Dental Implants — Historical Facts You Probably Don't Know

Ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptians were among the pioneers in medicine and surgery, including prosthetics and dental implants. Although our knowledge on the subject is limited, archaeological discoveries and texts from that period testify to their innovation in this field.

Ancient Egyptians made dental implants from a variety of materials. Most often, metals such as gold, as well as bone and ivory were used for this purpose. Archaeological findings indicate that they tried to replace missing teeth with materials that were available and considered durable. Gold, prized for its durability and antibacterial properties, was a particularly popular material for dentures and implants.

One of the techniques they used was to tie the implants to adjacent teeth with gold or silver wires, which was intended to stabilize the prosthesis. Such methods could be used for both aesthetic and functional purposes, allowing people with missing teeth to better chew food and speak. Although the accuracy and effectiveness of these early implants were far from today's standards, their existence testifies to an advanced level of understanding of dental and engineering needs in ancient Egypt.

The most convincing evidence of the Egyptian use of dental implants is archaeological finds containing remains with apparent attempts to replace missing teeth. It is difficult to determine how effective these early attempts at implantation were compared to modern methods, but the fact that there were attempts to replace missing teeth testifies to the advancement of their medicine and concern for oral health.

Mayan Civilization

The ancient Maya, one of the most innovative civilizations of pre-Columbian America, made significant advances in the field of dentistry, especially in the context of creating dental implants. One of their unique methods was to use seashells as a material for implants.

The Mayans grinded seashells, giving them a shape that mimicked natural teeth. This process required not only precision, but also a deep knowledge of the anatomy of the human oral cavity. After the formation of the appropriate shape, the shells were implanted directly into the jaw bone at the site of the missing teeth.

Ancient Rome

The ancient Romans made significant advances in many fields, including medicine and dentistry. Like other ancient civilizations, the Romans sought ways to deal with the problem of tooth loss, which led them to experiment with various forms of dental implants.

The Romans used a variety of materials to create dental implants, including metals such as gold, silver, as well as bones and teeth from animals or humans. Gold was often used for its antibacterial properties and plasticity, which made it possible to precisely fit implants.

The ancient Romans practiced the implantation of human and animal teeth as a way to replace lost teeth. These teeth may have come from a variety of sources, including animals, slaves, and even teeth acquired as war trophies. Like the Egyptians, the Romans used metal wires, often made of gold, to stabilize implants and adjacent teeth. This technique not only helped keep the implant in place, but also supported the teeth next to the gap, preventing them from moving. The Romans also experimented with prosthetics, using gold crowns and bridges to restore damaged teeth and fill the space after lost teeth. Although they were not implants in today's understanding, these methods represented an important step towards the development of dental prosthetics.

The Romans placed great importance on appearance and personal hygiene, which also included taking care of the teeth. Thus, dental implants and prosthetics had not only practical, but also aesthetic functions. A healthy smile was valued in Roman society, which stimulated the development of dentistry.

Archaeological discoveries, including remains with dental implants and dental tools, provide evidence of the advanced knowledge of the Romans in dentistry. These finds testify to the skill and innovation of the ancient Romans in the search for solutions to dental problems.

The Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, a period significantly different technologically and medically from antiquity and modernity, dental implant practices were limited and much less advanced. The medical knowledge of the period was partly based on ancient texts such as the works of Galen and Hippocrates, but access to this knowledge was limited, and dental practices were often based on traditional methods and beliefs.

As in other historical periods, attempts were made in the Middle Ages to replace missing teeth with teeth derived from humans (e.g. teeth of donors or deceased) or animals. However, these methods often ended in failure due to infection and rejection of the implant by the body.

Although evidence of the use of alternative materials as dental implants in the Middle Ages is limited, there are reports suggesting attempts to use bone, wood or ivory to create prosthetic tooth replacements. As early as 1100, Abulcasis, an outstanding doctor from Arabia, was the first to use the technique of dental implantation, using for this purpose a bovine bone, which he formed into the shape of a tooth. In 1562, Ambroise Pare, a Renaissance-era French surgeon renowned for his skills, pioneered the implantation of carefully shaped pieces of ivory in place of recently lost teeth. The implant was placed immediately after the original tooth was removed, which was an innovative approach at the time.

What is especially interesting, in the first millennium AD, the placement of iron implants in human jaws was practiced. The discovery of one such implant, having the form of a premolar, took place during archaeological excavations in the area of the old cemetery in Chantable, France. An X-ray examination of this find showed that the implant was effectively integrated into the jaw bone.

Present times

In 1965, a significant moment in the history of dental implant development occurred when Per-Ingvar Brånemark, a Swedish scientist, applied the first dental implant made of titanium. Crucial to his discovery was that titanium has the ability to integrate into human bone—a process he called osseointegration. This groundbreaking discovery by Brånemark opened the door to the development of modern dental implantation methods, as it enabled a permanent connection of the implant to the jaw bone, which in turn ensured the stability and long-term functionality of dental implants. Thanks to this, titanium implants have become the foundation for further development and improvement in the field of dental implantology.

The history of dental implants is a fascinating journey through the innovations and discoveries made by different civilizations over the centuries. From the simple attempts of the ancient Egyptians to replace lost teeth, to the incrustations of precious stones in the Maya, to the use of sea shells as implants, each stage of this story testifies to the human quest to improve the quality of life through advanced dental solutions. In conclusion, the history of dental implants is proof of how far dental medicine has come, moving from simple, inefficient methods to advanced technologies that today constitute the standard in the restoration of missing teeth. Each stage of this history has contributed to the development and improvement of implantation techniques, offering patients a better quality of life and contributing to advances in the field of dentistry.