Your Child Has Lost a Permanent Tooth – Why an Implant Isn’t the Answer

So, there you are at the junior high cheerleading competition and you see your daughter get accidently kicked in the mouth by another squad member. Or maybe it’s your son who got tackled and inadvertently was elbowed in the face during a midget football game.

There’s sheer panic as you hear them screaming and holding their face. When you reach your child, there’s blood leaking from their mouth and they’re still sobbing. But you sigh in relief when the coach tells you, nothing’s broken and they’ll be ok. The result, however, was the same in both cases. Your child lost a permanent tooth.

You grab the tooth and the kid and head off to the dentist for an emergency visit. Is there any hope at all that the tooth can be reattached? And if not…what then?

As awful as this scenario is, it’s a problem many parents face. The good news is…there is a fix for this. But it’s not what you may think. It’s not getting an implant.

Although an implant is usually the best option to replace a missing tooth, ideally this is a procedure for much older children. By the time they reach the age of 19 for girls and 21 for boys, they’re young adults. The growth in their mouth and jaw has ended. An implant is a permanent solution and once placed rarely can be modified since it will be fused to the bone.

Obviously with younger children, their teeth are still changing, along with the mouth and jaw bone. Placing the implant in the jaw before it’s done growing can be unpredictable. It’s almost guaranteed the implant will not be in the right position a few years down the road.

The same holds true for veneers, crowns, or any kind of esthetic treatment. It is much better to wait until the end of the child’s growth to achieve a more stable and predictable outcome.

In the meantime, there are many temporary solutions available to replace the missing tooth until the dentist can safely place an implant. To find out what more about those choices, contact your dentist should the need arise.

We’re pleased to offer a FREE report that provides addition important dental information. Why not get your copy now? The Parent’s Guide to Children’s Oral Health is just a click away. And it’s absolutely FREE.

Also, for added information, make an appointment, or have a question answered, you’re more than welcome to call us at West Olds Dental at (587) 855-4747 or click here to visit our website.