At What Age Are You Considered Ready for Dental Implants?

When patients visit McDaniel Family Dental in Blue Springs, Missouri, to inquire about the possibility of a dental implant for tooth replacement, one question asked is, “how old do you have to be to receive a dental implant?” Drs. Niki McDaniel and Rebecca Spencer are happy to discuss this and other questions with you. Natural-looking dental implants are a great way to replace a tooth.

While many factors other than age need to be considered, the general age for a good dental implant candidate is 18. Around this time, your jaw becomes fully developed, which is one of the most important things a dentist will look at when considering dental implants. If your jaw is still developing, alternative solutions will be considered to preserve your smile while you wait for a dental implant.

Implant Readiness

Until about 18 years of age, the facial and jaw bones are still growing. As long as the jaw is still developing and not yet in a fixed position, there is a significant risk of harming the developing bones when putting in a dental implant. These bones are also easy to fracture, and during development, the ligaments and tissues that hold the teeth in place are also soft and moving. Dental implants can be considered as soon as a young person hits the end of their development and the jaw, ligaments, etc., are stable.

Assessing Suitable Candidacy

If a teenager is missing teeth, an exam will need to be conducted by a dental professional to assess oral health and physical development, during which the following questions will likely be asked:

• Is the patient continuing to grow
• Has the patient’s shoe size continued to grow
• Does the patient eat and sleep more

In most cases, if the answer to any of these questions is “Yes,” then the teen is not ready to receive dental implants yet. That does not mean missing teeth should be ignored, as doing so can lead to other dental health issues. Alternative options can be discussed if the teenager is not suitable for dental implants.

Implant Alternatives

One great alternative for teens is a denture. While you may think of the elderly when talking about dentures, many young people also use them. They work as a great fill-in until the patient is ready for a dental implant. Today’s dentures look completely natural and fit very comfortably in the mouth.

A second amazing alternative is a dental bridge, which involves creating a dental crown for the teeth on either side of the gap, with a false tooth (or teeth) in the middle. Dental bridges are great for cases where a single or few teeth are missing. Once a dental bridge is fitted, there are no dietary restrictions, and they can be cared for with simple brushing and flossing. Just like a denture, a dental bridge is a great fill-in until a teen can get a dental implant.

Schedule An Appointment Today

If you or your teen are missing a tooth or multiple teeth, you can schedule a consultation at McDaniel Family Dental to learn more about dental implants.

Call our office at (816) 227-6588 to learn more about this amazing tooth replacement option.

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