Replacing Missing Teeth with Dental Implants in Pubescent Patients—A Case Report

Abstract

Tooth loss due to traumatic dental injury or congenital absence can cause functional and social-psychological consequences in youth. Pubescent children with missing teeth are often targets for school bullying. The treatment modality chosen can impact their well-being during their formative years. Despite the high success rate in adult patients, implant placement in young patients is not common due to its ankylosed nature and concerns with possible infra-occlusion in the future. However, skeletal growth and remodeling is a continuous process throughout life and postpone-ment of dental implant placement does not necessary prevent future complication or need for re-placement. Dental implant placement should be considered as a viable treatment option for pu-bescent patients if all other conventional alternatives fail to alleviate patients' concerns both functionally and psychologically. This case report evaluates the considerations required to place dental implants in pubescent patients, as well as its advantages and disadvantages.