What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants have been around in various forms for centuries.  Only in the last thirty years, however, have they come to provide reliable replacements for natural teeth.

In the mid sixties a surgeon by the name of Branemark accidentally discovered that titanium cylinders placed gently into bone and then left undisturbed for three months could actually bond to the bone.  While discussing this finding with some dentist friends they decided to see if titanium cylinders could be used as replacement teeth.  Initial experiments were done in dogs.  The implants were placed in the jaw of the dog using a very gentle technique and then allowed to rest in the jaw for three months.  When the implants were exposed, a hook was attached and they were able to lift the dog completely off of the ground.  Although, today, this seems cruel to us, it clearly demonstrated that the titanium cylinders could bond to bone and withstand substantial forces.

Since that time hundreds of thousands of dental implants have been placed in the mouths of people who were tired of floppy removable replacement teeth.  Research has been conducted all over the world at numerous dental facilities.  The success rates have been between 90 to 97% over the last thirty years.

Put simply a dental implant is a titanium cylinder with threads or a rough surface which is gently placed in the jaw of an individual.  Titanium is a bioactive metal which, when undisturbed, is able to trick the body into believing that it is a tooth.  The body therefore bonds directly to the implant surface with a bond that is even stronger than to natural teeth.

Crowns or attachments are placed on the implant and screwed into place with retaining screws which thread into the top of the implant.