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South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery
Home Dental Implants The History of Dental Implants

The History of Dental Implants - San Jose, CA


Rendering image of dental implant structureDental implant history dates back further than you may have guessed. The first dental implant is believed to have been used more than 1,300 years ago by the ancient Mayans. They used sea shells to replace missing teeth in order to restore a woman's beautiful smile. Archaeological evidence also shows ancient Egyptians used sea shells and ivory to replace missing teeth.

Learn more about dental implants at our What Are Dental Implants page.

Innovation With Dental Implants


The path leading to modern dental implants started in 1951 with a chance discovery by Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark, a Swedish researcher and physician. Branemark had screwed a titanium cylinder into a thigh bone during an animal study with the intent of testing blood flow's affect on healing rate. After the study was complete, he noticed that the bone had actually fused to the titanium cylinder without long-term soft tissue inflammation, which contradicted the scientific theory of the time. He called this process of bone and titanium fusing osseointegration.

Dental tool holding implant post in front of teeth in jawDr. Branemark quickly realized the broad implications of his discovery and began focusing on how it could help humans. During this research, he found that titanium - under carefully controlled conditions - could be structurally integrated into the jawbone and used as anchors (behaving similar to natural teeth roots) for artificial teeth. In the mid-1960s, Branemark performed his first dental implant surgery using the process of osseointegration he had researched since its unexpected discovery. However, Branemark's findings were not well received until the 1980s.

Using Dental Implant's With Today's Technology


Branemark's research and methods are the foundation of dental implant procedures today. The system developed by Dr. Branemark is still being used, but there are several different types of dental implant systems that have been developed to treat missing teeth.

Call our office today to schedule an appointment and to see if dental implants are the better choice for you!

Related Dental Implant Services


Dental implants replace missing teeth with biocompatible titanium roots that fuse with the jawbone, providing a stable, lifelike, and permanent foundation for crowns, bridges, or full-arch prostheses.
Permanently restore an entire arch with just four All-on-4 dental implants, a cost-effective full-arch solution that often skips bone grafting and gives you fixed, non-removable teeth on the same day as surgery.
When every tooth is failing or missing, full mouth dental implants replace the entire dentition with a strong, natural-looking set of permanent teeth, restoring eating, speaking, and confidence.
Patients with severe upper jaw bone loss who've been told they can't have implants often qualify for zygomatic implants, which anchor into the cheekbone instead of the jawbone, eliminating the need for bone grafting.
If you've lost teeth or had bone loss in the jaw, bone grafting rebuilds the bone foundation needed before dental implant placement, ensuring long-term implant stability.
When the upper jaw lacks sufficient bone height for implants, sinus lift surgery adds bone volume above the upper jaw, making implant placement possible for patients with significant bone loss.
Replace multiple missing teeth in a row with implant-supported bridges, a durable alternative to traditional bridges that doesn't depend on neighboring natural teeth for support.
Upgrade unstable traditional dentures to a bar attachment denture secured by four dental implants, eliminating denture rocking and slipping while restoring full chewing function.

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Gilroy: (408) 479-8788
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Dental Implant History | San Jose • Los Banos • Gilroy CA
At South Valley Oral & Facial Surgery, we want to give you the most up-to-date information and dispel the rumors concerning dental implants. Why not call us today?
South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery, 5595 Winfield Blvd, Suite 202, San Jose, CA 95123-1220 ^ 408-479-9449 ^ svofs.com ^ 6/26/2026 ^ Key Phrases: Dental Implants San Jose