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.