Tons of people receive new teeth that look and feel completely natural all the time. There are even cases where kids would need replacement teeth to maintain their oral health. But what about when a child or a young adult wants cosmetic dental implants?
Cosmetic implants are replacement teeth that let you achieve a bright, shining smile, but they’re not medically necessary. However, when it comes to children and young adults whose jawbones are still forming and shifting shape, this presents some ethical problems.
Jawbone Development in Children and Young Adults
The jawbone is considered fully developed usually by the late teenage years or the early twenties for most adults. Because of this, when children desire beautiful, near-perfect replacement teeth, it can cause long-term problems if they decide to go for it. Misaligned teeth and damage to adjacent teeth stem from placing a permanent cosmetic tooth implant in a jawbone that continues to develop. In some cases, it even leads to implant failure as the artificial tooth fails to keep up with the changes in the jawbone.
If a younger patient expresses interest in implants that help achieve bright, natural-looking smiles, it’s vital to take growth assessments to determine the maturity of the jawbone. These assessments are accomplished via radiographs, cephalograms, and other methods.
Social Pressure on Young Patients to Get Cosmetic Oral Implants
It’s important to note that when a child wishes for non-necessary tooth implants that perfect their smile, that the desire comes from outside sources. Social media and online beauty trends significantly contribute to the popularity of tooth implants that aren’t medically necessary. Whether it’s the latest Tiktok trend, or they saw their favorite celebrity with rows of artificial pearly-white smiles, these examples leave lasting impressions.
For children and teens especially, they need to be reminded that social media platforms are loitered with stark white smiles, often achieved through heavy filtering. It creates beauty standards that can feel almost impossible to reach. Couple that with dramatic transformations or reveals of people who have gone through with a procedure to perfect their smiles through dental implants, and it becomes a real thing that young, impressionable minds will want to strive for. Smile makeovers from tooth implants are commonplace in today’s age, yes, but they’re generally not intended for children.
The other main factor that leads to children wishing for dental implants for show is bullying. Elementary and middle school children are ruthless, and nearly anything can be a target for bullying. When someone has crooked, misaligned teeth, extra-large front teeth that gives Bugs Bunny a run for his money, or any other kind of imperfection, it can make them an easy target.
Once someone is bullied for genetic traits that are largely out of their control, it creates emotional scarring and an intense desire to fix the perceived problem. When young victims of bullying see implants that instantly transform the aesthetics of a smile, they might see that as their one-way ticket to being accepted by their peers.
The Responsibilities of a Dental Surgeon in Cosmetic Tooth Implants for Children
Oral surgeons have an important role in discussing the risks and alternatives to cosmetic dental implants for children. If the minor is old enough, they can be included in the conversation, but this usually takes place with the surgeon and the guardians of said child. They also typically hone in on the fact that creating a perfect smile through tooth implants is an irreversible process. Once the decision is made, the patient has to live with the potential consequences.
In any case, the oral surgeon will take growth assessments and comprehensive x-rays on the jawbone to determine whether it’s fully-formed or not. In cases where the jawbone hasn’t grown to its full potential just yet, surgeons have an ethical obligation to warn against procedures that will inevitably lead to further complications.
It’s also their responsibility to suggest alternative procedures to tooth implants that aren’t medically necessary. The following procedures might offer relief for young patients looking for a picturesque smile:
- Temporary bonding or veneers
- Length reduction on extra-large teeth
- Space maintainers
- Removable partial dentures for children
- Other orthodontic treatments
While dental implants for aesthetic purposes have tremendous benefits, the ethical consideration of children receiving the procedure is important. As a dental surgeon, the commitment to patient well-being is at the forefront.
