Are Dental Implants for Everyone?

One of the reasons of dental implants’ popularity is how it has proven to be a more reliable and effective tooth replacement option over conventional dentures. A lot of our patients here at our Central Georgia dental practice find dental implants to provide less discomfort than ill-fitting dentures, allowing them to enjoy life more. If properly cared for, there’s a huge chance that your dental implants could last a lifetime. Yet, did you know that dental implants are not suitable for everyone? Let’s find out why below.

Children and Teens Are An Exception

Here at our practice, we recommend dental implants for tooth replacement options from young adults to seniors. However, children and teens are an exception. Why is this so?

Dental implants, by and large, should be placed when the jawbone has finished developing. Jaws of children and teens have not finished growing yet and placement of dental implant may impede jaw growth and stop the rest of their teeth from growing. We often recommend dental implant placement by the time a teenage boy is 17 years old and between 14 to 15 years old in teenage girls. Around these ages, the jaw has most likely fully developed.

For children and teens whose jaw has not fully developed yet for a dental implant, dentures are recommended and a dental implant may be placed once jaw growth is fully completed.

If you are interested about dental implants as a tooth replacement option, an initial consultation with your dentist should be in order. Call us at 478.923.0232 or fill out this contact request form to set up an initial consultation. We look forward to your visit!