Fascinating Facts on Dental Treatment
Chances are you’ve had at least one cavity in your lifetime. You know what fillings are. You probably even have an artificial crown in your mouth or even a dental implant. What you may not know is this implants have been around for thousands of years. It’s true! In fact, humans used some form of artificial tooth as early as 5,000 years ago. Who knew teeth could be so interesting? Read more fascinating facts about dental treatment over time.
Early Improvisers of Teeth Implants
A common material used to stabilize teeth in Egypt around 2500 BC was gold wire. Some might see this as an early version of braces, but the goal here wasn’t to straighten teeth, but probably just to keep them in place. About 2000 years later, the ancient Etruscans, living in what is now Italy, soldered gold into bands to aid in chewing.
Evidence of other artificial teeth have been found among the Phoencians who lived in what is now Lebanon. They created an early version of a dental bridge with gold and ivory. The ancient Mayans of Central America were known to create early implants with shell while stones were used in Honduran culture.
A far more creepy form of teeth implant treatment started in the 1600s. Teeth were collected from the underclass for use in the more wealthy patients. An infamous dentist named Dr. John Hunter was even known to acquire “donor” teeth from cadavers supplied by grave robbers. This chilling form of implant has some elements of Dr. Frankenstein to it and luckily for us today, artificial teeth made of porcelain do the job quite well.
Recent Advancements
More recently, in the 20th century dental implant innovators developed the first implants made from metal, such as titanium. In the 1950s, Dr. Leonard Linkow was the first to attach an artificial tooth to one of these metal implants for use as a dental implant. As a result, Dr. Linkow has been recognized for this pioneering work and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Implants and Dentistry. Furthermore, he was a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize in Medicine in 1969.
Benefits of Dental Implants Treatment
The benefits of dental implants are fascinating to think about too! For one thing, they make us look better. They also help us chew better so we digest better. They can improve our speech as well. All in all, these things work holistically to improve the overall quality of our lives.
Schedule a Dental Implant Checkup Today!
Here is another fact for you: the highly-trained dental professionals at EON Clinics are dedicated to your oral health and well-being. We work with highly-trained staff members and use cutting-edge technology in our in-house labs. This creates a one-stop shop for all dental implant needs at clinics throughout Chicagoland and in southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana.
From single and multiple tooth to full jaw All-on-4 dental implants, EON Clinics helps patients enjoy eating and smiling again. Find out how dental implants can improve your life. Schedule a free consultation online today or call us at 800-250-3500.