Dental Implant For Children With Missing Teeth

Tooth loss is a major issue in children since they can lose their teeth as they mature. Injuries, inherited factors, or advanced tooth decay can lead to the loss of a natural tooth; a situation that hampers its normal functioning in addition to the esthetic value it holds. In some of these families, placing of dental implants for children may be the long-term solution to replacing their child’s missing teeth and, therefore, their self-esteem. Special attention is paid to the analysis of children’s necessities and the search for the right approach at Springtown Family Dentist. In this article, we will find out if it is possible to place dental implants in kids and when such a procedure can be done.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is almost like a screw with a crown or denture on top; normally, the implants are made of titanium. Eventually, the implant becomes bonded to the bone, and the crown or a supporting tooth can be placed upon it. Dental implants are a complex treatment plan but considered as the most durable and effective option compared to such treatments as bridges and dentures.

Can Children Get Dental Implants?

It is well understood that dental implants for adults are common but in children, the use is rare and a little more complicated. There is only one potential problem: a child’s jaws remain in the stage of active growth during childhood and adolescence. This growth they also explain is a delicate process and if an implant is placed too early then it can complicate it later on.

However, in certain cases, Springtown Pediatric Dentists may recommend dental implants for children under specific conditions, including:

• Congenital tooth loss: A few babies cannot develop some adult teeth at all (hypodontia) and implants could be the ideal one to give children beautiful smiles.
• Trauma or injury: Any nutrient or permanent tooth lost by a child can be replaced by implants when the jaw has ceased to grow.
• Severe decay or damage: Sometimes, the tooth may have to be removed because it will not be possible to restore it primarily, and a dental implant may be considered when the child grows up.

When Is The Right Age For Dental Implants In Children?

The choice of the right age to locate dental implants in children is more or less influenced by the growth of the child. Since the jaw is still developing and altering in teenagers, the process is advisable to be done when the jaw has attained full growth. This normally happens in a girl child at the age of 16-18 years while the boy child at 18- 21 years.

At this time, Springtown Pediatric Dentists may recommend other short-term treatments as a way of preserving the child’s bite spaces and an opportunity to have the child bonded to wear a removable partial denture, space maintainers, or even have orthodontic treatment to prepare for the implants.

Benefits Of Dental Implants For Children

For children who are candidates for dental implants, there are several key benefits:

1. Return of Function and Form

It later causes speech, eating, and smiling impairment in cases where the child has had the teeth that are supposed to hold the denture knocked off. It also gives the child a permanent solution that resembles a tooth that falls like any other through activities that they undertake daily.

2. Preventing Bone Loss

Another benefit of implants is the stimulation of the maintenance of the jawbone density and mass. If one turns a blind eye to such a situation, know that the bone that was holding that tooth will start eliminating itself over some time. These serve important functions as a replacement root encouraging growth of the bone and halting any further resorption.

3. Long-Term Solution

Dental implants are built to be permanent if they are well maintained which makes them a very good long-term investment in your child’s dental health. Dentures or bridges may have to be replaced as the child grows into an adult; however, implants do not have to be removed and replaced when the jaw is fully grown.

4. Improved Oral Health

While dental bridges are anchored by the natural teeth on either side of the space, implants stand on their own. That makes it easier to maintain the neighboring teeth as it halts more deterioration or harm to them. It also does not complicate the care of oral hygiene as a child can brush and floss around the implant like how they would do to a normal tooth.

Temporary Solutions Until Implant Placement

For children who are not yet ready for dental implants, Springtown Family Dentist may offer several temporary solutions to maintain the appearance and function of the missing tooth:

• Space Maintainers: These devices keep the gap where a tooth is absent and prevent other teeth in the mouth from shifting into the place of the missing tooth. This is particularly true for those cases where the permanent teeth are still growing from the gums.
• Removable Partial Dentures: Removable partial dentures consist of one or more prosthetic teeth that are designed to replace one or many teeth lost in the mouth and give it a better outlook in eating and speaking some words.
• Orthodontic Treatment: Sometimes braces or other orthodontic appliances are applied to make an orthodontic patient’s teeth fit well so that they should easily receive an implant when the growth of the jaw is over.

The Process of Getting Dental Implants

Suppose your child is a candidate for dental implants. In that case, the process typically involves several stages:

• Consultation and Evaluation: The first step is an assessment of the child by Springtown Smiles professionals. This may include simple investigations like taking X-rays and three-dimensional imaging of the jaw bone and the adjacent teeth.
• Healing and Osseointegration: After this procedure, the implant will have to be osseointegrated, which translates to the bone growing around it to create a stable anchorage point. It is called osseointegration and takes several months to perform, but it is impossible to create a stable base without it.
• Placement of the Crown: When the implant has fused with the bone, a person desires an individual crown cemented to the implant – thus serving both the form and function of the tooth.

Conclusion

Although dental implants are an option for kids, this isn’t always the earliest choice because of growth changes, yet it is an exceptional solution for a lifetime tooth restoration in a kid who has stopped growing. At Springtown Dallas Family Dentistry for emergency dental treatment, we respect each client’s individuality and provide both, short-term and long-term therapies for teeth replacement.