Few people looking for dental implants in Loughton will appreciate who they have to thank for the development of this versatile and life-changing dental treatment. At Broadway Dental Clinic we have been fitting dental implants in Loughton patients for many years. So who was Dr. Brånemark and how did he make his mark in the world of dentistry?

Dr. Per-Ingvar Brånemark M.D., Ph.D., was a Swedish orthopaedic surgeon and researcher. During the 1950s, Dr. Brånemark and his team were studying how bones heal and the effect of blood flow on this healing process. They inserted optical devices encased in titanium into rabbit legs as part of this research. When they were ready to remove the devices they discovered that it was impossible because the titanium had actually fused with the bone. This breakthrough was known as “ossointegration”.

It wasn’t long before he and his team announced that titanium could be used to fix artificial teeth into the jaw. The New York Times reported in the mid-1960s that Dr. Brånemark performed his first dental implant procedure on a man with multiple issues including jaw deformities, no teeth in his lower jaw and a cleft palate. The four implants this patient received enabled him to used dentures for the rest of his life – over four decades.

In spite of his success the process was not adopted by the dental and medical establishment, as they were unconvinced that integration of titanium into living tissue was safe. Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare didn’t approve the implants until the 1970s.

The versatility of his discovery means that nowadays the techniques are used not only for medical application but also the veterinary field.

During his career he received many accolades. Sadly, he died aged 85 in December 2014 in his hometown of Gothenburg in Sweden.

While some people may not approve of scientists experimenting with animals in the way that Dr. Brånemark and his team did, the majority are grateful for the advancements in dentistry that have been possible as a result. The ability to have ‘normal’ teeth and eat, speak and smile with confidence is a direct result of dentists having the equipment and skills to fit dental implants in Loughton patients and patients throughout the world.