Can Your Teen's Missing Tooth Be Replaced With A Dental Implant?

Missing teeth are often associated with older adults—whose teeth have withstood decades of wear and tear, perhaps with a lifetime of oral hygiene habits that weren't as comprehensive as they needed to be. But a missing tooth can happen at any age, and in childhood, it's of course supposed to happen when baby teeth fall out. By the teenage years, your child's adult teeth have long since erupted, but you might need to face the prospect of one of these teeth not surviving. Whether it was lost to tooth decay or was knocked out of place by an accident, can your teen's missing tooth be replaced by a dental implant? 

Dental Implants and Their Connection to the Jaw

Dental implants are small screws (generally titanium alloy) inserted directly into the jawbone. The bone then heals around the implant, locking it into place (with a process called osseointegration). A small connective abutment is added to the peak of the implant, and the prosthetic tooth is then attached to the abutment. The implant is similar to a natural tooth root, but it's not identical.

Natural Teeth and Their Connection to the Jaw

Natural teeth are connected to the jaw via periodontal ligaments. These are incredibly strong, while still allowing teeth to move in response to external forces (this is how dental braces can reposition teeth). The fixed position of a dental implant differs from the natural connection offered by periodontal ligaments, and this is the problem when adding a dental implant to a jaw that may still be growing.

Dental Implants and Developing Jaws

A dental implant in a developing jaw will affect the ultimate positioning of the rest of your child's teeth, which may not be final until their jaw has stopped growing. This is generally in their late teens. A dentist will be unwilling to fit a dental implant to a 13-year-old, but it can be a different matter with an 18-year-old. There are variations to this basic rule, and some children develop quicker than others, meaning they may be eligible for a dental implant sooner.

A Knock-On Effect

Fitting a dental implant too early can have a knock-on effect with the final alignment of their natural teeth, due to the immovable nature of the implant. Your child doesn't need to live with a missing tooth until they reach an appropriate age for an implant, but they may need another solution in the meantime, such as a dental bridge, or a single tooth partial denture (known as a dental flipper). 

It's not as though your child can't receive a dental implant ever, it's just that they may not currently be eligible due to their age. Be sure to talk to your family dentist about when they expect your child to be at the best age to receive a dental implant.