Tooth Implants The Reasons They Work
Tooth Implants have seen a huge increase in popularity lately due to rapid improvements in the rate of success and the level of tooth-restorative function they can provide. As with many other revolutionary dental and medical advancements, Tooth Implants have a long-standing history that has seen their viability has continued to increase. Clinical studies have shown that their efficacy has improved only over the past couple of years. This article outlines why today’s implants are so much more successful and what factors have contributed to their success. Learn the way Tooth Implants are placed for an overview of the procedure and illustrative images of implants’ components.
Early Signs of Tooth Implants Very Low Chance of Success
In the 1930’s an excavation of the remains of a young Mayan woman thought to date back to about 600 AD discovered some of the first-known evidence of Tooth Implants. These implants were originally thought to be used for ornamentation after the death of the young woman. This type of practice was common in ancient Egypt. An Brazilian professor employed radiography in the year 1970 to establish that the Tooth Implants comprised of seashells, were actually placed by the Mayan woman before her death. Three of the implants had bone regenerated, according to x-rays. The absence of similar artifacts suggests an extremely low rate of success in the era of the implants, however, the Mayan culture was definitely noted for its accomplishments and advancements. It was not known how those Tooth Implants worked (and why the majority of others didn’t).
Constant Experimentation – Failures not comprehended
The most extensive experiments in Tooth Implants occurred in the 19th century. Implants are typically put in right after extractions in gold and platinum. The evidence of the rejection of another person’s teeth was already evident by the attempts of the 18th century to implant human teeth. Even 19th-century implants that initially proved successful didn’t seem to be able to last.
A haphazard 20th Century Breakthrough Provides Important clues
Tooth implants were first created by Dr. P.I., a Swedish orthopedist. Branemark was conducting research on the healing and regeneration of bone. He studied the process using optical chambers made of titanium which were placed into bone. After watching the process for a few months, he realized the optical chambers cost too much to be reused due to the fact that the bone had hardened around the screws. Branemark branched out of his “standard” discipline to research the exciting implications for implant dentistry, particularly because the outcomes (in the mouth) were more readily appropriate for observation in the clinic. (Today, of course, titanium implants are also very crucial in the successful joint replacements and prosthetics.)
Branemark and his group coined the term”osseointegration” to describe the functional and structural connection between living bone tissue and an artificial implant for load bearing. After the first titanium Tooth Implant in 1965 Branemark continued to study the topic for several years. It was not until 1982 the year that Branemark presented his scientific data at the Toronto Conference on Osseointegration in Clinical Dentistry in 1982, that a significant turning point occurred in the acceptance and understanding of the results achieved with titanium Tooth Implants.
What Can We Learn About Success?
We have learned that Tooth Implants’ success and osseointegration in general are dependent on a variety of factors. These are the most significant:
Biocompatibility of the implant material Titanium is a superior material not just because people like it however, it is because the body doesn’t reject it. It is not susceptible to corrosion as stainless steel is. Biocompatibility is a concept that can be considered short-term as well as long-term. Research continues on biocompatible materials.
The shape or design of the implant. Alvin Strock in 1937 while working in the Harvard University lab, came up with the concept of implanting a screw, which is one of the most popular design forms and most commonly used today. Additional design research continues.
- The surface of the implant – This is one of the top research areas for determining what coatings to use as well as how porous they should be to ensure the best osseointegration and long-term result.
- The state of the bone tissue that will be receiving The health of the receiving bone tissue Good bone health and healthy oral health in general have long been recognized as important factors in the success of Tooth Implants. Bone grafts or dental restorations are usually performed prior to the procedure of implant if the tissue that hosts the implant is not in good condition.
- The surgical procedure for implant – How and when the bone and tissue is surgically prepared for the implant is vital. Failure rates can be affected by excessive damage to the bone tissue or disturbance. Recent research has also focused on the question of how many steps are necessary to ensure the highest quality results.
- The effect of force on the implant. Continued research continues to examine the effect of the load (force). The direction of load is crucial and can vary depending on the location of the mouth. A negative load could cause loss of bone and ultimately loss of stability for the Tooth Implant. For the best outcomes the load’s various aspects including whether it needs to be immediate, intermediate or delayed, are being studied in more detail.
Although the rate of success for Tooth Implants is high (about 95% according to American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons) However, the rate of success is dependent on the tooth position where the implant is being placed. The factors that determine success do not include other factors of the patient’s overall health that could affect the outcomes.
Smokers and people with uncontrolled diabetes have lower success rates. The person who provides Tooth Implants will assist you to identify the factors that are most successful that are relevant to your particular situation, and the importance of maintaining good dental hygiene prior to and during the implant process.
