Dental Implants
- Greenfields 1913 implant system was one of the earliest successful endosseous implants.
- Ancient civilizations like China and Egypt attempted to replace missing teeth with implants made of materials like bamboo and precious metals.
- Wilson Popenoe discovered a Mayan woman with missing incisors replaced by pieces of sea shells.
- Titanium was first used as an implantable material by Bothe, Beaton, and Davenport in 1940.
- Per-Ingvar Brånemark observed bone growth around titanium screws, leading to the concept of osseointegration.
- Root form implants are the most common type, with different shapes and surface textures.
- Zygoma implants are long implants that anchor to the cheek bone and can retain a complete upper denture.
- Small diameter implants are low-diameter implants used for denture retention or orthodontic anchorage.
- Ceramic implants made from alumina were introduced but later replaced by zirconia implants.
- Robot-assisted dental surgery, including for dental implants, has been developed in the 2000s.
Dentures
- Pierre Fauchard described the construction of dentures using a metal frame and animal bone teeth in 1728.
- Etruscans in northern Italy made partial dentures out of human or animal teeth fastened with gold bands.
- Wooden full dentures were invented in Japan in the early 16th century.
- Beeswax was used to create impressions for wooden dentures, which were later carved from wood, human teeth, or other materials.
- Gold and silver dentures were created by Ambroise Paré for the French King Charles IX in 1579.
- The first porcelain dentures were made around 1770 by Alexis Duchâteau.
- Nicholas Dubois De Chemant, assistant to Duchateau, received the first British patent for artificial teeth in 1791.
- Peter de la Roche in 17th century London is believed to be one of the first operators for dentures.
- Dentures were made with porcelain paste supplied by Wedgwood.
- Wooden dentures continued to be used in Japan until the 19th century.
- The use of leaf springs in dentures was described by Pierre Fauchard in 1728.
- Advancements in denture materials allowed for more natural-looking and durable dentures.
- Modern dentures are made using a variety of materials like acrylic, porcelain, and composite resin.
- Denture technology has improved with the development of CAD/CAM systems for precise fitting.
- Implant-supported dentures provide a more stable and comfortable option for edentulous patients.
Early Dental Treatments
- Dental work was often performed by goldsmiths, ivory turners, or barber-surgeons.
- Samuel Stockton, a goldsmith, manufactured high-quality porcelain dentures in 1820.
- Dentures made of Vulcanite, a hardened rubber, were introduced in the 1850s.
- Acrylic resin and other plastics became popular materials for dentures in the 20th century.
- In 1968, 79% of those aged 65-74 in Britain had no natural teeth, but by 1998, this proportion decreased to 36%.
George Washington's Dental Problems
- Washington lost his first adult tooth at the age of twenty-two.
- Historians suggest that mercury oxide, used to treat his illnesses, contributed to his tooth loss.
- He had several sets of false teeth made, none of which were made from wood.
- The set he wore as president was made from hippopotamus and elephant ivory.
- Washington's dental problems caused him constant pain and he took laudanum for relief.
Charles Darwin's Dental Problems
- Darwin experienced dental problems from an early age due to repeated vomiting.
- The regurgitation of gastric acid caused tooth erosions.
- He visited a dental practitioner in Hobart in 1836 and needed a denture repair during his voyage.
- In 1852, Darwin had five molars removed under chloroform, one of the earliest records of dental anesthesia.
- His dental issues were a result of his lifelong illness and seasickness aboard HMS Beagle.
Advancements in 3D Printing and Dentistry
- 3D printing and imaging have revolutionized dentistry in the past 50 years.
- Stereolithography (SLA) technique, developed in 1986, is used for modeling, prosthetics, and orthodontic models.
- Digital Light Processing (DLP) was created in 1987 and is used for custom dental molds and medical equipment.
- SLA uses an ultraviolet laser to cure liquid polymer resin into layers.
- DLP utilizes 3D printing machines that accept CAD files and cures the resin with a digital light source.
Dental Applications of 3D Printing Technology
- 3D printing has been used to create toothbuds that resemble real teeth.
- Other applications include dental modeling, digital orthodontics, medical modeling, and drilling and cutting guides.
- 3D printing technology is also used for partial denture frameworks.
- Custom fit medical equipment can be created using 3D printing.
- The advancements in 3D printing have expanded the possibilities in dentistry.
The history of dental treatments dates back to thousands of years. The scope of this article is limited to the pre-1981 history.
The earliest known example of dental caries manipulation is found in a Paleolithic man, dated between 14,160 and 13,820 BP. The earliest known use of a filling after removal of decayed or infected pulp is found in a Paleolithic who lived near modern-day Tuscany, Italy, from 13,000 to 12,740 BP. Although inconclusive, researchers have suggested that rudimentary dental procedures have been performed as far back as 130,000 years ago by Neanderthals. Regarding implants, one of the milestone progress is osseointegration which was termed in 1981 by Tomas Albrektsson.