There is evidence that implantation of shells into the site of a missing tooth was successfully undertaken by the Mayans as far back as 600 A.D, and may have been performed earlier in other parts of the ancient world. In their current threaded cylinder form, implants have been successfully placed and restored with excellent success since 1985. Their basic design was pioneered by a Swedish orthopedic surgeon, who was using them to study wound healing, and in 1952 established that implanted titanium would integrate into bone in a process he referred to as osseointegration. Essentially what this means is that the cells that produce bone (“osteoblasts”) take up residence in the microscopic pores of the titanium surface and, over several months time, form an intricate network of bony connections to the implant, which when complete, virtually fuses the implant to the jawbone.
Based on this research, the first screw-form titanium implant like those in use today was placed into a patient in 1965. The technique was held in the research domain until twenty years later, when long-term data from human trials showing excellent success rates allowed appropriately trained dentists to begin using them routinely. Today, endosseous implants enjoy long-term success rates surpassing 95% in well selected patients.
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