I have two baby canine teeth which are still in my mouth even though I am 16. It is a tad embarrassing having baby teeth when I smile at my age. Is it possible to replace these with dental implants so it looks like I have adult teeth there? My senior year is coming up and I want to smile without feeling embarrassed.
Tiffi
Dear Tiffi,
A lot of how you proceed will depend on where the adult canine teeth are. Are you under the care of a regular dentist? If so, they should have addressed this by now. I’m really surprised they haven’t. If this is true I am going to strongly suggest to you that you request your parents find you a different dentist. It doesn’t have to be a pediatric dentist.
If the canine teeth are impacted, meaning stuck and unable to erupt, it will require an orthodontist to get them in the right position. If they’re coming in behind your baby teeth, then you can have the baby canines extracted and then use Invisalign to get them in the correct positioning. The great news about Invisalign is they use clear plastic aligners, so no one will even know you are straightening your teeth. This will likely make you feel more comfortable about your senior pictures.
Dental implants will only work if there are no canine teeth there. That can occasionally happen where you have congenitally missing teeth, but not as often with your canines. However, let us go on the assumption that is the case. You have no adult teeth coming in where the baby teeth are. In that case, you would pull the baby teeth and then get a temporary replacement until you are able to get dental implants.
Because your jaw isn’t fully developed yet it is better to wait before getting any dental implants. I generally recommend a dental flipper for patients in your situation. They are inexpensive and can match your other teeth perfectly. You’ll wear them until your jaw is developed and then you are ready to get dental implants for a permanent replacement. Remember, though, step one is figuring out if you have adult canine teeth and where they are.
This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.