The Discovery of Osseointegration

This breakthrough happened by chance when in 1952 Dr Branemark was conducting research into bone healing and regeneration in rabbits. The technique he adopted included embedding titanium into their living tissues, which was a method previously researched at Cambridge University. Branemark placed a piece of titanium in the lower part of the tissue of a rabbit’s leg to provide a support for the bone to heal. What happened next paved the way for a landmark in implant dentistry when Branemark discovered that after three months that he could not remove the titanium from the rabbit’s bone. He found that the bone had integrated with the titanium in a process he termed “osseointegration.”

The Body’s Acceptance of Titanium

This remarkable quality of titanium sparked in Dr. Branemark the desire to conduct further research, which was carried out through controlled experiments on animals as well as human volunteers. Although the initial human volunteers received the first hip and knee implants, there was a gradual increase in volunteers who had suffered tooth loss. This led Branemark to focus his research on dental implants.

More research confirmed the osseointegration phenomenon at work and proved that the immune system in the bodies of animals and humans did not reject to the titanium implants. The results of this pioneering research were extensively documented by Branemark making the medical and scientific world, at the time, aware of this remarkable development.

The First Titanium Dental Implant

The first modern titanium dental implant was placed by Dr. Branemark, who was Professor of Anatomy at Gothenburg University at the time, in 1965 on a human volunteer. Over the next 14 years Dr. Branemark conducted further studies in titanium dental implants and published the results. He struck a business partnership with the Swedish defence company Bofors in 1978 for with the aim of marketing the titanium implants.

Worldwide Acceptance

Branemark published of a paper in 1981 which documented his findings. In 1982 the Clinical Dentistry and Osseointegration conference was held in the city of Toronto where Branemark again presented his findings and medical guidelines were established for placing tritium dental implants. This heralded the birth of the worldwide use of modern dental implants with the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) approving the use of titanium implants in the US.

Bofors Nobelpharma was formed in 1981 to manufacture and commercially promote the use of dental implants. Nobelpharma later became Nobel Biocare AG in 2002 and is currently the worldwide leader in aesthetic and restorative dentistry.

Dr. Branemark’s research paved the way for safe, functional and aesthetically realistic replacement teeth. Dental implants are now widely used and are considered to be the ideal solution for replacing missing teeth.

Aurhor’s Bio: This is a guest post provided by Mark P Jubbs, an author who writes articles for dentalcareplus.org.uk on the subject of dental implants and cosmetic dental surgery.

1. Avoid the complications of tooth decay and gum disease. If you don’t regularly brush, floss and visit the dentist, the consequences include painful cavities, gingivitis and even tooth loss. Lost teeth will affect your smile, your speech and your self-esteem – and, as if that weren’t enough, bacteria from the mouth can spread to other areas of the body. This can increase your chances of potentially fatal illnesses like heart disease or stroke.
2. Spare yourself the pain. As anyone who has ever suffered from a toothache can attest, dental discomfort can be incredibly painful. Our teeth are essentially exposed bone covered with a layer of protective enamel, and they sit on top of a complex network of sensitive nerve endings. Since we use our mouths for so many different activities, from talking to kissing to eating, it’s easy to inadvertently aggravate inflamed gums or deteriorating teeth, further adding to the pain. And, of course, the longer you wait to fix dental problems, the more painful and intimidating a trip to the dentist becomes.
3. Protect yourself from the emotional repercussions of dental damage. In many ways, our smiles are our calling cards; they help people remember us, and they offer a great way to break the ice with a new acquaintance. If you’re constantly trying to hide your stained, chipped or decaying teeth, your sense of self-worth is going to be greatly compromised. Why not put your best face forward by committing yourself to basic dental maintenance instead?
4. Sidestep potential relationship issues. One of the most common side effects of ignoring dental hygiene is halitosis – in other words, bad breath. Chronic and persistent halitosis can be off-putting to everyone you come in contact with, from friends and coworkers to your husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend. They may even begin to avoid you without even knowing why. Aren’t your personal relationships worth the effort it takes to care for your teeth?
5. Safeguard against professional repercussions. Just as there could be personal fallout for the person who eschews brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist, there could be serious consequences for their career as well.

People want to give raises and promotions to enterprising go-getters with dynamic, confident smiles – not reserved types who are afraid to smile or laugh in the office, or who have a reputation for having bad breath.

When it comes to oral hygiene, the choice is clear: Ignore it at your own risk – or care for your teeth properly and enjoy a lifetime of beautiful smiles.

About Author: Melissa Beckman is a freelance writer specializing on topics oral health as well as various services provided by a cosmetic dentist.

There are hoards of cosmetic surgeries available nowadays. People can consult their cosmetic surgeons to know what kind of surgery will be required in order to achieve the desired level of fitness or desired physique. Many people nowadays are struggling with enormous weight gain due to junk food culture. They also face different health hazards due to this. They embark on a fitness regime along with diet supplements. However people who desire instant results that will make a difference to their figure need weight loss surgery.

If you are morbidly obese certain definitive weight loss surgery may be required at times. The procedures like roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery are of great help to these patients. They reduce the morbid obesity also and also render physical fitness to the patient. Well, it is also true that he or she have to go through well-planned diet and exercise routines to maintain the surgically flattened belly. But definitely these kinds of surgeries have created a hope for people with unduly high waist hip ratios that have made their lives miserable!

Dr. Robert Silich md belongs to fellowship of the American College of plastic surgeon and a member of the American society of plastic surgeons and the American society for aesthetic plastic surgeons. In this line of surgery he has been named as one of the youngest doctors by several medical panels as New York magazine’s best doctor in two thousand and six.

At this young age Dr. Silich is an assistant professor at Cornell University medical college where he teaches plastic and reconstructive surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital. He also generously offers his helping hand in Lenox Hill hospital and Manhattan eye ear and throat hospital.

To add to his recognition he has been listed on the Castle Connoly top doctor’s guide, and has appeared of CNN for his work, his work has also being recognized by New York post, New York Times, The Washington post, Elle magazine, The new York daily news and other magazines as Hamptons, Quest, Gotham and W magazine. This is evident of his prowess in saving peoples image country wide.