How did people from early civilizations take care of their teeth? When a tooth was rotten or broken and subsequently taken out, it could only have been a painful process without the help of modern medicine and technology. What happened after the tooth was gone? According to evidence dating back to 600 AD, the Mayan civilization used rocks, stones and seashells to replace lost teeth. Surprisingly, some of these materials fused to the jawbone and provided the necessary tooth replacement they needed for chewing food.

We have come a long way when it comes to dental implants and dentures. A good candidate for implants can go through the entire process in three to six weeks, after which he will have perfect implants and dentures attached to them. As easy as the process may sound though, the technology of implanting roots to the jaws was discovered accidentally. It happened way back in 1952 when a surgeon failed to remove a small cylinder made of titanium – the same element used for roots to fuse with the bone – from the bones of his patient. He was studying how bones healed but ended up realizing how titanium fuses so naturally to the bones of a person. The rest, as they say, is history.

Dental implantation was much in use in the 1970s, and developments to the process are still being made until recently. Osseointegration is the term used to call the process of fusing dentures to the jawbone.

Don’t be fooled by the name: false teeth are important dental implements that must be stored properly. Improper care of your dentures can lead to its ruin and will require you to spend for a new one again. Here are some useful tips and tricks for maintaining your sturdy false teeth.

Brush after Eating

Much like your real teeth, you wouldn’t want any food debris or particles stuck on your dentures, especially those that could eventually damage it. Hence, remember to remove your false teeth after eating and brush it like you would brush normal teeth. Make sure to wash and dry the rest of the denture fixtures too.

Denture Solution

Ask your dentist about which denture solution he could recommend for you, and be sure to wash your false teeth in it regularly. Don’t just use conventional household cleaners or even toothpaste as they might prove too abrasive for the job. Just remember to rinse your mouth right after you put them back in your mouth though.

Regular Checkups

After fitting you with new dentures, dental professionals would typically advice you regarding the frequency of checkups. Make sure that you follow their suggested schedule, and report any discomfort or problems that you’ve encountered when using your false teeth.

You should also look into dental offices that offer efficient denture repair. Furthermore, always remember that neglecting your new teeth will be just as bad as taking your permanent ones for granted.

People with missing teeth but with strong jawbones can celebrate as denture implants can help them get their smile back. These implants are permanent fixtures on your mouth, so you need to consider your options carefully. Here are some basic facts about them that you might be interested in:

Benefits

People who are fitted for dentures almost always ask their dental professional whether their false teeth will stick and how to make sure that they do. With denture implants though, this isn’t a concern anymore, so patients can go about with confidence that their looks and bite are nearly back to normal.

Implants

The implants themselves are titanium posts which will serve as the roots for your teeth, fixing the dentures into your jaw. The implants' head are typically ball-shaped although others use bar -shaped ones instead, and a retaining fixture (which is situated under the dentures) serves as the socket. When the dentures are secured into place, this retaining fixture snaps over the ball for a tight fit.

Treatment

Getting denture implants is a relatively painless procedure that can be accomplished at the dental office. Your dentist will first screw in four small implants into the ridge of your upper or lower jaw (whichever needs working on), then he or she will adjust the denture accordingly so that it perfectly slips into place. Before you get denture implants or permanent dentures though, contact your dentist and schedule a checkup.