A Brief History of Dental Implants
March 13, 2025
Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option out there. Thanks to their unique ability to replace the roots of the missing teeth, they allow for a wide range of benefits that you can’t find with dentures or dental bridges. Many people are surprised to find out that dental implants aren’t a new invention! They have been around for thousands of years! Continue reading to learn about the history of dental implants and how they evolved into what they are today.
The Ancient History of Dental Implants
If you turn the clock all the way back to ancient times – approximately 2000 B.C., you will see the first versions of dental implants. They were made form carved bamboo pegs in the ancient civilization of China. Then, moving ahead, the first recorded case of a metal replacement tooth comes from an Egyptian king from about 11 B.C. A copper peg was hammered into his upper jaw!
Throughout history, it has been common for missing teeth to be replaced with teeth from animals or other people, but the infection rate was high. Other items that were used to replace missing teeth include gems, like jade, and seashells. It wasn’t for many years that dental implants became advanced and safe.
Developments in Implant Dentistry
After coming upon the 18th century, researchers started to experiment more with gold and alloys to create dental implants. In the 19th century, a doctor mounted a porcelain crown on a platinum disk. This method, and others at the time, did not end up being very successful.
In 1952, an orthopedic surgeon discovered that titanium cylinders fuse with bone tissue. It was hypothesized that titanium may be the most ideal material to use for dental implants, so the first titanium implant was placed in a volunteer in 1965.
Modern Dental Implants
In the 1970s, modern dental implants started to make their first appearances. Over the years, dental technology has become more advanced, so dental implants have become customizable and natural-looking. Now, dental implants are available to people who are missing one, several, most of, or all of their teeth. They have a success rate of over 95%, and they are the only tooth replacement option out there that prevents jawbone loss. Ultimately, they have become a preferred tooth replacement option by dentists and patients alike.
If you have struggled with tooth loss, dental implants may be the right solution to give you your smile back! By scheduling a consultation with your dentist, you can put together a plan to meet your needs.
About the Author
Dr. Jonathan Aguilar is an experienced dentist serving patients in the Denton community. He earned his dental doctorate from the Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry. He offers dental implant restorations to help patients get their smiles back! To learn more about dental implants or to schedule a consultation, visit his website or call (940) 566-5332.