Minimum Age or Age Restriction for Dental Implants
When people are missing teeth or need to replace damaged teeth, dental implants are the treatment of choice because of their benefits compared to other options. Dental implants are most often used in adults, but are children or adolescents who have lost a permanent tooth candidates? Whether it was from a traumatic event or from a congenital condition, are younger people able to use dental implants to replace their missing teeth?
A number of criteria are reviewed by the dentist when determining if dental implants are a treatment option. Age is just one of the important factors to consider. The combination of many key indicators will help determine the likelihood of long-term success. The dentist does not want to put you through surgery if you are unlikely to benefit from it. Your age along with your oral health, the number of missing teeth, where the teeth are missing in your mouth, the health of your jaw bone, and your overall wellbeing.
Is there a minimum age for dental implants?
A patient must have reached skeletal maturity before they can have a dental implant. The jaw bone must be fully developed and should not be at risk for any more growth spurts. The dental implant can interfere with the jaw bone development if it placed before the jaw bone is done maturing. The implant may not be as durable or can allow for any number of complications. Placing dental implants too soon can result in bite problems where the teeth do not line up, gapping between teeth, bone loss where the implant is in the jaw, and even overall aesthetic changes to jaw or face.
No two teenagers are the same, but, in general, the jaw keeps growing until 18, 19 or 20 years old. In other instances, people can be in their mid-20s before they reach skeletal maturity. Taking these common ages, people under the age of 18 are not considered suitable for dental implants. Keeping this in mind, but making sure that your treatment plan is personalized for you, the dentist will use X-rays and growth assessments to determine if you are done growing.
Interim solutions for younger patients
There are alternative solutions for people who are too young for dental implant procedures but want to address their tooth loss. The dentist wants to make sure that you leave the office in good oral health and that any procedures are as successful as possible. Waiting for your jaw bone to reach skeletal maturity may seem overly cautious but it will ensure you are not going to have to have multiple invasive procedures. These deliberate decisions will keep the long-term success rates high. A dental bridge or partial removable denture can be custom made for your mouth to give your smile a complete look. These will even allow you to have improved functionality.
Getting dental implants as a young person can allow for a lower rate of complications and risks. You will be less likely to develop infections and implant rejection.