Dental Implant History

Where did Dental Implants Come From?

 

 

Have you ever wondered how dental implants became what they are today, and why more and more people are seeking out Dr. Ken Versman, Dr. Doug Heller, and Dr. Eric Beckman?  Dental implants and other cosmetic practices have been around since 600 AD, and Periodontal Associates is on the cutting edge of dental implant therapy.

Implants are not a new phenomenon.  Taking good care of your oral hygiene has always been a priority since early civilizations, and Periodontal Associates urges everyone to continue to make oral care a habit or even obsession. Implants have been around for hundreds of years; however, dental implants have become more and more successful throughout its evolution.  Dr. Ken Versman, Dr. Doug Heller, and Dr. Eric Beckman are specialists here in Denver, CO, and every implant they perform successfully gives their patients a cosmetically beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime.

But before Periodontal Associates, the Mayan civilization was investing their time in developing the first version of dental implants.  Archaeologists have uncovered ancients skulls displaying teeth made out of other inorganic materials.  The first dental implants were carved from jade, different stones, or even seashell fragments.  These materials may seem unconventional, because they are, but proof that implants are conceivable is the fact that even seashells were seen to be fused to the jawbone.  Also, a human jaw bone found in Slovenia 6,500 year old showed traces of beeswax fillings.  The founding researcher stated, “This is perhaps the most ancient evidence of prehistoric dentistry in Europe.” 

If particles found on the beach can fuse to the bone to make a somewhat stable implant, think about how durable, comfortable, and what high-quality the dental implant used by Dr. Ken Versman, Dr. Doug Heller, and Dr. Eric Beckman are!  

The advances in dental implants that made them as successful as they are today was unexpected.  An orthopedic surgeon discovered the ability for small a small titanium cylinder to heal to bone back in 1952.  The capacity for bone and titanium to fuse is call osseointegration. Drs. Versman and Heller were one of the first U.S. dentists to study directly with the inventors of today's implants. They have educated dentists, periodontists and dental students about dental implants and implant procedures for many years, and have lectured on the subject in the Denver/Aurora, Colorado area, nationally and internationally! 

Dental implants were first used for patients who could not properly use dentures due to the increased loss of bone in the jaw.  However, it is best for osseointegration to be used in dense bone which is mostly seen in the front of the lower jaw.  

Most recently, dental implants are used to replace anywhere from one to multiple missing teeth.  The original implants were made in a one-size-fit all design with no variety in width or length. 

The first versions were also manufactured to be very smooth and sleek. Now dental implants come in an assortment of shapes and sizes to better fit each individual as well as the particular prosthetic tooth.  There texture has also been replaced with more grooves, resembling a screw, to enhance the fusing process.   

 

Now that you have learned about dental implants, you will finally realize that there is a way to improve your quality of life. Even if you have lost just one tooth – whether it is a new situation or something you have lived with for years – chances are you have never become fully accustomed to losing such a vital part of yourself. Dr. Ken Versman, Dr. Doug Heller, and Dr. Eric Beckman are uniquely qualified to provide a full range of implant dentistry procedures. They have been performing a full range of implant dentistry for more than 20 years at Periodontal Associates in the Denver/Aurora, Colorado area.  At Periodontal Associates, The Dental Implant Team, we are the market leader and we are driving the development of new dental implant standards and protocols.

Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman wish to share this exciting information with you and answer all of your questions.  Please give Periodontal Associates a call today at (303) 755-4500 to visit our Aurora, CO office.  We serve patients from Denver, CO and all surrounding areas. You can also visit our website at www.periodontalhealth.com to learn more or click here for an appointment.  We look forward to helping you with your dental implant needs as well as helping those with gum disease.