The concept behind teeth replacement implants has been around for thousands of years. At an excavation site in Honduras, Archaeologists discovered the skull of a Mayan woman from 600 A.D. who had many artificial teeth carved from seashell. These teeth had been placed into the empty tooth sockets, and are ancient evidence of primitive dental implants.
Ancient dental implants. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_implants
There is evidence that dental implants were used by many other ancient civilizations, as well. The ancient Egyptians, who were notoriously concerned with appearances, would commonly replace missing teeth with fake teeth fashioned from many different materials. The wealthy upper classes could afford gold, silver or ivory implants, or even false teeth fashioned from precious gemstones. The poor would commonly make use of bone and seashell. The ancient Romans were reputed to have used implants made from iron.
As a species, we have long been aware of the importance of our teeth. Tooth loss and oral degradation not only compromises our ability to eat and speak comfortably, but also has a negative impact on our appearance. While tooth loss was certainly more prevalent in ancient times than it is in modern society, our efforts to alleviate the consequences have only increased. Modern dental implant procedures began to take shape in the 1950s, and today’s advanced equipment and techniques provide implants that blend seamlessly with your existing natural teeth and gums.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_implants).