It’s generally not possible to provide dental implants for children or teens. Placing a dental implant before the child’s jaw has completed growing can cause complications. It’s possible for normal bone development to be impeded. Other serious complications can also occur, making it a non-option for treatment. This means younger patients who lose their adult teeth may not be able to benefit from implants immediately. Other short-term solutions such as fixed dental bridges or removable dentures are best until the jaw completes development.
Implications Of Losing Adult Teeth Prior To Adulthood
The social impact of losing a permanent tooth young can be significant. More importantly, loss of a tooth at this age can have an impact on jaw development. Your tongue, cheeks, muscles, and teeth all play a role in the development of your jaw. When you lose a tooth, you’ve lost a critical component in this process. As a result, your dentist may have to take additional steps to help it develop normally.
Orthodontics has long been a go-to solution in cases like this. Another solution is a treatment called myofunctional therapy. This process involves the use of exercise to strengthen the remaining components. This stimulation can encourage proper development and prepare the jaw for placement of implants.
Once the jaw has finished developing, implants are an excellent option. They’ve been known to last the entire life of the patient. However, it’s important to note that this has different implications for those in their 20s. The implants a young adult gets have to be correctly placed. The use of healthy restorations and proper maintenance is necessary for them to last. It’s possible for some implants to last as long as 50 years. Current data indicates they can even last as long as 80 years with regular restoration replacement. These facts are essential to be aware of when considering dental implants for a young adult.
In some young patients, there are different reasons for getting dental implants. Genetic conditions can result in tooth loss, or in thinner gums. Placing implants can be more difficult for these patients.
How Young People Benefit From Dental Implants
Despite all the considerations that have to be made, dental implants can benefit young adults. In most cases, they have significantly healthier mouths than older patients. They’ve experienced less gum disease, and have lower risks of peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis is an infection that occurs around the mounting post of the implant. It is the leading cause of the loss of implants in patients of all ages.
In addition, young patients also benefit from dental implants due to:
- Greater bone density doesn’t require bone grafts to place
- A beautiful smile that has a natural appearance
- Healthier immune systems
- Faster healing rate from the procedure
- Maintain healthy function and clear speech
Reach out to your specialist to discuss the benefits of implants for young adults. There’s no reason that we should spend our lives with an imperfect smile. Reach out and schedule a consultation with your dental health specialist today. A beautiful, natural-looking smile is just a phone call away.
