Dental implants are effective teeth replacement solutions for most people. Although dental implants may come as the first option for adults seeking teeth replacement solutions, they are generally not common in pediatric patients.
Pediatric dentists rarely recommend installing dental implants in children because their bones are not fully grown. As such, installing a dental implant in a child may lead to several dental complications, like mandibular tori. In essence, an ideal pediatric candidate suitable for a dental implant installation procedure is a child in their late teenage years.
Nevertheless, there are various concerns that need to be evaluated before dental implants can be considered a viable tooth replacement solution for a child. In this article, we will discuss some special considerations a dentist factors in before installing dental implants in a child.
Jaw Growth and Development
The main reason why most dentists avoid installing dental implants in children is because the child’s jaw bones are still developing. As such, installing a dental implant early on in a child’s life may cause teeth misalignment or trigger the development of mandibular tori.
Basically, installing a dental implant in a child means that the other teeth and bones will continue growing while the implant remains unchanged. A dentist must ensure that the rate of bone growth in the child has significantly plateaued before they recommend an implant.
Lifetime Repercussions
A child’s teeth keep on growing until their teenage years. Inherently, dental implants are permanent solutions that work perfectly well in adults.
Nonetheless, a dental implant may work well for a child for the first few years but cause significant dental aesthetic flaws later. As the child approaches puberty, their teeth stop growing further.
A dental implant installed earlier in a child’s life will look smaller and out of place when compared with the child’s natural teeth. Additionally, the dental implant may cause functional flaws, such as reduced oral hygiene.
Therefore, before a restorative dentist suggests dental implants as teeth replacement solutions for your child, they should weigh the risk-reward ratio carefully.
Mental Preparation
Most children are unable to take responsibility for their lives due to emotional, physical, and mental underdevelopment. Since dental implant surgery requires mental preparedness and personal responsibility, adults are able to attain tremendous outcomes post-surgery.
Primarily, post-surgery care for newly installed dental implants requires proper hygiene practices, avoiding hard foods, and proper treatment follow-ups. However, a child is incapable of taking care of a dental implant, which may cause the development of infections when installed.
Thus, dentists recommend alternative dental solutions to suffice the installation of dental implants in a child.
Alternatives to Dental Implants for Pediatric Patients
Despite Rochester dental implants having high success rates for adult patients, they may pose significant risks for pediatric patients. Fundamentally, your dentist will suggest other non-invasive dental solutions that may provide good outcomes with minimal risks. Some of the alternative dental solutions to dental implants for children are discussed below.
Partial Dentures
Dentures are effective replacements for lost teeth in both children and adults. Although partial dentures are temporary, they are non-invasive and offer a comfortable fit for most pediatric patients. Additionally, partial dentures do not interfere with the bone structure of a child’s jaw.
Therefore, partial dentures not only promote normal jawbone growth and development but also enhances the dental aesthetic of the child.
Orthodontics
A dentist may also recommend wearing braces to help adjust the position of the child’s teeth. Since a child’s bones and teeth are still developing, it is easier for a periodontist to manipulate the positioning of the teeth.
Instead of drilling the jawbone and installing a dental implant, the dentist will force the teeth to move closer together from all directions.
Eventually, as the teeth and jawbone continue to grow and develop, the gap that was initially in the child’s mouth will disappear.
Maintainers
A child may lose a tooth early on in life. Unless the tooth was shed off naturally, the chances of re-growth are very slim. Hence, your pediatric dentist will suggest space maintainers to help prevent the child’s teeth from moving in towards the gap.
The space retainers ensure the gap stays open until the child’s jawbones are fully developed and strong enough to accommodate a dental implant.
Conclusion
It is highly unlikely that a dentist will recommend dental implants for a pediatric patients. Although implants have astonishing results in adolescents and adults, they may cause teeth misalignments when installed in a child. Ensure to get your child assessed by an experienced restorative dentist in Rochester before settling for a particular tooth replacement solution.
