The Evolution of Dentures

A dazzling smile is a sign of beauty and happiness. Although the eyes currently hold the title, a bright, toothy grin can arguably be the true window to the soul. A person who lacks an attractive smile may also lack self-esteem and confidence. Sharing a jolly facial expression with others has a powerful impact. Individuals who aren’t happy with the state of their choppers often disconnect.

History of Dentures

Human beings all over the world have been crafting false teeth for ages. Evidence of dentures has been found dated long before 1,500 BC. For as long as people have walked the earth there has been a desire to replace missing teeth, for restored function and attractiveness.

Egypt: The ancient Egyptians used gold wire, threaded through real teeth to create a working set of dentures, that basically functioned as natural teeth.

Japan: This mysterious Asian country is known for producing the first set of dentures. A pair of wooden teeth were made and linked to the Ganivoii Temple in the Kii Province. Interestingly, this set looked a lot like today’s dentures in shape. Wooden dentures were worn in Japan all the up to the late 19th century.

Italy: In Italy, it was common for animal teeth to be used to replace human teeth. They were bound together with wire., but fell apart too easily. However, they easy to replace and repair.

Mayans: Early Mayans got creative with bones and rocks. It has been discovered that back in about 600 A.D. the Mayans experimented with fragments of seashells and small pieces of bone to replace missing teeth. Archaeologists found that many of these methods were effective as dentures because the materials were permanently fused with the jawbone.

America: One of our founding fathers, George Washington is known for wearing the first set of dentures in America. However, they were not made of wood, as once believed. The president’s false teeth were actually crafted of a combination of hippopotamus ivory, mixed with horse and donkey teeth.

Sweden: In 1952 Per-Ingvar Branemark, a famous orthopedic surgeon, could not dislodge a tiny titanium cylinder he had placed in a rabbit’s limb because the piece had somehow fused to the bone. This incident had sparked the idea of dental implants. By fusing the implant to the bone, it will be a much stronger, more permanent structure.

Facts about Dentures

This leads us up to modern dental technology, advances in dentures and dental implants. The foundation has been well set, and we have progressed far past gold wire threads and rock replacements. People can now choose between traditional dentures and dental implants.

Today’s dentures are the most common tooth replacement option. They are removable and held in place with adhesive. Although they do offer a natural look, dentures come with some setbacks. They have been known to shift out of place while eating or talking.

Implants have become very popular because they are permanent, they appear to be natural teeth, and they are easy to clean. A screw made of titanium is inserted into the jawbone. Over time, it fuses to the bone and eventually, a crown is attached to the end. This is the ideal choice for either a single tooth replacement or a whole reconstruction.