Review Article
Dental Implants in Adolescents: Timing and Growth Considerations – A Narrative Review
Year: 2025
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
Pages: 73–83
Authors
Aardra B. S.¹, Segin Chandran K. R.², Jensy Sara George³, Aiswarya Madhu⁴
Corresponding Author
Ms. Aardra B. S.
Email: aardrabs2003@gmail.com
Abstract
Background: Dental implants are a well-established treatment option in adults; however, their application in adolescents remains challenging due to ongoing craniofacial growth and alveolar bone remodeling. Because implants behave as ankylosed structures, placement during active growth may result in long-term functional and esthetic complications. Aim: To review the existing literature on dental implant placement in adolescents, with emphasis on growth considerations, optimal timing of implant placement, bone characteristics, implant options, and clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. English-language publications from 1980 to 2025, including original research, review articles, case series, and consensus statements related to dental implants in adolescents, were included. Relevant findings were qualitatively synthesized. Results: The reviewed literature indicates that chronological age alone is not a reliable criterion for implant placement. Most studies recommend confirming skeletal maturity before definitive implant therapy. Although implant survival rates in adolescents were generally favorable, growth-related complications such as infraocclusion and esthetic discrepancies were frequently reported when implants were placed during active craniofacial growth. Early implant placement was mainly recommended in selected high-need conditions, such as ectodermal dysplasia, with the anterior mandible considered the most favorable implant site. Conclusion: Definitive dental implant placement in adolescents should generally be postponed until craniofacial growth is complete. Careful assessment of skeletal maturity and a multidisciplinary treatment approach are essential to optimize long-term outcomes. Further prospective long-term studies are required to establish standardized clinical guidelines for implant therapy in growing patients.
Keywords
Dental Implants, Adolescents, Pediatric Dentistry, Missing Teeth, Prosthetic Rehabilitation, Children, Primary Teeth
How to Cite This Article
Aardra B. S., Segin Chandran K. R., Jensy Sara George, Aiswarya Madhu. Dental Implants in Adolescents: Timing and Growth Considerations – A Narrative Review. Int J Pedo Rehab 2025;10(2):73–83. https://doi.org/10.56501/Intjpedorehab.102.ijped0015
