I am turning 16 years old this year. I have several teeth missing because of trauma/abuse. I want to know how old I have to be to get dental implants. I was told that I am too young but it is what I want and I can afford them. Thanks. TP
TP – Dental implants are surgically implanted in your jawbone. The growth of your face and jawbone needs to have stopped for you to be considered as a candidate for dental implants.
Your natural teeth will move as you grow, but the dental implants will not. If the dental implants are placed during your growth period, as your jawbone grows, they can appear to sink into your jawbone and look shorter than your natural teeth. Premature placement of implants can also have a negative effect on the growth of your jawbone near the implant site.
There is no definite age at which growth is completed. Some dentists place implants between on young patients when they are between 19 and 21 years old. X-rays, genetics, and your family history will give an implant dentist clues as to whether or not your jawbone and facial growth are complete.
You can speak with your dentist about other options for temporarily replacing your teeth until you can receive dental implants.
This post is sponsored by Lowell cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.