Dental Implants Are Not A Great Option For Kids Article

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Dental Implants Are Not a Great Option for Kids

According to Dr. A. Gerald Michels, a general dentist at Hillcrest Family Dental Care, dental implants should generally be avoided by anyone under the age of 20. During his many years working in the family dentistry field in San Diego, Dr. Michels says he has never seen a case where a child would be a good candidate for dental implants.

Author: A Gerald Michels

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Although dental implants are a great option for adults who are missing one or more teeth, they are not generally considered a great option for children. As a dentist, I am not aware of any cases where a child was fitted for dental implants as the result of a missing tooth. Why would a kid need them if they still have baby teeth [falling out] and permanent teeth coming in?

Children under 20
Parents should think twice before requesting that their children get dental implants in the event that a tooth falls out, because dental implants are rarely, if ever, a good option for anyone under the age of 20s. Children are not fitted for dental implants for a number of reasons. Firstly, the bones in most children’s mouths are continuing to grow up until they reach their 20s, and an implant would not be a good idea for anyone whose bones are still increasing in size.

In addition, most children who are missing teeth are simply waiting for their permanent teeth to move in, and putting in a dental implant during that time could permanently harm the mouth’s growing process. In a case where a child is genetically missing a permanent tooth—or if a child or teenager gets a permanent tooth knocked out while playing sports—it is usually better to wait a few years until his face and jaw have stopped growing before putting in a dental implant.

Benefits of Dental Implant
Once someone is an adult—which I classify as anyone over the age of 20 or 21—then dental implants will become a good option for replacing teeth that have either been knocked out or never grew in to begin with.

Instead of a bridge, a dental implant would be used to replace a tooth that was removed or genetically missing. The benefits of using a dental implant on an adult are that you do not have to touch the other teeth in order to get a replacement tooth in place. Essentially, what you are doing is putting a metal screw into the bone, which acts as a root. Thanks to technological advancements within the family dentistry community, people in San Diego can get specially designed screws that go right into the bone in the mouth.

Over time, the bone will fill in around the screw, which helps the screw become even stronger than a person’s regular tooth. Although most of this implanted screw is located inside the bone in the mouth, a little piece remains sticking out. This little piece that sticks up is what a dentist will put a cap on. And that, in sum, is what makes up a dental implant.

Temporary Tooth Replacement
On the other hand, there are different kinds of things for children, and they would be used for a few years until they were older. If a teenager were to come into my family dentistry practice in San Diego complaining of a missing tooth that was recently knocked out during a baseball game, for example, then I would most likely recommend that the teenager get some type of temporary replacement that could be used until he gets old enough to have an implant put in.

Among the most popular tooth replacement options for teenagers and children who lose one or more permanent teeth is something called flippers—which are removable partial dentures. Another popular choice is to have a temporary bridge put in. Temporary bridges can sometimes be bonded into the mouth without having to grind down the teeth, and they will last for several years. Some people have them for a long time, but they are meant to be temporary.

Remember, while dental implants are an excellent option for people ages 20 and up, dentists are far less likely to recommend them for any patients who are younger than that. After the teenager or child grows up and his or her jaw is fully developed, a dentist may then start discussing what options are available as far as permanent tooth replacement is concerned.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

About Author

A. Gerald Michels is a writer for Yodle Dental Marketing, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a dentist or more related articles at Yodle’s Guide to Dentistry.

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Dental Implants Are Not a Great Option for Kids