brånemark was doing some study on how bones heal. He placed a titanium cylinder of dental implant materials in a rabbit femur. He later removed it and discovered that the bone had begun to fuse with the cylinder and it was not easy to be removed. That’s when he discovered osseointegration which led to the development of dental implants. Brånemark did not stop there, he went on with research and partnered with a company called Bofors AB, currently called Nobel Industries. This assisted him to market and develop his implant products.
Today's Dental Implants
Thanks to the pioneering work of Dr. Brånemark, dental implants are now widely available for replacing one or more lost teeth. Dental implants can be paired with implant-supported dentures for a full arch of missing teeth, a dental bridge for multiple teeth, and a dental crown to replace individual teeth. You may be asking yourself if you are a candidate for dental implants. The answer is most likely yes. Dental implants can be placed on any healthy person irrespective of their age, as long as they have a strong enough jawbone. If not, procedures like bone grafts can be done before receiving dental implants. Caring for dental implants can help them to last a lifetime.
At Perrinville Family Dentistry, we specialize in dental implant surgery. Our associates and partners are experienced and skilled in dental surgery interventions and dental periodontics. Contact us at (425) 616-0620 if you are considering a dental implant to schedule an appointment today. |
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(425) 616-0620 
Gary J. Jacky, DMD