Dental implants in children: A multidisciplinary perspective for long-term success

Abstract

Congenital hypodontia or trauma is a frequent cause of loss of teeth in children. The absence of teeth leads to loss of function and lack of normal alveolar growth, along with unpleasant esthetics that hamper the psychosocial development of the young child. Traditionally, the management of tooth loss in the young child is done by conservative means. None of those methods of treatment are completely satisfactory and have their own drawbacks. Dental implants in a young child would be an ideal mode of treatment for the absence of teeth. One of the main deterring factors for implant placement in children is the impending growth. Growth in the maxilla and mandible does not happen uniformly in one plane. It is multidirectional, occurring in sagittal, vertical, and transverse planes. It does not happen at a fixed pace, slow periods of growth are followed by phases of accelerated growth called the growth spurts. Successful implant treatment in children has been achieved by several clinicians when they incorporated a multidisciplinary approach in their treatment plan. The design and type of implant system used in pediatric patients is also responsible for successful treatment outcome. The purpose of this review is to understand the implications of growth and growth assessment and recommendations for the formulation of the treatment plan in pediatric dental implant patients.

Diagnosis and Innovative Multidisciplinary Management of Hallermann-Streiff Syndrome

“…Should we have waited for growth completion, this opportunity would have been missed. Additionally, reports establish that in some cases, implants can be placed in the interforaminal region of the mandible since closure of the mandibular symphysis occurs in the first year of life (Agarwal et al, 2016).…”

Rehabilitation of an Adolescent Female by Immediate Loading in the Anterior Esthetic Zone: A Case Report

“…8 Loss of teeth not only leads to loss of function but also affects the growth of alveolar bone. 9 Concerning the growth of jaw bones, its completion is first seen in a transverse plane, then in sagittal IJOICR and lastly in the vertical plane. Hence it is important that the displacement of the entire bony complex via the sutural growth be followed by the oral implants to ease in prosthetic rehabilitation in later stages if it crosses the suture.…”

Primary oral manifestation of Langerhans cell histiocytosis refractory to conventional therapy but susceptible to BRAF-specific treatment: a case report and review of the literature

“…65,70 Compared with the maxilla, with a high risk of implant failure, the growth pattern in the edentulous mandibula seems to allow for earlier implantation in the anterior region of the mandible. 65,70–73 In contrast with this situation, the panoramic radiography of our patient showed four remaining germs in the lower jaw. Because of the high risk of tooth loss or implant failure when placed in the vicinity of premature teeth or germs, a conservative procedure with interim prostheses was chosen.…”