Q. Discuss the evolution of implants in dentistry?
The first use of Implants dates back to 600 A.D. in the Mayan population where intraosseous implantation of animal teeth or teeth carved from ivory was done. After that there was no looking back and the evolution of dental implants took a fast pace. All through 1700's and 1800's various materials were used to make implants including gold, platinum, cobalt chromium, vitallium, etc. Various designs of implants were tried out. Screws, helix, implants with extensions, implants with central post and circumferential extensions, tripodial endosseous pins, self-tapping type of dental implants, Linkow blade implants, ramus blade endosseous implant, intramucosal inserts, ITI implant system, IMZ implant system, press-fitted implant, threaded implant,self-tapping screw implant and many more came into existence. BRANEMARK. while conducting studies regarding the vascularity of bone marrow in rabbit fistula, discovered the phenomenon named "osseointegration". Many implants with hydroxyapatite coating, root form implants, plasma spray titanium coated and hydroxyapatite coated implants came into existence.