Do you know who saved our smile? – Read about the history of dental implants! People have always cared about how they look and the impression they make on others. One of the first things you’ll notice about someone is their smile. Dental implants have greatly contributed to restoring the functionality of teeth and beautifying smiles.
There is evidence that in ancient times, people replaced lost teeth in various ways:
– 4,000 years ago in ancient China, people used carved bamboo pegs, which were inserted into the tooth and replaced missing teeth.
– 2,000-year-old remains from Egypt show that artificial teeth were made from precious metals and ivory, and some mummies were even found with transplanted human teeth.
– In France, a nearly 2,000-year-old skull was discovered containing a dental implant made of cast iron.
– In Honduras, remains of the jawbone of a young member of the Maya tribe from 600 AD were found – three incisors were replaced with replicas made from seashells. Research proved that the replica was fully functional.
Until the mid-20th century, things did not change significantly: various studies were conducted, and researchers continued to search for a suitable substitute for natural teeth.
THE FATHER OF MODERN IMPLANTOLOGY:
In 1952, Swedish orthopedic surgeon Per-Ingvar Brånemark (1929–2014) became interested in studying bone regeneration. He wanted to use titanium chambers that had been implanted in rabbit ears two years earlier to study blood flow in living organisms. He discovered that he couldn’t remove them. The bones had grown close to the titanium and adhered effectively to the metal – today known as “osseointegration” (bone bonding).
This revolutionary discovery that the body can accept titanium long-term and allow it to integrate into bone was of immense importance. Until then, it was believed that the body would automatically reject any material that wasn’t of biological origin. Several more years of research were needed before, in 1965, Swede Gösta Larsson became Brånemark’s first patient. Brånemark implanted dental implants with prosthetic work in Larsson, who had been born with a jaw deformity, restoring the natural functionality of his jaw. Larsson passed away in 2006, and his dental implants lasted him for life.
Nobelpharma, later renamed Nobel Biocare, bought the patent from Brånemark, and since 1981, it has consistently focused on dental implants and implantology.
Besides Nobel Biocare, there are many other implant brands; what’s important for both dentists and especially patients is the origin and certification of materials. Dental Center 4Smile in Europe, Croatia, exclusively uses high-quality, certified materials, which allows us to offer a lifetime guarantee on dental implants.
