Discovery of dental implantsProfessor. Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered the phenomenon of osseointegration in the 1950s, and with this discovery, he also pioneered the application of endosteal dental implants that utilize screw-type or “root-form” fixtures that function in much the same way as natural teeth roots. These implants are effectively replacement or artificial teeth roots.

First Dental Implants

Dr. Brånemark’s discovery of osseointegration was one of the great discoveries in medicine. It was the one of the first non-anecdotal evidence of the possibility that the human immune system either cannot detect or reacts selectively to the presence of certain types of non-living foreign matter. Foreign matter which does not trigger the immune response can therefore be placed within or in intimate contact with bodily tissues. This situation thus allows the use of engineered devices to replace and take over the largely structural, supportive, or mechanical functions of certain bodily parts such as bones, teeth, cartilage, etc.

In essence, Dr. Brånemark’s discovery and applied research into the phenomenon of osseointegration has advanced the science and practice of prosthetics, thereby allowing numerous individuals to partially or wholly regain the use of lost limbs, teeth, and other bodily parts. Research in this field is currently focused on fine tuning the micro- or nano-structural surface properties of metal and ceramic dental implants and prosthetic devices in order to increase the degree of integration and functional reliability of these devices and implants. In the case of dental implants, for example, there are some situations wherein osseointegration is inadequate.

Original Dental Implants Design

In 2005, Dr. Brånemark set up a non-profit institute that provides maxillofacial and orthopedic reconstructive surgery for patients with severe malformations. Dr. Brånemark has been conferred with numerous awards and distinctions, including the Swedish Society of Medicine’s Soederberg Prize and the Medal for Technical Innovation from the Swedish Engineering Academy.

Dental implants in dentistry

Implant are used in dentistry in order to replace dental crowns, dental bridges or dentures. Dental implant are placed into the jaw bone and act like artificial roots. There are many different designs of dental implants. Dental implants surgeons will usually have a preference for the particular type of implant and its design. Some implants are more suitable for single teeth replacement while others are better for multiple missing teeth. The original design of branemark implants was known as external connection implants. The external connection is still used today in implant treatments. It is still probably the most common platform design used today in implant dentistry.

The original Branemark dental implants had polished surfaces unlike the roughened surfaces which are more popular today. It was found after much research that roughened titanium surfaces were better for bone tissue to adhere to. Implant companies defend that their surface treatments of titanium are superior to others, making claims that different ways of roughening the surface will have better properties for osseo-integration. Ti-unite (Nobel Bio-care) and SLactive (Straumann ) are two such examples of titanium surface treatments.

Brighton Implant Clinic is an implant clinic located in East Sussex in the UK. The group consists of 3 clinics located in Brighton, Hove and Hailsham. For more information about Branemark Dental Implants please feel free to Contact Brighton Implant Clinic or Call 0800 111 6623 .

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