Firm attachment to bone can complicate treatment during growth
An implant joins with bone to support a replacement tooth. In a growing jaw, however, the positions of natural teeth and their supporting tissues can continue to change. The implant does not follow eruption and movement in the same way as natural teeth.[1]
This can be particularly noticeable at the upper front teeth: the implant crown may eventually look shorter than its neighbors or have a different gum level. Good integration with bone does not necessarily mean a good match with neighboring teeth after growth.[1]
What have studies in growing patients reported?
A 2019 systematic review included 28 studies involving 493 implants in 147 patients aged 3–18. Reported complications included upper-jaw implant restorations becoming relatively low compared with adjacent teeth. The authors advised considering implants in growing jaws only in special circumstances.[2]
The review combined different situations, including congenital absence of multiple teeth. These figures cannot provide a personal success rate for a teenager missing one front tooth. Discuss the possibility of adjustments during growth and further treatment later.[2]
Does turning eighteen make everyone ready?
A birthday is not an automatic threshold. The Royal College of Surgeons of England’s 2019 guidance generally recommends waiting until dentofacial growth has ceased and notes that facial growth can continue after eighteen. Its UK public-funding criteria are not being presented as Korean insurance rules.[3]
A review of growth assessment also explains why chronological age alone cannot establish that growth has stopped. Examination, growth records, and imaging where appropriate help determine timing. Assessing the individual’s growth matters more than relying on one age cutoff.[4]
The gap can still be managed while you wait
Delaying an implant does not necessarily mean leaving the space untreated. Depending on the circumstances, options may include an adhesive bridge, a removable replacement, or orthodontic space closure. Suitability depends on the missing tooth’s location, the bite, and neighboring teeth.[1]
Discuss present difficulties with speaking or smiling at school alongside the longer-term plan. A plan for an interim replacement and follow-up is important during the wait. Temporary approaches can also need maintenance and adjustment, so find out when the next review should take place.[1][2]
Why are implants sometimes placed at a much younger age?
Exceptions can arise when many or all teeth are congenitally missing and earlier treatment is needed to maintain function. The UK guidance specifies that the long-term implications and risks must be considered and explained to the patient and their caregivers.[3]
That is not a recommendation for the same approach in every teenager missing a single front tooth. The number and location of missing teeth, remaining growth, and alternatives all matter. Asking about both treatment needed now and definitive treatment after growth can make the waiting period and its purpose clearer.[4]
Research and institutional sources
- Mijiritsky E, Badran M, Kleinman S, Manor Y, Peleg O. Continuous tooth eruption adjacent to single-implant restorations in the anterior maxilla: aetiology, mechanism and outcomes—A review of the literature. Int Dent J. 2020;70(3):155–160. doi:10.1111/idj.12549. PMID:32149398.View source ↗Literature review on continued eruption, relative implant levels, and interim options during growth.
- Bohner L, Hanisch M, Kleinheinz J, Jung S. Dental implants in growing patients: a systematic review. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2019;57(5):397–406. doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2019.04.011. PMID:31076220.View source ↗Systematic review of 28 studies. Full abstract checked; mixed diagnoses and ages are not used to predict individual success.
- Faculty of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of England; Restorative Dentistry-UK. Guidance on the standards of care for NHS-funded dental implant treatment. 2019.View source ↗Professional guidance on growth-related timing and exceptions. UK funding rules are not applied to Korean patients.
- Shah RA, Mitra DK, Rodrigues SV, Pathare PN, Podar RS, Vijayakar HN. Implants in adolescents. J Indian Soc Periodontol. 2013;17(4):546–548. doi:10.4103/0972-124X.118335. PMID:24174743.View source ↗Narrative review of growth assessment and decisions based on the location and number of missing teeth. No single age is treated as a universal threshold.
Bracketed numbers in the text link to these sources. This article provides general health information; individual diagnosis and treatment plans are determined after a clinical consultation.
