Minimum Age or Age Restriction for Dental Implants
When an adult is missing a tooth and is looking to replace it, dental implants are the treatment of choice of both patients and dentists. The natural look and function of the dental implant is preferred to dentures and bridges. If the patient is not an adult, but a child or adolescent instead, are dental implants still the best choice? What if the tooth that needs to be replaced is missing from an injury or a congenital condition? Does the reason make a difference? Are dental implants a healthy choice for people in this age group?
When the dentist is reviewing treatment options for replacing missing teeth, the dentist takes the patient’s age into consideration among other medical history and conditions factors. The dentist wants to ensure the best outcome with minimal risks for every patient, especially if the patient is undergoing invasive procedures. The major factors the dentist will take into consideration beyond age are: oral health, number of missing teeth, location of missing teeth, health of jawbone, and overall wellbeing.
Is there a minimum age for dental implants?
In order for the dental implant to remain in place and heal properly, the jawbone needs to be strong enough to support the implant. In the case of bone loss, the dentist may recommend a bone graft. In the case of skeletal immaturity, the dentist will want to wait until the patient is done growing. The jawbone needs to be fully developed and not experience any more growth periods. Dental implants should not be placed before the patient is in puberty or while the patient is in puberty. If they are placed too soon, not only can the dental implants move, but they can become loose, come out, or disrupt the proper growth of the jawbone. The dental implant will not be as durable and will not offer the permanent results people have come to know about dental implants.
When dental implants are placed too soon in a young patient’s mouth, the patient is at greater risk for:
- Improper spacing between teeth
- Unaligned bite
- Bone loss in the jaw near the implant
- Misshapen craniofacial structure
No two people are the exact same, so there is not a specific age that the dentist can look to use a dental implant. Typically teens stop growing around the ages of 18 to 20 years old, but some people continue to grow into their mid-20’s. The general rule of thumb is that people under the age of 18 are not considered good candidates for dental implants. The dentist can use X-rays and other growth assessments to determine if the patient has reached skeletal maturity. Once bone development is 100 percent, then the dentist can start the dental implant treatment plan.
Interim solutions for younger patients
People experience tooth loss at all ages and living with a missing tooth can lead to loss of confidence, problems speaking clearly, and problems chewing. There are a number of solutions the dentist can use if the patient is not old enough yet to have dental implants. The dentist will look to ensure the patient does not lose functionality prior to tooth replacement with a dental implant and the patient will have the self assurance that comes with a complete smile. It may require patience before the jaw is ready for the permanent dental implant, but the dentist is ensuring that the patient has the least amount of risk and highest chance of a successful procedure. The dentist can help you determine if a dental bridge or a removable partial denture is the ideal custom solution for your specific needs at this time.
Even though people have to have a fully mature jaw bone before they can have a dental implant, getting a dental implant as a young adult is the best way to help maintain long term dental health. When people are young, their bodies heal faster and have lower risks of infections. Without the risk of these complications, people have a minimized risk of peri-implantitis or implant failure. And who wouldn’t want to have a full, beautiful smile for many years to come?!
What is the right age for dental implants?
If you have lost a tooth due to an accident or you have a genetic condition, you should talk to the dentist about your tooth replacement options. Not going too long with a missing tooth will help minimize long term problems that come when you do not replace a missing tooth like bite misalignment. One of the most popular tooth replacement options now is a dental implant. The titanium or zirconium post placed in the jaw bone acts like a natural tooth root. The prosthetic tooth is attached to the implanted post with an abutment just above the gum line giving the finished look of a natural tooth that matches the rest of your teeth. The dental implant stimulates the jaw bone preventing bone loss and it keeps the surrounding teeth in place. With no concern for the shifting of other teeth, the dental implant will help maintain your current bite alignment preventing future jaw pain and chewing issues. The dental implant will allow your speech pattern to remain unchanged from before you lost the tooth and will allow you to chew the way you would with your natural teeth. Unlike dentures, dental implants remain in place permanently and can be cleaned the same way as the rest of your natural teeth. Dental implants do not shift or move the way dentures can, preventing the gum sores and embarrassing slipping mishaps that occur with dentures. Dental implants do not move when you laugh, cough, sneeze, or smile like dentures can.
For all these reasons, dental implants are an ideal tooth replacement option, but they are not the best choice for everyone for a number of reasons. One of the factors that can prevent the dentist from recommending dental implants is the patient’s age.
Why Children and Teenagers Are Not Good Candidates for Dental Implants
The dentist will go through a number of points of consideration before determining if a dental implant is the best choice to replace a missing tooth. If the patient is younger than 18, the dentist will need to determine if the jaw bone is fully developed. If the jaw bone is still growing, then the dentist will need to wait before performing the dental implant procedure. The age when people’s jaw bones are fully mature varies from 17 to mid-20’s.
To have a full perspective of the development of the jaw bone, the dentist can use an X-ray to examine the growth plates of the bone.