Fifty Years of Dental Implant Development: a Continuous Evolution

Abstract

Since their conception in the 1960s, dental implants have evolved into a predictable solution for replacing missing teeth. Many of these advances have come from an improved understanding of osseointegration and material sciences, most notably recognising the inherent biocompatibility of titanium. This has allowed researchers and clinicians to focus upon achieving better functional and aesthetic outcomes. This paper describes the evolution from the original concepts to current practice in dental implantology and considers some of the challenges to success facing clinicians and patients today.