Bravery for Your Root Canal

Has your child lost their two front baby teeth, only to have the adult teeth fail to come in? If your dentist has taken x-rays to confirm that the front teeth are completely missing, you may be wondering how this will affect your child's dental health and appearance going forward. Here's a look at how most dentists choose to deal with this situation.

Temporary Retainers

Your child's jaw will keep growing until they are in their teens. In order to prevent complications, your dentist will want to wait to permanently replace your child's teeth until the growth is complete. In the meantime, a space must be preserved where the teeth are missing. Usually, a retainer with false teeth on it will be made for your child. They will have to wear this retainer in order to keep the other teeth from shifting into the empty space.

Your child's dentist will track their jaw growth and may need to make a new replacement retainer once or twice during this period of time. Once your dentist is confident the jaw growth is complete, they will recommend proceeding with implants to replace the missing teeth.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are composed of a metal, screw-like instrument that fits right into the jaw bone, along with a natural-looking porcelain crown. This false crown looks just like a natural tooth. Only you, your child, and your child's dentist will know that your child's two front teeth are not natural.

Dental implants must usually be inserted in a two-part process. The first procedure is surgical and is usually performed under local anesthesia. Your child's gums will be opened up, and metal screws will be inserted into the jaw bone. Over the next few weeks, your child's mouth will heal and the bone will integrate with the implants, making them stable in your child's jaw. In the meantime, your child can continue to wear their retainer so it still looks like they have front teeth.

Once your child's jaw is sufficiently healed, a second procedure will be completed in which the crowns are attached to the implants. After another couple of weeks of sticking to soft foods, your child should be able to eat normally. The dental implants should last a lifetime if cared for properly with regular brushing and flossing.

If your child is missing their front teeth, don't panic. In most every case, once your child's jaw is finished growing, natural-looking implants present an attractive and functional replacement option. For more information, contact a dental office such as Oral Surgery Associates Inc.