When it comes to replacing missing teeth, dental implants are the name of the game! For quite some time, they’ve been considered the gold standard of tooth replacement since they can restore teeth in terms of look, feel, and functionality. But just how have dental implants evolved into the sophisticated, premier solution that they are today? Believe it or not, these nifty posts have quite a unique history and have served countless patients over the years. Here’s a closer look at how dental implants work and how they’ve progressed into the best means of replacing missing teeth.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
When you’re missing teeth, your jawbone doesn’t receive all the healthy stimulation it needs to grow, which primarily comes from the roots of your teeth. As you bite and chew, pressure is transferred down through tooth roots and into your jawbone, encouraging it to grow and remain dense. Without all of your teeth, you don’t receive all of the healthy stimulation you need, meaning your jawbone can actually shrink and become weaker. But dental implants can directly counter this!
Dental implants refer to small, titanium posts that are surgically placed beneath the gumline, directly into a patient’s jawbone. This allows them to essentially replace the root structure of missing teeth, which is something that other dental restorations cannot do. This also means that the patient gains access to numerous health benefits, but most notably, the prevention of future bone resorption. After the implant posts have healed, custom-made restorations are affixed to the top, granting a patient increased biting power and a complete and beautiful smile!
How Have Dental Implants Evolved into What They Are Today?
Humans have been attempting to solve the problem of tooth loss for thousands of years – it’s not a modern problem by any means! Archaeologists have discovered fragments of seashells and carved stones embedded in the jaws of ancient Mayans that date back to 600 A.D. Other cultures throughout the centuries have used other similar materials, including bone fragments and various metals.
However, in the 1950s, it was discovered that titanium was capable of fusing with living bone tissue, making it an excellent choice for all sorts of medical procedures, including dental implants. Thanks to the unique biocompatibility of titanium, dental implants started to take the shape of tooth roots, with a high amount of customizability; they can replace any number of missing teeth, no matter where they’re located inside the mouth!
Ever since the introduction of titanium implants, things have only gotten better. Osseointegration can be made to occur smoother than ever before, and modern implants have an impressive success rate of over 95%. Implants can also now be so snuggly embedded in the jawbone that replacement teeth can sometimes be placed on the very same day, though it still depends on the patient’s circumstances.
The bottom line is that if you need to replace missing teeth, you’d be wise to consider dental implants for numerous reasons – and you certainly wouldn’t be the first to benefit from this life-changing solution.
About the Author
Dr. Hasnain Shinwari received his DMD from Boston University and is a proud member of several professional dental organizations, including the American Dental Association and the Virginia Dental Association. He’s spent a large part of his career working with dental implants and is thrilled to offer implants and other related services at his office in Dumfries. If you have any questions about the blog, or you’d like to get in touch with Dr. Shinwari and his team to set up an appointment, feel free to reach out online or over the phone for additional information or assistance. Telephone: (703) 574-4717.