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Dental and Oral Health (Children)

Missing insisors

09/17/2007

Question:

My nine year old daughter in missing both permanent incisors. Our dentist recommended brace to preserve the gap and then inplants . Is there any alternatives?

Answer:

Thank you for the question. There are definitely alternatives - some of which are limited by your daughter's age. Definitive prosthodontics (crowns,bridges,implants) are typically not performed until a child is "done" growing, which can be anywhere from 16-22 years of age, depending on the child. The space can be preserved with a removable (or fixed) appliance that has teeth on it for esthetics, and then removed at a later age for definitive treatment, which may include implants, or a fixed "bridge" , or even some type of removable appliance.

They key really is making sure that you and your dentist/dental team are on the "same page" and that your daughters future options not be limited by treatment done at this age. Hope this helps.

For more information:

Go to the Dental and Oral Health (Children) health topic, where you can:

Response by:

Sarath Thikkurissy, DDS, MS Sarath Thikkurissy, DDS, MS
Associate Professor of Pediatric Dentistry
College of Dentistry
The Ohio State University