Considerations in Dental Implant Placement in the Young Patient: A Surgeon's Perspective

Clinicians are often faced with young patients with missing teeth, and there is often associated pressure to replace these teeth with dental implants. When considering implant placement in younger patients, clinicians must be cognizant of the impact of further growth and dental arch development on the implant and adjacent teeth. Factors to consider include stage of dentofacial development, dental age, etiology of tooth loss, location of the missing teeth, and the potential need for site preservation or development strategies. Finally, clinicians should be aware of options for dealing with malposition that may develop as the patient ages. Careful planning at an early stage and communication between the orthodontist, restorative dentist, and surgeon is required for the best result.