Did you know that the history of dental implants reaches back far before the kind of dental implant and prosthetic attachment you can receive today from your Brighton dentists even existed? Although the modern dental implant has only been around since the middle of the 20th century, there are several examples of dental implants dating back as far as 600 A.D. One of the oldest ever discovered belonged to a Mayan woman. It was a fragment of shell that was inserted into her lower jaw, and the most remarkable aspect of this fragment of shell is that the jawbone healed around it, suggesting that it functioned successfully during the woman’s life.
The successful fusion of dental implant and jawbone is the basis for the modern dental implant, and the discovery that led to this possibility was made in 1952 by P. I. Branemark, a Swedish orthopedic surgeon. Branemark found that he could not remove a titanium cylinder from the femur of a rabbit in which he had placed it after the bone healed. Branemark named this phenomenon osseointegration, a term still in use today. Following his discovery, Branemark and other doctors began applying osseointegration in a number of ways, one of which was the development of the dental implant. Branemark himself successfully placed a number of dental implants, the first of which was in 1965. However, Branemark was not the first to place a titanium dental implant as he was beaten by Dr. Stefano Melchiade Tramonte, who began offering them to patients in his clinic several years earlier in 1959.
Dental Implants in Brighton
If you are interested in receiving a dental implant, Brighton Family Dental Group is a great choice. Unlike so many dental offices, which refer patients to an oral surgeon for the placement of the implant, our dental office can take care of the implant process from beginning to end. Dr. Kondrat, an accomplished periodontist can place the implant, and after a suitable healing period, during which osseointegration will take place, Dr. Villani can complete the implant process by creating and attaching a custom prosthetic to the implant.
About Brighton Family Dental Group: Brighton Family Dental Group is located in Brighton MA. Featuring experienced dentists and an excellent range of in-office treatments, Brighton Family Dental Group is a great destination for any member of your family who is in need of dental care. Patients can schedule an appointment or a consultation with Dr. Thomas Villani by calling (617) 562-5210.
