Minimum Age or Age Restriction for Dental Implants
Dental implants are one of the best and most popular ways for a patient to replace one more missing teeth. Without treatment, one missing tooth can lead to bone deterioration that can compromise surrounding healthy teeth, possibly leading to further tooth loss. Dental implants have a success rate of about 95% with proper care and maintenance and are a bit more costly in comparison to other replacement options but dental implants can easily last a lifetime and avoid further issues.
There are a number of factors that your dentist will take into consideration when determining if you are a candidate for dental implants which include your overall health, your bone and gum health, and even your age.
Are there age restrictions for patients who want dental implants?
There are age restrictions for dental implants. Younger patients are not likely to be a candidate for dental implants because children who have not yet reached skeletal maturity and may experience additional growth spurts cannot successfully have a dental implant placed. If an implant is placed in a patient who has not completed puberty or before the jawbone is fully developed, the implant can interfere with jaw development and the stability of the implant itself may be compromised.
In most children, the jawbone is fully developed by the late teens or early adulthood so a patient younger than 18 is unlikely to be a candidate for dental implants. Patients with an underdeveloped jaw may be at higher risk for bone loss around an implant which can cause changes in facial structure as well as spaces between the teeth and a bad bite. To ensure property development and structural integrity of the job, the dentist will use an x-ray of the entire jaw structure to determine if a patient is a candidate for dental implants.
Are there alternatives available to younger patients?
Tooth loss can pose challenges and lead to other problems, regardless of age, if left untreated. Even if the patient is too young to receive a dental implant, a bridge or partial denture can be placed as a temporary solution while the patient continues to grow towards full skeletal maturity.
Using a bridge or a removable partial denture can keep other teeth from shifting in an effort to close the space of the missing tooth. Even though some patients may not reach for maturation until their early 20s, this temporary solution can help avoid further tooth loss. Once the patient is physically mature, their bridge or denture can be removed by their dentist immediately prior to implant placement. After implant surgery, they will wear a temporary appliance with a fake tooth while their implant heals and integrates with the bone structure which can take up to six months.
If your child is missing a tooth due to an accident or a congenital condition, speak with their Dentist to see what options are available for them and together, you can decide the best path of treatment to ensure that your child has a beautiful smile to last a lifetime!