If you’re missing one or more teeth, you may be interested in obtaining dental implants in San Francisco from Golden Gate Dental. Dr. Inessa Sosis is an experienced implantation dentist, and an ideal choice if you are in San Francisco and need dental implants.
But how much do you really know about dental implants? We’ll discuss 3 surprising things that you may not know about these advanced dental restorations!
1. Dental Implants Have Been Used For Thousands Of Years (Sort Of!)
Okay, the history of modern dental implants can only be traced back about a century. First, to 1913, when the Greenfield Implant System was created, and then to 1940, when titanium began to be used for dental implants.
However, there is evidence that humans have been attempting to replace their missing teeth with dental implants for thousands of years! The earliest evidence of this dates back to 4,000 years ago. Remains from ancient China were found, which had carved bamboo “pegs” that were tapped directly into the gum and bone, replacing lost teeth.
There is also evidence that Egyptians replaced their missing teeth with pegs made of metals, like gold and silver, and some mummies were found to have transplanted human teeth, or replacement teeth built from ivory.
Clearly, the idea of replacing a missing tooth with a permanent, natural-looking tooth is not a new one. It’s just been perfected in recent years.
2. Titanium Was Chosen For Dental Implants Because It Integrates With Bone Naturally
Wondering why titanium is used in dental implants? It’s because it has a unique ability to bond with gum tissue and the jawbone!
This was not actually discovered by a dentist. In the 1950s, researches at Cambridge University were investigating how blood flows in mammals. To conduct the research, they built specialized titanium chambers, which were embedded into the soft tissue of the ears of rabbits.
It was then found that these chambers could not be easily removed from the ears, because the titanium had effectively “bonded,” permanently, with the soft tissue.
In 1952, a Swedish orthopedic surgeon, Per-Ingvar Brånemark, used the same chamber in the femur of a rabbit, and found that the bone had fused with the titanium chamber, leaving it in place, permanently. In the 1960s, Brånemark became the first person to successfully place a titanium dental implant into the mouth of a volunteer.
3. Dental Implants Stimulate Bone Growth
Dentures and dental bridges can actually encourage the loss of bone tissue, as they lack any kind of contact with the jaw and gum tissue.
In contrast, dental implants stimulate and preserve natural bone structures. This helps stimulate bone growth, while preventing bone loss and weakening, which is a common side-effect of missing teeth.
Learn More About Dental Implants At Golden Gate Dental!
If these “fun facts” have increased your curiosity about the benefits of dental implants, don’t wait! Contact Dr. Inessa Sosis of Golden Gate Dental today. You can make an appointment by calling us at 415-634-9106, or coming to our office at 3200 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94118.
We would be happy to discuss dental implants in further detail, and help you understand the benefits of these unique tooth restorations. We look forward to seeing you soon!