The mother sat across from me at our Hanoi clinic, her 14-year-old daughter beside her looking uncomfortable. “Emma lost her front tooth in a hockey accident six months ago,” she explained. “We’re visiting from Toronto, and I’ve been researching dental implants. Can you place one for her? She starts high school next year and she’s so self-conscious.”
I understood her concern completely. Watching your child struggle with a missing tooth is heartbreaking for any parent. But I had to give her an answer she didn’t want to hear: “Not yet. Emma’s jaw is still growing, and placing an implant now would create bigger problems down the road.”
I’m Dr. Emily Nguyen, Principal Dentist at Picasso Dental Clinic, and this is one of the most common questions I receive from international patients with children. Since 2013, I’ve consulted with hundreds of families from 65 different countries about pediatric dental concerns. The question about children and dental implants comes up regularly, and the answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.
After treating over 70,000 patients across our clinics in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Lat, I’ve learned that understanding why children generally cannot get implants, and what alternatives exist, helps families make the best decisions for their child’s long-term dental health.
Let me explain exactly when dental implants become appropriate, why timing is so critical, and what we can do in the meantime to protect your child’s smile.
Why Jaw Growth Makes Implants Problematic for Children
The fundamental issue with dental implants in children is that they become part of the jawbone through osseointegration. Once fused to the bone, the implant cannot move. This creates a serious problem when the jaw is still growing.
Children’s jaws grow continuously until late adolescence. The upper and lower jaws develop at different rates, expanding in all three dimensions: forward, sideways, and vertically. This growth happens gradually over years, with growth spurts during puberty. The jaw doesn’t reach full maturity until the late teens or early twenties.
An implant placed too early becomes anchored in place. While the surrounding bone and teeth continue growing and moving, the implant stays exactly where it was placed. Over time, this creates increasingly visible problems.
I’ve treated adult patients at our Ho Chi Minh City clinic who received implants as teenagers in other countries. By their mid-twenties, the implant tooth appeared sunken compared to their natural teeth, which had continued erupting normally. The implant looked shorter and was positioned incorrectly relative to the gum line. Correcting this required removing the implant, bone grafting, and starting over once growth was complete, a much more complex and expensive solution.
The consequences affect both function and appearance. As natural teeth move with jaw growth, the bite relationship changes. An implant fixed in a growing child’s jaw disrupts this natural process. The child might develop bite problems, difficulty chewing, or jaw joint issues. Aesthetically, the implant tooth becomes obviously different from the surrounding teeth as growth continues.
Front teeth present even greater challenges. Upper front teeth are in the most visible position and in an area of significant jaw growth. An implant placed at age 14 in this location will almost certainly look wrong by age 20. The gum line will be uneven, the tooth will appear too short, and the entire smile will look unbalanced.
At Picasso Dental Clinic, I evaluate jaw growth carefully before even considering implants for younger patients. This isn’t about being conservative, it’s about avoiding predictable complications that would compromise the final result.
When Is It Safe to Consider Dental Implants?
Parents always want to know the specific age when implants become appropriate. The answer depends on several factors, and age alone doesn’t tell the complete story.
Jaw growth completion varies by gender. Generally, females complete jaw growth earlier than males. For most girls, jaw growth is substantially complete by age 16 to 18. Boys typically continue growing until age 18 to 21, sometimes even longer. These are averages, individual variation exists.
Growth assessment requires specific evaluation. At our Da Nang and Hanoi clinics, I never rely solely on age. We take hand-wrist X-rays to assess skeletal maturity, compare serial dental X-rays to track jaw changes, and evaluate facial proportions. These objective measures reveal whether growth has genuinely stopped.
A patient from Singapore brought her 17-year-old son to our clinic last year. He’d lost a tooth in a sports accident two years earlier, and they wanted an implant. His hand-wrist X-ray showed he was still growing. We waited another 18 months, repeated the assessment, and only then proceeded with implant placement. He’s now 20, and the implant looks perfect because we timed it correctly.
Location in the mouth affects timing. Back teeth in the lower jaw can sometimes accept implants slightly earlier because this area completes growth sooner. Front teeth, especially upper front teeth, require waiting longer because facial growth continues later in this region.
Conservative timing protects long-term outcomes. I generally recommend waiting until at least age 18 for females and age 21 for males before placing anterior implants. For posterior teeth, we might consider implants slightly earlier if growth assessment confirms maturity. This conservative approach ensures the implant will look and function correctly for decades.
At Picasso Dental Clinic, we’ve been serving international patients since 2013, and I’ve learned that rushing implant placement in younger patients always creates regret later. The few extra months or years of waiting are insignificant compared to a lifetime of proper function and aesthetics.
Exceptions: When Implants Might Be Considered Earlier
While general principles guide most decisions, certain situations warrant earlier consideration of dental implants. These exceptions require even more careful evaluation and planning.
Severe dental anomalies may justify earlier intervention. Some children are born missing multiple permanent teeth, a condition called hypodontia or oligodontia. In severe cases, where many teeth are absent and jaw development is already compromised, implants might be considered earlier as part of comprehensive treatment.
I treated a 19-year-old from Australia at our Ho Chi Minh City location who was born missing six permanent teeth. She’d worn partial dentures since age 12, and her jaw growth had been affected by the missing teeth. After thorough evaluation confirming growth completion, we placed multiple implants. Her case was exceptional, the severity of her condition and confirmed growth maturity justified proceeding.
Posterior tooth loss in older adolescents occasionally qualifies. If a 17 or 18-year-old loses a back molar and growth assessment confirms maturity in that jaw region, we might consider an implant. Back teeth matter less aesthetically but are crucial for chewing and preventing neighboring teeth from shifting.
Even in exceptions, careful monitoring is essential. When I do place implants in younger patients, I schedule more frequent follow-ups and monitor growth indicators carefully. If any signs of continued growth appear, we can intervene before major problems develop.
Most “exceptions” still involve waiting. Parents often hope their child’s situation qualifies as an exception. After evaluation, I usually conclude that standard timing recommendations still apply. This protects the child’s long-term outcome, even though waiting feels difficult.
What We Can Do for Children Who Lose Teeth
The question parents really want answered isn’t whether their child can have an implant right now, it’s “What do we do in the meantime?” Fortunately, excellent options exist to protect your child’s smile and oral health until implants become appropriate.
Removable partial dentures work well for children. These are lightweight appliances that replace missing teeth and can be adjusted as the child grows. Modern partial dentures are much more comfortable and natural-looking than many parents imagine. Children adapt to them quickly.
Emma, the hockey player I mentioned earlier, left our Hanoi clinic with a removable partial denture. She returned six months later for an adjustment and told me she barely noticed wearing it anymore. Her mother reported that Emma’s confidence had returned completely. When she’s ready for an implant in a few years, we’ll have preserved the space perfectly.
Resin-bonded bridges offer fixed solutions for some cases. These conservative bridges attach to the back of adjacent teeth with minimal tooth preparation. They’re not appropriate for all situations, but for single missing front teeth in older adolescents, they can provide a fixed solution until implant placement is appropriate.
Orthodontic space maintainers prevent adjacent teeth from drifting. If a child loses a tooth, neighboring teeth begin shifting into that space within months. Space maintainers hold that space open, ensuring room remains for the future implant. This simple device prevents the need for extensive orthodontics later.
I treated siblings from Malaysia at our Da Nang clinic. The 13-year-old had lost a tooth in an accident. We placed a space maintainer immediately and a removable partial denture for aesthetics. When he turns 21, the space will be perfectly preserved, and implant placement will be straightforward. His older sister wasn’t so fortunate, she’d lost a tooth at age 12, received no space maintenance, and by age 18 needed orthodontics to reopen the space before we could place an implant.
Regular monitoring ensures everything stays on track. Children with missing teeth need more frequent dental visits. At Picasso Dental Clinic, I see these patients every four to six months to ensure temporary solutions are working, spaces are maintained, and we’re ready to transition to implants at the appropriate time.
Planning Ahead: Preparing for Future Implant Placement
When I consult with families about children who need future implants, I emphasize that the waiting period isn’t wasted time. We’re preparing for the best possible long-term outcome.
Maintaining space is absolutely critical. I cannot overstate this importance. If the space where the tooth was lost closes even partially, creating room for an implant later requires orthodontics, bone grafting, or both. Prevention is far simpler than correction.
Oral hygiene habits matter enormously. Children and teenagers must learn excellent brushing and flossing techniques. These habits determine long-term implant success. I spend significant time at our clinics across Vietnam teaching young patients proper oral care, because the habits they develop now affect their dental health for life.
Bone preservation starts immediately after tooth loss. When a tooth is extracted or lost, the surrounding bone begins resorbing. Using bone grafting material at the time of extraction can preserve bone volume, making future implant placement easier and more predictable.
A patient from New Zealand brought her 15-year-old daughter to our Hanoi clinic after an accident requiring tooth extraction. I placed bone graft material in the socket during extraction, even though implant placement was years away. When she returns at age 19, we’ll have excellent bone for the implant. Without that grafting, we might have needed more extensive bone reconstruction later.
Serial monitoring tracks growth completion. I keep detailed records for young patients, including photographs, X-rays, and measurements over time. This timeline helps me identify precisely when growth has stopped and implant placement can safely proceed.
Education helps families understand the timeline. When parents understand why we’re waiting, they’re more patient with the process. At Picasso Dental Clinic, I show families examples of implants placed too early and the complications that resulted. Seeing the problems we’re avoiding makes the wait time feel purposeful rather than frustrating.
Special Considerations for Trauma Cases
Dental trauma in children presents unique challenges. These cases require immediate attention but also long-term planning.
Immediate management focuses on tooth preservation. When a child loses a tooth in an accident, the first priority is trying to save the natural tooth if possible. Reimplanting a knocked-out tooth within 30 minutes offers the best chance of success. Even if the tooth doesn’t survive long-term, it maintains space and bone while the child grows.
Damaged teeth sometimes need extraction. If a tooth is fractured below the gum line or the root is damaged beyond repair, extraction becomes necessary. This is when families often ask about immediate implant placement. For children, the answer is almost always no.
Temporary solutions preserve function and appearance. After traumatic tooth loss, we focus on aesthetic and functional restoration while protecting the space for future definitive treatment. Removable appliances or bonded bridges serve well during the growth years.
I treated a 16-year-old from Japan at our Ho Chi Minh City clinic who lost two front teeth in a bicycle accident. Her parents were understandably distressed and wanted immediate permanent solutions. We placed a removable appliance that looked excellent and maintained space. Three years later, with growth complete, we placed two implants that have functioned perfectly for the past five years.
Trauma cases require psychological support too. Losing teeth in an accident affects children’s self-esteem and confidence. At our clinics in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Lat, we’re sensitive to the emotional impact on young patients. Quick restoration of appearance, even with temporary solutions, helps children recover psychologically while we wait for the right time for permanent treatment.
Making the Right Decision for Your Child
After explaining all of this to families, I always emphasize that patience serves your child’s best interests. The desire to fix everything immediately is natural, especially when your child is self-conscious about their smile. But dental implants are permanent solutions that must be timed correctly to function properly for decades.
Premature implant placement creates predictable problems. I’ve never regretted waiting until growth was complete. I have seen complications in adults who received implants too young elsewhere. The difference between placing an implant at age 17 versus age 20 is the difference between a solution that causes problems and one that serves for a lifetime.
Excellent temporary options exist. Modern removable appliances and conservative bridges provide natural appearance and function during the waiting period. Your child can smile confidently, eat normally, and maintain oral health while their jaw completes growth.
The long-term outcome justifies the wait. An implant placed at the right time will serve your child for 30, 40, or 50+ years. It will look natural throughout their life, function properly, and require minimal maintenance. This outcome is worth a few years of temporary solutions during adolescence.
At Picasso Dental Clinic, having treated over 70,000 international patients across our four Vietnam locations, I’ve developed specific expertise in managing cases that require long-term planning. Whether you visit our Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Lat clinic, you’ll receive honest guidance about timing, comprehensive temporary solutions, and a clear roadmap for transitioning to implants when appropriate.
If your child has lost a tooth or faces tooth loss, I encourage you to seek proper evaluation and planning. Understanding the timeline, options, and preparation steps helps you make informed decisions that protect your child’s smile for life. We can assess growth status, implement appropriate temporary solutions, and create a plan that ensures the best possible long-term outcome when the time is right for implants.
About Dr. Emily Nguyen
Dr. Emily Nguyen is the Principal Dentist at Picasso Dental Clinic, where she has served over 70,000 international patients from 65 nationalities since 2013. With clinics in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Lat, Dr. Nguyen provides comprehensive dental care for international families, including pediatric consultations, growth assessment, and coordinated treatment planning for young patients requiring future dental implants throughout Vietnam.
