Toggle navigation
3000 N. MacArthur Blvd Suite D Irving, TX 75062(972) 659-1050
  • blog
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • iKarma

Request an Appointment

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Staff
    • Office
  • Services
  • Smile Gallery
  • New Patients
  • Q&A
  • Links
  • Special Offers
  • Contact Us

My Blog

Posts for tag: bridge

A Teen's Missing Tooth May Require a Temporary Replacement

By The Smile Spa
December 13, 2016
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: partial denture   bridge  
ATeensMissingToothMayRequireaTemporaryReplacement

Besides reduced biting and chewing function, a missing tooth can cause an embarrassing inhibition to healthy social interaction. This can be especially so for teens who greatly value peer relationships and acceptance.

Be that as it may, we typically discourage a permanent replacement for teens with a missing tooth, particularly dental implants. While we value a patient’s psychological needs, the long-term effect on dental health may be too great to advise otherwise.

The effect we’re concerned with involves jaw growth and development. Although a person’s permanent teeth have usually all erupted by early adolescence, the jaws continue to grow until the late teens or early twenties. Natural teeth can adapt to this growth because the periodontal ligament that holds them in place allows for incremental tooth movement. The teeth move in response to jaw growth and are thus able to maintain their proper relationship and alignment in the jaw as growth occurs.

Dental implants, on the other hand, are imbedded into the jaw bone: they, therefore, can’t move like natural teeth and thus can’t adjust their position with jaw growth, particularly the upper jaw as it grows forward and down. This can result in the implants appearing as though they are left behind or retreat into the jaw. It can also affect the position of the gums and inhibit their growth around the implants.

It’s best then to hold off implants and other permanent restorations until the jaw has finished developing. That, however, isn’t always easy to determine: specialized x-ray diagnostics may help, but it’s not an exact science. Your input as a parent will also be helpful, such as whether you’ve noticed the end of growth spurts (not changing clothes or shoe sizes as often) or your child’s recent similarity in appearance to other adult members of your family. It thus becomes a judgment call, based on examination and experience, as to whether it’s safe to proceed with implants — and may require erring on the side of caution.

In the meantime, there are temporary restorations that can improve appearance while you wait for the appropriate time to undertake a permanent restoration. Two of the most useful are removable partial dentures (RPDs) or a bonded bridge, a less invasive form of the traditional bridge. With a proper assessment we can advise you on which option is your best choice.

If you would like more information on tooth restorations for teenagers, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Teenagers & Dental Implants.”

0 Comment(s) Permalink


Subscribe to our RSS Feed

Archive:

  • 2019
      • February (2)
        • Test You're Brushing and Flossing Success with a Plaque Disclosing Agent
        • Expert Advice: Vivica A. Fox on Kissing and Oral health
      • January (3)
        • Implant-Supported Dentures Could Boost Your Jawbone Health
        • Less-Invasive Pulp Capping Could Save Your Tooth
        • 3 Ways Orthodontic Techniques Could Prevent a Poor Bite
  • 2018
      • December (3)
        • Nancy O'Dell on Making Oral Hygiene Fun for Kids
        • Moderate Your Child's Juice Drinking to Lower Tooth Decay Risk
        • Practice the Dental Care Basics to Ensure a Healthy Smile
      • November (3)
        • Orthodontists Anticipate Future Facial Growth When Treating Poor Bites
        • Steely Dan Founder's Death Highlights Importance of Early Cancer Detection
        • The Connection Between GERD and Oral Health
      • October (3)
        • Stay Ahead of Plaque Buildup with Effective Brushing and Flossing
        • 4 Signs Your Child May Have a Poor Bite
        • Margot Robbie Knows: A Great Smile Is Worth Protecting
      • September (3)
        • Keep Your New Smile After Orthodontics with a Retainer
        • Treating Gum Disease around Tooth Roots is Hard - but Not Impossible
        • Look After Your Teeth During Cancer Treatment to Avoid Dental Disease
      • August (3)
        • Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
        • Pros and Cons for Flossing Before Brushing and Vice-Versa
        • World Cup Soccer Coach-Dentist Saves the Day!
      • July (3)
        • This Young Woman's Cancer Experience a Teachable Moment for all of us
        • Charlize Theron Back in Action After Dental Surgery
        • Need an Effective but Affordable Tooth Replacement? Look at a Flexible RPD
      • June (3)
        • What You Can Do to Support Your Child's Dental Development
        • Tips to Brighten Your Summer Smile
        • Dental Magic Transforms Smiles
      • May (3)
        • Sealants Could Protect Your Child's Teeth From Future Problems
        • Watch Out for Re-Infection After a Root Canal Treatment
        • 3 Possible Timing Scenarios for Getting Your New Implant
      • April (3)
        • Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
        • Don't Let Sports or Energy Drinks Rob you of Your Teeth's Enamel
        • Learn How To Protect Your Teeth During Stress Awareness Month
      • March (3)
        • 3 Fluoride Sources You Should Monitor for Your Family's Dental Health
        • Giancarlo Stanton Gets Major-League Mouth Protection
        • 3 Tips for Helping Your Kids Develop Great Tooth-Friendly Habits
      • February (2)
        • 3 Orthodontic Options for Correcting Bad Bites
        • How to Get the Most from Your Daily Brushing and Flossing
      • January (2)
        • Spice Up Your Teeth
        • Treating Gum Disease may Require Invasive Procedures
  • 2017
      • December (2)
        • Give Yourself the Gift of a New Smile
        • 4 Tips for Avoiding Dental Disease While Wearing Braces
      • November (2)
        • Johnny's Teeth Aren't Rotten Any More
        • Frequently Asked Questions About Diabetes and Oral Health
      • October (2)
        • Why Your Teeth Hurt Will Determine How We Treat Them
        • New Season, New Toothbrush
      • September (3)
        • America's (Dentists) Got Talent - for Fixing Damaged or Missing Teeth!
        • Need a Root Canal? Here's a Step-by-Step Guide on What to Expect
        • Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
      • August (2)
        • The Timely Use of a Palatal Expander Could Help Correct a Cross-Bite
        • Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still "Worth It"
      • July (2)
        • The Simple Bitewing X-Ray is a Game Changer for Maintaining Dental Health
        • Kathy Bates Plays It Smart With Professional Teeth Whitening
      • June (2)
        • Teeth Grinding in Older Children and Adolescents a Cause for Concern
        • Actor David Ramsey Says: Don't Forget to Floss!
      • May (2)
        • If at All Possible, Primary Teeth are Worth Saving
        • Dr. Travis Stork: Don't Ignore Bleeding Gums
      • April (2)
        • Don't Forget Your Oral Hygiene While Wearing Braces
        • Dental Crowns for the King of Magic
      • March (2)
        • Bonded Retainers Provide a Less Noticeable Option for Keeping Teeth Straight
        • Ariana Grande Breaks Free - of Her Wisdom Teeth
      • February (3)
        • Conscious Sedation can Help Ease Your Child's Dental Visit Anxiety
        • Vivica's Veneers: the Making of a Hollywood Smile
        • Air Abrasion: An Alternative to the Traditional Dental Drill
      • January (2)
        • How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
        • Disclosing Agents Show Plaque You've Missed When Brushing and Flossing
  • 2016
      • December (2)
        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
        • A Teen's Missing Tooth May Require a Temporary Replacement
      • November (3)
        • Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!
        • Cleaning Your Oral Appliance Extends its Life and Ensures Good Health
        • Jimmy Fallon Can’t Catch a Break - Except in His Tooth

Tags

  • porcelain veneers (1)
  • celebrity smiles (25)
  • crowns (2)
  • oral hygiene (14)
  • oral appliance (1)
  • night guard (2)
  • bad breath (1)
  • partial denture (1)
  • bridge (1)
  • teeth grinding (2)
  • orthodontic treatment (6)
  • retainers (3)
  • air abrasion (1)
  • veneers (1)
  • pediatric dentistry (3)
  • wisdom teeth (2)
  • orthodontics (3)
  • braces (4)
  • gum disease (3)
  • root canal treatment (3)
  • bruxism (2)
  • teeth whitening (1)
  • x-rays (1)
  • chipped tooth (1)
  • palatal expander (1)
  • chipped teeth (1)
  • tooth pain (2)
  • diabetes (1)
  • oral health (9)
  • dental implants (3)
  • smile makeover (1)
  • cosmetic dentistry (4)
  • nutrition (2)
  • athletic mouthguards (1)
  • fluoride (1)
  • mouthguards (1)
  • sealants (1)
  • removable partial denture (1)
  • bone grafting (1)
  • oral cancer (2)
  • dental injury (1)
  • cancer (1)
  • retainer (1)
  • GERD (1)
  • pediatric care (1)
  • pulp capping (1)
  • dentures (1)

Categories:

  • Dental Procedures (34)
  • Oral Health (34)

Office Hours

Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: By Appointment Only
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Our Location

3000 N. MacArthur Blvd Suite D
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 659-1050

Map & directions

Office Hours
Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: By Appointment Only
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Smile Gallery
  • New Patients
  • Q&A
  • Links
  • Special Offers
  • Contact Us
  • Dental Web Design Copyright © MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite
  • Disclaimer
  • Patient Privacy
  • Site Map