If you’re interested in replacing some of your missing teeth, you may have heard that dental implants can be one of the best ways to do that. They can provide you with an incredible amount of bite force, and last for decades if cared for properly.

But it’s taken a lot of work for them to get to that point. If you want to know more about the history of dental implants, here’s more information about where they came from & how they got to be as good as they are.

Implants in Antiquity

You might think of dental implants as being sophisticated and modern, but according to archeologists, people have been placing foreign materials in the jaw to replace teeth for thousands of years! As far back as 600 A.D., evidence suggests that the Mayans used seashells and stones to replace missing teeth. If bone records are to be believed, some of these “implants” were even able to successfully fuse with the jaw.

Enter: Titanium!

Of course, modern dental implants are substantially more sophisticated than that. One of the biggest innovations didn’t come until the 1950s when the biocompatibility of titanium came to be fully understood.

While there are plenty of strong, tarnish-resistant materials, titanium has the unique property of being able to actually fuse with bone. This process, known as osseointegration, is one of the major reasons that dental implants are as secure as they are. With the discovery of this remarkable material, dental implants entered the modern era!

Final Refinements

With the discovery of titanium, dental implants began to take the shape of existing in two parts—the first is the titanium post, and the second is a crown designed to actually simulate the tooth. Over the last 40 years, particular attention has been paid to the shape of the titanium post.

Formerly, it was thought that a smooth implant was the easiest to incorporate, but contemporary research has demonstrated bone can osseointegrate much more easily with a roughened surface, further increasing the strength of the implants.

That brings us to the modern day, where over 95% of dental implants are successful at 20 years, and many last to 30 with proper maintenance.

About Our Practice

At Vollo Dental Group, we know that too many people get sup-par dental treatment, so we’re happy to say that we aren’t like other dental practices. The husband-and-wife dental team of Dr. Joseph Vollo and Dr. Katherine Vollo will collaborate to give you whatever dental care it is that you need. They, along with their incredible dental team, will work hard to ensure that you can feel heard and understood every step of the way.

If you have any questions about dental implants, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (585) 225-9114.