Is Age a Factor in Dental Implant Therapy? The Answer May Surprise You
Simply put, you cannot be too old for a dental implant, but you can be too young.
Advanced age is not a contraindication for dental implants, regardless of whether they are single or full-mouth implants. Jawbones will still heal well – even in patients who approach their 90s – and the effect of osteoporosis on the jawbone is minimal.
However, it is possible for a younger and still growing population to be too young for implant therapy. Ligaments surround your teeth and move with the jaw as you grow. Implants are bonded with the bone directly and will not move. The jawbone in pediatric populations is still growing and will change its shape throughout childhood and adolescence. Usually, this period ends at age 18 for girls and age 21 for boys. There are effective ways to determine the completion of jawbone growth, such as a wrist X-Ray and sequential lateral cephalometric X-rays.
When an implant is placed in a growing pediatric patient, it will not move with the changing shape of the jaw. This can cause aesthetic disharmony and poor results.
If the need for a dental implant in a pediatric patient arises, such as tooth loss from trauma or congenitally missing permanent teeth, our job is to assist with transitional devices until they reach the proper stage of bone development to receive an implant. These devices restore the aesthetics and function of the missing tooth.
In these cases, I prefer a fixed, nonremovable bridge rather than a conventional, removable retainer.
These devices provide the growing child with aesthetic confidence and the ability to participate in sports, play music, and other special activities.
I have developed a fixed temporary bridge solution from a modified Maryland Bridge technique, which requires no grinding of the surrounding teeth for placement. It is cemented to the teeth and can be removed once the patient is ready to place the implant.
Dental implant therapy is safe and effective for any age, provided the patient has completed their bone growth. Each patient is unique and needs to be appropriately evaluated.
If you want to learn more about dental implants or any other dental procedure, please do not hesitate to call our office or visit our website to set up your complimentary consultation.
Please call Obeid Dental at (301) 652-9505 if you have any questions or to schedule an appointment. We serve the Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Potomac, MD, and Washington D.C. area.
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