Minimum Age or Age Restriction for Dental Implants

Minimum Age or Age Restriction for Dental Implants

For many adults, dental implants are the preferred option for replacing one or more missing teeth. When children or adolescents lose an adult tooth, due to injury, trauma, or a genetic condition, dental implants may or may not be a viable option for replacing the missing tooth. In addition to age, there are multiple factors that help dentists determine whether patients are good candidates for dental implants, including the oral health and overall health of the patient, the strength and integrity of the jawbone, and the specific location and number of teeth that are missing. Integrity of the jawbone is influenced by age; when a person has not yet reached maturity and is still experiencing growth spurts, the bones in the jaw also shift in size, just like the bones in the rest of the body. If dental implants are placed while the bones in the jaw are still maturing, they can get in the way of continued bone growth and development, which adversely affects their durability and can potentially cause complications to arise. These complications include an increased risk of problems with the bite, spaces or gapping between the teeth, loss of bone around the implant, and changes in the shape and appearance of the face.

Of course, people develop at different rates, and every adolescent is different, but the jaw usually continues growing until a person is between 18 and 20. Sometimes, skeletal maturity isn’t complete until a patient is in their mid-20s. Adolescents under 18 are therefore not generally good candidates for dental implant treatment. Because people mature differently, however, oral surgeons use x-rays and other methods of assessing growth to determine whether a patient’s skeleton, and therefore their jawbone, have finished growing and whether that patient might therefore be eligible for dental implants. Once the jawbone has fully developed, getting dental implants while young can actually be an excellent option, as younger people face less risk of infection that can lead to implant failure and generally have stronger, healthier bones than older people. When placed in young adults, dental implants can provide their wearer with an attractive smile and comfortable, functional dental replacement well into their adulthood and over the long term.

Younger adolescents and children may still lose teeth, however, and there are alternative options for patients who are too young to safely get dental implants. These temporary options can include dental bridges and partial removable dentures, which can restore the functionality and appearance of the mouth as the patient continues to grow; once maturity has been reached, these patients can then consult their dentist to learn about dental implants and discuss whether they are a good candidate for dental implants. In general, adults who are in good overall health can successfully receive implants, providing them with a lifetime of secure, attractive smiles, so talk to your dentist if you are missing one or more of your natural teeth to see if dental implants are a viable option for you. While some patients may be too young, it is rare for a patient to be too old, but an initial evaluation can provide you and your dentist with all the information needed to pinpoint the best dental restoration option for your specific needs.