My son has always been embarrassed of his smile. He’s been missing some of his permanent teeth. They just never came in. So he has still has several baby teeth. The dentist we saw recently told us that the baby teeth would function just fine, if he kept taking care of them as he got older. But, he’s starting to get made fun of. I understand where the dentist is coming from since there is nothing functionally wrong. But I’m his mom. I want to explore our options to see if there is another solution. Will dental implants work to replace the baby teeth?
-Janice in New York
Janice,
It’s true. Primary teeth will function just fine if they are well taken care of. They can last his entire life. But, it is understandable that you will want to explore your options for aesthetic reasons.
You mentioned dental implants. Unfortunately, your son likely is not a candidate for them. You didn’t mention how old he is, but most teenagers are still growing. So, until the jaw is completely done growing, they aren’t ideal. By the age of 20, the jaw is typically done growing for most adults.
Have you thought about porcelain veneers? You may be able to meet with a cosmetic dentist about this option. They can be made to look just like the surrounding permanent teeth and no one will be able to tell that they aren’t his natural teeth. It is possible his face shape may change as he gets older, so this may require some adjustments over the years. With porcelain veneers, the teeth don’t need to be removed either.
If he is still interested in the possibility of dental implants as he gets older, he can meet with an implant dentist to explore the options. As for an immediate fix, porcelain veneers is the way to go.
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos, DDS.