For people that have had one or more of their teeth knocked out or removed for a variety of reasons, there is some measure of hope. Aside from dentures that can be removed and cleaned there are also dental implants. Orange County, California dentist Raymond Choi is one of the many who specialize in repairing, as it were, people’s smiles in the same way that a plastic surgeon can help repair a person’s face. Dental implants are not exactly new though the modern techniques and procedures are a lot more effective and reliable than the older methods that have been attempted through the ages.

Dental implants in Orange County, California – much like the implants in other parts of the world – are based to some degree on the work of Swedish professor, Per-Ingvar Brånemark. This professor discovered that the cells of bones, called osteoblasts, could grow on and in the rough surface of titanium. He discovered this by accident when he placed a titanium chamber in the femur of a rabbit for a research project that was completely unrelated to dentistry. When he wanted to retrieve the rather expensive titanium parts from the rabbits, he discovered that they had fused with the bone. He continued his research but applied it to teeth since they were more accessible than other bones in the human body.

From his research the modern dental implants in Orange County, California have grown into what we have today. Archaeologists have discovered, however, the dental implants have been around for a lot longer than we think. Though the method obviously differed widely from what Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered, the ancient Mayans have shown proof that also had some form of dental implant available. Mandible discovered in Honduras showed that there were three tooth-shaped shells on the mandible of the person. It was a Brazilian archaeologist, Professor Amadeo Bobbio, however, who discovered that the shells showed signs of compact bone proving that they were added during life and not after as archaeologists first thought.

Today, however, shells are not used to replace missing teeth. There are various procedures available that are used depending on each individual case. In very simplified terms, a hole is drilled in the jaw and a titanium screw with a rough surface is placed into the jaw. Once the screw has integrated successfully with the bone, the tooth cap is added to the implant so that the final ‘tooth’ can be placed in the mouth. This leads to a very stable and reliable binding that is likely to last longer than all the other, normal, teeth in a person’s mouth. Dental implants in Orange County, California do not differ all that much from those from around the world. For more information on just how Dr Choi can help you, contact his offices or visit their website for more information.