Family Physician: A Friend to Depend On

Posted on: 4 January 2015

You know that dental implants are a good option for many people who have lost their natural teeth. You may know the basic process of implementing the prosthetic teeth into the jawline or even how long implants will last. However, there are a lot of facts you probably will not hear when you go to your initial consultation with a cosmetic dentist, but you may find interesting just the same. Here are five fun facts about dental implants and prosthetic teeth that may give you an even greater appreciation for modern dentistry.

1. Dental implants are not a new idea. In fact, relics and discovered mandibles and skulls have proven that humans have been trying to replace teeth with implanted material for as long as 4000 years. Bamboo pegs, shell pieces, precious metals, and even other people's teeth have all been used at some point throughout history to install a placeholder in the mouth for what was missing.

2. Titanium, which is the part of the implant that is actually installed into the bone, does not just screw into place, which is commonly assumed. The benefit of using titanium during medical procedures is the fact that the compounded metal will actually promote the bone to adhere to the surface.

3. During the Civil War, it was not at all uncommon for people, often beggars or children, to roam the streets and battlefields looking for teeth from the mouths of dead soldiers. These teeth could be sold to dentists in town who used them to make prosthetic teeth or dentures.

4. Before modern technology gave the world implants, porcelain crowns, and nice looking prosthetic teeth, dentures were the most common solution. Unfortunately, they were created with everything from solid wood to animal teeth, and just about anything else in between.

5. Because of the fact that anesthesia was not available for the earliest humans, prosthetic teeth materials were often hammered into place with rocks and crude tools while a patient was wide awake. Just imagine how thankful you would be to see a needle if this was the method used today.

By taking a look back at some of the history behind prosthetic teeth and implants, it will be much easier to plan your visit to the cosmetic dentist for the procedure. After all, maybe needles are a good thing and titanium is most likely more comfortable than wood, or even worse, bits of shell.

Visit a website like http://www.smiledesignersteam.com to learn more about the benefits of modern dental implants.