You (probably) already know that dental implants in Orange Park, FL are the very best option in tooth replacement — and if you didn’t before, you do now. But what do you know about the history of dental implants? And what do rabbits have to do with the comprehensive replacement?
We’ve got the top five surprising facts about dental implants below.
1. Dental Implants Are Centuries Old
Tooth loss is an age-old problem, and the first evidence of dental implants dates back to the Maya civilization in Mexico and Guatemala. Skulls found in this region dating back to 600 A.D. have the earliest evidence of dental implants. But they didn’t look much like they do today. These first dental implants were made of shells, bones, and rocks implanted into the gum line. Doesn’t sound too comfortable, does it?
2. Rabbits Helped With Today’s Dental Implants
Modern dental implants are so successful thanks to something called osseointegration, which means that the titanium implants are able to fuse with the jawbone. After the implant and jaw have become one, they are just as strong as any other bone in your body. And how did we discover that titanium and bone matter can grow together? Swedish professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark made the discovery in the 1950s while studying blood flow in rabbit bone.
3. Dental Implants Can’t Get Cavities, But…
After a tooth has been replaced with a dental implant, it’s safe from decay. Cavities cannot form on porcelain, ceramic, or metal alloys. But even though your smile will be less vulnerable to decay, the gums beneath your dental implants are as vulnerable as ever to gum disease and infection. Keeping your periodontal tissue healthy following tooth replacement with dental implants is crucial for enjoying stable tooth replacement for a lifetime.
4. There Are Three Parts to a Dental Implant
Most people think of dental implants as being comprised of one or two parts. There are, however, three parts to each dental implant. There’s the dental implant itself, or the titanium post that is surgically placed beneath the gum line. Then there’s the crown, or the visible portion you chew and bite with. A connecting abutment affixes the dental implant to the prosthetic crown. That’s why dental implants are completed in two phases: implantation of the dental implant, and restoration, when the crown is attached on top with the help of the abutment.
5. A Complete Denture Can Be Supported on Just 4 Implants
When all teeth have been lost in the upper or lower jaw, dental implants would be prohibitively expensive if one were required for each missing tooth. Fortunately, methods like the All-on-4 treatment allows a complete denture to be supported on as few as four dental implants.
Dr. Nawrocki Provides Complete Implant Care
Dr. Nawrocki is highly qualified and especially trained in all aspects of dental implant care. If you are interested in benefitting from the very best tooth replacement, we invite you to schedule an appointment with the dentist in Orange Park, FL.