Though the first evidence of dental implants is often attributed to the Mayans around 600 AD from archeological records, restoration of lost and missing teeth has come a long way over the past 1400 years.1 Until relatively recently, patients with lost or missing teeth, particularly those missing an entire upper or lower arch of teeth, were resigned to methods that did not fully attach, or at least attached very poorly, to the structures of the jaw. Furthermore, traditional dentures and replacement techniques did not allow for the preservation of bone. With bone resorbing due to falling into disuse, facial structures often changed altering the overall aesthetics of not only the smile, but the individuals face as well.
Along came multiple scientists and doctors in the 19th century, namely Per-Ingvar Branemark, a Swedish Physician credited with coining the term osseointegration (the formation and maintenance of bone around an implanted structure) and who became known as the inventor of the modern dental implant.2 Dr. Branemark successfully completed the first dental implant procedure in 1965, and the future of dental restoration was off and running.2
Despite this advancement in dental science, the preferred method of full arch replacement remained the traditional denture, leaving patients without the benefit of osseointegration, stability of a natural feeling tooth, and often with aesthetic changes over time. The full arch dental implant technique, offered by Dr. Alfred Penhaskashi, would change all of that.
Dental implants are a fantastic, long term solution for missing or decaying teeth.
Full arch dental implant placement uses a series of 4 or more implants to stabilize a fixed denture to the upper or lower jaw, giving patients a natural feel when chewing, making it easier to speak, and giving the appearance of the patient’s original teeth. Perhaps most importantly, the dental implants placed help to maintain bone that would otherwise be lost, helping to maintain strong, natural looking jaw line. What is more, when properly cared for, these full arch dental implants can last a lifetime, giving you a smile you can be proud of.
To find out more about dental implants or to see if dental implants or a full arch procedure is right for you, call our office at 808-788-7091 today!\
1. Abraham CM. A brief historical perspective of dental implants, their surface coatings, and treatments. Open Dent J. 2014; 8: 50–55. Published online 2014 May 16. Accessed July 26, 2022. doi: 10.2174/1874210601408010050.
2. Per-Ingvar Branemark. National Inventors Hall of Fame Website. https://www.invent.org/inductees/ingvar-branemark. Updated 2022. Accessed July 26, 2022.