Cypress Dentists Discuss the Long History of Dental Implants
Although dental implants are touted as the next big advance in dental prosthetics, devices similar to dental implants have been used for thousands of years to replace missing teeth.
Online, June 6, 2013 (Newswire.com) - As we grow older, many of us may lose one or more of our permanent teeth. In fact, recent studies have shown that 69% of adults over the age of 30 have lost at least one tooth. Furthermore, losing even a single tooth actually increases the risk of further tooth loss. Dental implant procedures allow professionals such as Cypress dentist, Dr. R. Terry Councill, to restore a lost tooth with a natural looking replacement. While dental implants seem like a relatively recent innovation, modern implant procedures date back to the 1970s. Even more interesting, dental implants themselves are actually much older, dating back centuries, even millennia.
What are Dental Implants?
Basically, a dental implant is a replacement tooth placed into the socket of a missing tooth. The surrounding jawbone tissue bonds with the implant, securing the restoration permanently. In the 1952 researchers discovered that titanium has the unique properties to allow the metal to bond with bone tissue. Known as "osseointegration," the ability for metal to bond with bone provided the framework for modern dental implants. To this day, titanium posts are used in dental implant procedures.
Ancient Implants
Recently, archaeologists were shocked to discover the remains of a young Mayan girl from 600 CE who had received dental implants. Made from shells carved to resemble a tooth, these ancient attempts to replace missing teeth stunned scientists. Similar attempts to create dental implants were also discovered in the remains of people from ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire. Clearly, the desire to find realistic and stable replacements for missing teeth has been a human preoccupation since prehistory.
Modern Dental Implant Procedures
Modern implants employ the latest in dental technology to provide durable and natural looking restorations. Instead of the shells and bones favored by ancient civilizations, Councill Dental Group and other practices around the world use porcelain. Dental porcelain mimics the translucent quality of natural teeth, providing esthetically pleasing replacements. First, a biocompatible titanium post is placed into the socket of the tooth. Once the bone tissue bonds with the post, an abutment is added to the top. Finally, a custom-made porcelain or porcelain-fused-to-metal crown is placed onto the abutment. Dental implants can replace a single tooth, or even secure a full set of permanent dentures.
Schedule a Visit with Your Cypress Dentist
Do you want to learn more about our innovative implant procedures? Then schedule an appointment with your Cypress dentist, Dr. R. Terry Councill, by calling Councill Dental Group at 281-376-9246. You can even request an appointment online. Our 77429 dental office welcomes patients from the Cypress-Greater Houston area.