Is It O.K. to Do a Dental Implant on a 17 Year Old Boy?

Question

My 17 yo son was recently diagnosed with an external resorption of tooth #8 (idiopathic, no known hx of trauma). His dentist, peridontist, and recent oral surgeon consult all recommend dental implant surgery. My primary concern is the timing of the implant. The oral surgeon recommends sooner rather than later due to risk of fracture vs. extraction and further loss of structure on which to build an implant. My son just turned 17, has gone through puberty. Is it too early to do an implant?

Lance Timmerman, DMD, MAGD · Answer

It is important to be sure the patient is completely done growing, otherwise some very expensive and complicated surgery will be needed when they are older. Girls usually finish growing before boys, so 17 might work for them but 17 is likely pushing it on a boy. Consider an extraction, graft and something to hold the space until he is done growing.

Brian Dorfman, MD, DMD · Answer

This is a topic that has seen a bit of controversy. The key to this discussion is the implant should be placed when the growth of the patients jaw has completed. This age is different fo everyone and to set an age as a rule is not the answer. The upper and lower jaw complete their growth at different times and males and females complete there growth at different times. The upper jaw stops its growth prior to the lower jaw, so tooth # 8 falls into this catagory. I have placed several implants in 17 and 18 year old males and 16 year old females with excellent long term results, the key is that the growth has almost ceased. This can be determined with serial cephalometric radiographs over time or hand and wrist films. Every individual is different. Seek the advice of a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon for this issue. They are the qualified individuals for this specific issue, no other doctors perform surgery for jaw growth issue more.

Tamara Rojas, DMD · Answer

The question is has your son completed his growth?  Teeth undergo transition until growth is complete.  In addition there is and passive eruption that occurs throughout life.  What does this mean?  If your child gets an implant to soon and the jaw and teeth are transitioning the implant might be placed in the wrong position.  Over time as the teeth undergo there natural movement into the adult bite the implant tooth will remain in the same spot and resulting in a poorly aligned implant tooth which may or may not be able to be corrected.   As passive eruption occurs the gum slips up the teeth creating longer teeth in life if the implant is not placed deep enough then over time a black shadow can developed at the gum line and or the abutment can become exposed to the oral cavity. 

	Teeth undergoing external resorption can go on to fracture and or become ankalosed making the tooth difficult to remove and hence make for a more complex replacement. 

	I would wait to place the implant if possible.

	Dr. Tamara Rojas D.M.D., P.A.

Donald L. Wilcox, DDS · Answer

I would recommend waiting a couple of years at least until it is more certain your son has stopped growing. I have seen a case where implants were placed before growth was finished and there were significant changes in the appearance over time and not for the better. A fake tooth can usualy be bonded to the adjacent teeth and look nice until a better time to place the implant following the extraction.

Leonard Tau, DMD · Answer

Although your son has external resorption and his tooth needs to be extracted , the timing of the implant is very important. If done before your son has finished growing it can lead to cosmetic issues that are very expensive to correct. The best course of action would be to extract the tooth, use a temporary tooth in the interim and then when he is a little older place the implant and crown

Is It O.K. to Do a Dental Implant on a 17 Year Old Boy?

Answers (5)