Dental implants use titanium screws to permanently affix bridges and individual false teeth. Over time, the titanium fuses with the jawbone in a process known as osseointegration. Here's a bit more information about the history of dental implants.
Dental Implants Have Been Used for Over 1,000 Years
The first dental implants were used by the ancient Mayans over 1,300 years ago. These ancient dental implants were put into the mouth of a young woman. They were made from carved pieces of shell. The ancient Egyptians also used dental implants made of shells and ivory.
Modern Science Discovers Ancient Dental Implants
Modern archeologists in the first half of the twentieth century discovered ancient dental implants during their archeological digs. At the time, dentistry had had little success with creating dental implants. Dentists had tried various types of metal to anchor the implants into the jaw. Finally in the 1950s, a Swedish professor discovered that titanium screws would fuse with the jaw bone.
Dental Implants Became Popular
By the 1980s, dentists were ready to begin using dental implants on the public. The 1982 Toronto Conference in Clinical Dentistry standardized the process. Throughout the decade, dental implants became more accepted and more popular. Today, over 90% of dental implantations are successful.
