Is There an Appropriate Age for Getting Dental Implants?

Having missing teeth at any age can be detrimental to your oral health and appearance. You will be dealing with enunciation issues, trouble chewing, jaw deterioration, and the list goes on. This is why you need dental implants in Mesa, AZ. They are a top-tier solution that offers durability, stability, and functionality.

Dental implants have been around for decades, and now they are more life-like than ever before. Countless lives have been transformed because of these innovative teeth replacement treatments.

Hence, why so many people are gravitating towards it. However, the question at the back of your mind can be, “Is this treatment appropriate in my case?” But before we answer this question, let’s get acquainted with dental implants.

It’s All About Replacing the Roots

Have you ever wondered why tooth implants are so successful? It is because they replace your tooth root. This means that our dentist will surgically place it into the jawbone, making it stable, just like a natural root.

This root replacement is made from titanium, a biocompatible metal. Once it is inserted, it will take a few months to fuse with your jawbone, and just like that; you will have a permanent root replacement!

Since tooth implants can replace the tooth roots, they can give you almost the same experience as natural teeth. No other tooth-replacement option can offer this solution.

Implants have three distinct parts that ensure that you get the smile you desire, the implant, the abutment (connector), and the dental prosthesis, which can be a crown, bridge, or denture.

Besides offering stability, you can reap the following benefits from using tooth implants:

• Prevents facial sagging
• Restores speaking and chewing ability
• Have a natural appearance
• Maintains jaw bone health

However, not everyone can enjoy these benefits, especially for patients who are below 18 years.

Why Children and Teenagers Aren’t Excellent Candidates for Dental Implants

You already know that a tooth implant has to be inserted into the jaw bone. This means that the jaw bone has to be in tip-top shape for your implants to last for a long time. But the challenge that teenagers and children face is that they don’t have a fully developed jaw.

If the tooth implants are placed before they reach maturity, then they can interfere with bone development, which can cause complications such as:

• Spaces between teeth
• Bite issues
• Aesthetic changes in the skull and face (craniofacial region)
• Bone loss around the implant

In some cases, bone growth can continue until 21 years. There are cases where patients reach their skeletal maturity in their mid-20s.

However, it is not necessarily about the age limit but more about jaw bone development. Therefore, our dentist will have to take an X-ray of the bones to ascertain whether bone development is 100 %. If it is, then our dentist may proceed to perform the surgery.

Are You Too Old to Get Implants?

Most adults above the age of 65 are missing at least a tooth. Therefore, they are the perfect candidates for implants. Plus, patients who are in their 80s and 90s can also receive tooth implants.

There is no upper age limit when it comes to getting dental implants in Mesa, AZ. However, other factors are critical, especially for adults. The major issue will be if you have underlying health issues that can affect your healing.

Interim Solutions for Children and Teenagers

We recognize that there are challenges that come with losing teeth at any age. Hence, we offer alternatives that can help the young smiles be restored to their glory days. You can still book an appointment for your child to get an implant at a later date.

But while they are waiting for the permanent tooth replacement, our dentist can offer them good alternatives such as partial removable dentures or dental bridges. These tooth replacements are custom-made so that they can appear and function like natural teeth.

Getting tooth implants when your child is young will always be a huge plus. The risk of developing peri-implantitis, the primary reason for implant failure, is much lower. The jaw bone is still young and healthy; therefore, they can enjoy a beautiful smile for a long time.

In any case, you can contact us at U Smile Family Dentistry for more information.