Tooth loss is a common problem throughout the United States. While it most often occurs in older individuals, anyone is susceptible. The good news is there are numerous tooth replacement options to restore smiles. While they are preferred by dentists because of their many benefits, can teenagers get dental implants if they are missing teeth? Continue reading to find out from your implant dentist in Beverly.
Is There a Minimum Age to Get Dental Implants?
There isn’t a minimum age limit for getting dental implants because everyone grows at a different rate. Some people are ready for dental implants as early as age 17 or 18, while others may need to wait until age 21. Oftentimes, teens are not good candidates for dental implants simply because they are still growing and developing, and this can interfere with the process to potentially cause issues in the future.
If a dental implant is placed before the jawbone is fully formed, it can end up falling out. Since the procedure for placing dental implants is quite complex, many dentists and oral surgeons prefer to wait until the bones are fully developed. This way, the bone will harden to be prepared for supporting a dental implant.
What Other Tooth Replacement Options Are in Play for Teens?
Just because a teenager isn’t quite ready for dental implants doesn’t mean they need to walk around with gaps in their smile due to tooth loss. There are several tooth replacement options that can suffice until they have reached an age where dental implants are a more suitable option:
- Partial Denture: A partial denture can include anywhere from one to several prosthetic teeth on either a plastic base or metal framework. It has clasps that fit around the existing teeth for support and should be removed and cleaned each time you brush your teeth. For some patients, partial dentures are a great low-cost or temporary alternative to a bridge or implant.
- Dental Bridge: One of the simplest solutions for tooth loss is also one of the most reliable. With a dental bridge, two dental crowns are placed on the teeth on either side of the missing ones, and they are used to support prosthetic teeth that fill in the gap. They can be made to be fixed or removable based on a patient’s preferences, and your dentist can even provide an implant-retained bridge to offer the best appearance and fit available today.
If you’re a teenager or a parent of a teen who is missing teeth, dental implants may not be the solution yet, but there are other options out there to help! Schedule a consultation with your dentist in Beverly to determine if implants are currently ideal for you.
About the Practice
At Beverly Farms Dental, we’ve been striving to provide optimal dental care to local patients for more than 30 years. We offer an array of services in our office with a high priority placed on customer service. We accept nearly all dental insurance plans and offer flexible financing. If you are a teenager interested in dental implants or the parent of one, you can schedule a consultation and we can evaluate if they are a viable choice at this time. We can also discuss other potential options. Simply contact us on our website or call (978) 927-3515.