Are Dental Implants Safe For Kids?

Dental implants have become a popular way for people to replace missing teeth because they last longer and look more natural than bridges and dentures.

When it comes to kids, though, the fact that they are still growing and changing makes parents wonder if tooth implants are safe for their kids.

If your child has recently lost a tooth and you’re considering dental implants to replace it, this article is for you. Let’s learn more about this subject to find out what you should know about tooth implants for kids.

Children’s Jaw Is Still Growing

When placing tooth implants for kids, one of the main worries is that their jawbones are still growing. Kids’ mouths keep growing until they are in their late teens or early twenties.

A strong jawbone is needed to support and keep implants in place. Therefore, putting implants in a jaw that is still growing can cause problems. For example, teeth and facial features may end up being in an inappropriate place.

You also may like to read more about Dentures vs. Dental Implants

Your Kid’s Age Is Important

The child’s age is a big factor in figuring out if tooth implants are a good idea.

Because of the risk of failure and the fact that implants can get in the way of normal growth, younger kids whose jaws are still growing are usually not good candidates for them.

Teenagers with fully developed jaws may be better options, especially if they have lost a permanent tooth because of an accident or not having one from birth. If your child needs Wisdom Tooth Extraction in North York, you can contact us

The minimum age for dental implants is:

At least 15 years old for girls.
At least 17 years old for boys.

By these ages, the jaw has probably finished growing or has at least reached the point where dental implants aren’t likely to adversely affect future growth.

The recommended age is different for each gender because bone growth in girls is usually completed before boys.

Bone Density in Kids Is Not Enough to Support Implants

Dental implants only work if there is enough bone mass and volume in the jaw to hold the implant in place.

In kids, the jawbone might not be fully grown yet, which makes it hard to get the stability the implant needs. Also, the bone around the implant needs to be fused with it properly. This is called osseointegration, and it can go wrong in a jaw that is still growing.

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Placing an Implant Might Interfere with Natural Tooth Eruption

When a child’s adult teeth come in, they usually lose their baby teeth. If a baby tooth is lost too soon because of decay, injury, or some other reason, it could leave a space in the dental arch.

You might be tempted to get an implant to replace your child’s lost tooth, but it’s important to think about when the new tooth will erupt.

Putting in an implant before the teeth next to it have fully come in could mess up the normal eruption process and create dental problems.

What are the Risks and Problems of Dental Implants for Kids?

Implants are very popular and beneficial. However, you should be considerate about the risks they may have, especially when it comes to children.

Infection is one of the main concerns. Your kid might have trouble keeping their teeth clean around the implant.

Implant failure can also happen if the bone doesn’t fuse properly with the implant. In case this happens, your kid might need more surgeries or treatments.

Another risk is damage to nearby teeth or structures. This happens especially when the placing of the implant interferes with nerves or teeth nearby.

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Other Possible Options for Tooth Replacement in Children

Children who are missing teeth don’t have to get dental implants. There are other options that can restore the missing teeth effectively. Some of these are:

Space Maintainers
Partial Dentures
Dental Bridges
Braces

Your first option is to get Space Maintainers for your child. They can be put in the space where a tooth used to be until the permanent tooth erupts. Space maintainers keep the teeth next to the empty space from moving into it, which helps keep the teeth in the right place.
Removable Partial Dentures are another option that is especially suitable for kids who are older and have most of their permanent teeth by erupted. Partial dentures are custom-made to replace a number of missing teeth and they are removable, so your child can take them out for cleaning or before going to sleep.
Dental bridges for children can be an effective way of replacing lost teeth. A dental bridge literally bridges the gap between two teeth. Teeth neighboring teeth of the lost tooth can be used as supports for an artificial tooth that comes in between them.

Using bridges, you can make sure that your child’s smile looks good. They also restore your child’s ability to chew and speak properly.

In addition to the aesthetic and functional aspects, bridges don’t let adjacent teeth move into the empty space, therefore preventing orthodontic problems and teeth misalignment.

Another benefit of dental bridges is that they can last for many years if they are taken care of properly.

Orthodontic treatment may also help in some cases. The problem with missing teeth is that adjacent teeth might move into their empty place if they’re not replaced. Braces can be helpful to fix problems like this.

Looking Forward

Technology always solves problems that seemed to be impossible to solve before.

Speaking about the field of dental implants, recent advancements and studies could make these popular tooth replacement option work better for kids in the future.

Bioengineering methods are being created to help bone grow back and encourage osseointegration. This could lower the risk of problems that come up when implants are placed inside the jawbone of kids.

Platelet-rich plasma and growth factors are two types of regenerative treatments that may also help make dental implants work better in kids.

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Making the Best Decision for Your Kid

Ultimately, consulting with your kid’s dentist helps you make the best decision. Each child is in a different condition and has different dental needs. Therefore, talking to the dentist about it will help you assess your child’s situation accurately and choose an option that leads to the best outcome for the health and appearance of their smile in the future.

The dentist, oral surgeon, orthodontist, and pediatric expert should all be involved in the decision-making process before dental implants are chosen for a child. The child’s dental and skeletal growth will be checked out during the consultation, and a custom treatment plan will be made based on their unique needs and situation.

Walk-in Family Dental

Do You Need Emergency Dentist?

Walk-in Family Dental provides quick and expert care for dental emergencies, including toothaches and knocked-out teeth.

Summing Up

Dental implants work almost magically for adults who have lost a tooth. However, it’s not that simple when it comes to children. Several factors contribute to drawing the conclusion that implants are not safe options for kids overall, especially younger ones. This is due to the fact the children’s jaw is still growing, so it can’t provide stable support for implants. This is a good reason to postpone getting implants to the final stages of adolescence and even later.

Until the child’s jaw has fully grown, other options like space maintainers, removable partial dentures, bridges and orthodontic treatment often work safer and generally better.

Talk to an Expert

You can’t make a wise decision for the tooth replacement option for your child, until you receive full consultation from an experienced dentist.

With several years of experience, our experts at Walk-in Family Dental are ready to provide full guidance regarding this subject to help you guarantee a healthy and beautiful smile for your child.