Minimum Age or Age Restriction for Dental Implants
Dental implants are one of the best options for patients who need to replace a missing tooth, however, there are some limitations that may prevent a patient from receiving a dental implant. A number of factors that will come into play when your dentist is determining if you are a candidate for dental implants is your oral health, bone structure, your overall health, and your age.
Age Restrictions for Dental Implants
Children who are missing a tooth due to an injury or a congenital condition may not be able to receive an implant but your dentist will be able to determine a child’s candidacy. Before a patient can have a dental implant placed, they will need to have reached skeletal maturity and not be at risk of experiencing any more growth spurts. If an implant is placed before puberty and before the job bone is fully developed, dental implant restorations can interfere with bone development and their durability could be compromised.
The jawbone is typically fully developed by the late teens or early adulthood so it is unlikely that a patient of the age 17 or younger will be able to receive a dental implant. Your dentist will take x-rays in order to assess charge of element and bone integrity. Patients under the age of 18 with an underdeveloped jaw could be at higher risk for bone loss around the implant, aesthetic changes in the craniofacial region, spaces between teeth, and bite problems.
Dental Implant Alternatives for Younger Patients
Even though younger patients may not be a candidate for a dental implant, there are other options to replace the tooth. Everyone is different in the growth of the jaw typically continues up to even 20 years of age so a patient could easily be in their mid-20s before skeletal maturity is complete.
Tooth loss at any age can pose challenges to the patient so it is important for even younger patients to be able to have a temporary solution to a missing tooth while they are still maturing. Your dentist can place a dental bridge or even a removable partial denture to replace any missing teeth until the patient reaches full skeletal maturity and can have a dental implant placed.
Having a dental implant placed as a young adult can be very beneficial to the success of the implants. Younger patients are at lower risk of developing peri-implantitis and typically have strong and healthy bones to support the implant. Dental implants have the ability to last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance, even implants placed on younger patients!