Children and teenagers are more likely than adults to have front teeth knocked out during roughhousing, playground accidents or athletic activity. Unfortunately, dental implants aren’t good options until the jaw has finished developing. A practitioner of family dentistry in Fort Worth can provide a dental bridge for the patient to wear in the meantime. Implants can be placed after bone development is complete, which may not happen until after the teen years. Each individual is different in this regard.
Bone Loss Prevention
Dental implants are preferred by practitioners of family dentistry in Fort Worth over other options because they prevent the jawbone from shrinking due to lack of tooth root stimulation. However, if a child or teenager loses one or more front teeth in an accident, the lack of natural tooth roots should not cause a dramatic amount of bone deterioration before implants can be placed.
The Importance of Bone Stimulation
Both natural roots and implant rods stimulate the bone during chewing. This results in the production of new cells that replace those the body has used up. It’s similar to the way new bone cells are produced when people do a weight-bearing exercises like walking and jogging.
Bone Grafting
If too much bone shrinking does happen over the years in this particular area, an oral surgeon can rebuild that part of the jaw with grafting. Another possibility is for the dentist to add bone grafting material immediately after the loss of the tooth. This helps to limit bone loss there. The gum will heal around the graft, and the process will be beneficial for the future implant procedure.
Financial Considerations
Waiting until the jaw is fully developed for dental implants placed at a clinic such as Rio Dental & Orthodontics also gives the parents time to save money for the implants, if this is a necessary consideration. Not all dental insurance policies cover the cost. Trying to find a policy that does offer this coverage generally will not work after the teeth have been lost since this would be considered a pre-existing condition. Visit RioDentalGroup.com for information on this particular dental clinic.
