Did you know exactly how common it is to lose a tooth these days?
Well, you'll be surprised to know that it's far more common than one would think.
According to the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, 69% of people between the ages of 35 to 44 have lost at minimum 1 permanent tooth due to gum
disease, tooth decay, injury or even a failed root canal. From ages 74 and up, 26% of people have lost at least 6 permanent teeth. That's A LOT!!!
Do you know how many implants are used per year?
Approximately 100,000-300,000! Those numbers are impressive or alarming, depending which way you'd like to look at it.
So, since the demand for them is so high naturally there is a need to continue bettering the design and technology of these tiny game changers.
Getting to know where dental implants began their journey.
But where did it all begin? Where do the roots of dental implants begin?
Well, they can be linked back as far as ancient Egypt The Egyptians would carve false teeth out of stone or seashells and implant them in the human jaw. Other findings mentioned that some cultures would created implants out of metals in the shape of natural teeth.
Other archeological findings have traced them as far back as 2,000 years ago to the Mediterranean, South America and Asia where the materials used were similar to those of the Egyptians and included the use of gold as well.
The Mayans, too, were also known as a civilization that created their own form of implants. Remains were found of a person that had 3 implants that were fashioned out of seashells still placed in their jaw.
During WW2 dental implants and oral restoration were entering a change that would set the tone for dental implants that we are acquainted with today. The use of metals in dental implants became more popular. In 1948 the first subperiosteal implant was a success which broke the barrier and set the world of dental implants on course for what we have grown to know today.
In 1957 a Swedish Dr.Branemark made a remarkable and important observation during his work as a Orthopedic surgeon. Branemark studied bone regeneration and healing, and while doing so noticed that the human bone could regrow, regenerate and adhere to Titanium without any rejection taking place.
Due to this remarkable discovery, Branemark put his findings to the test in 1965 when he placed the first ever 4 Titanium implants in a 34 year old patient.
Some months after placing the implants, Dr.Branemark attached prosthetic teeth to the Titanium foundation which lasted thereafter until the patient died, 40 years later.
For the greater part of 15 years Branemark dedicated his time to the development of Titanium implants which till this day have affected the playing field of dental implants.
Today almost half a million implants are being used annually with a 95% success rate. How far we have come from the days of rocks and seashells to the amazing technological advance we are making even today.
Here at Edison Medical™ we are dedicated to manufacturing the most premium quality compatible implants (such as internal hex implants) on the market at the most affordable prices. It is due to roots of implant creation thousands of years ago that we can look to the future today and be excited of what is yet to come.
