Maxillary Implants and the Growing Patient

Maxillary skeletal and dental growth results in dramatic changes in all three dimensions during active growth. Experimental evidence and the behavior of ankylosed teeth suggest that an osseointegrated object remains stationary in the bone surrounding it and does not move or adapt to bone remodeling. Growth changes may result in the burying or loss of implants depending on the placement site. Hence, implants placed in the early mixed dentition have a poor prognosis of continued usefulness through puberty. When placed early implants may disturb growth or have to be replaced. Implants placed during late puberty or early adulthood have the best chance for long-term usefulness. Keywords: dental implants, maxillary growth, osseointegration