
Anyone at any age, including older children and teenagers, can lose or be born missing a permanent tooth. And while those missing teeth can be restored, replacing them in patients who haven’t yet reached adulthood can be tricky.
That’s because their dental and facial development isn’t finished. This is especially problematic for dental implants because as the jaws continue to grow, a “non-growing” implant could eventually appear out of alignment with the surrounding natural teeth. That’s why it’s often better to install a temporary restoration until the jaws fully mature in early adulthood. Two great choices are a removable partial denture (RPD) or a bonded (“Maryland”) bridge.
While “dentures” and “teens” don’t seem to go together, an RPD in fact can effectively restore a teen’s lost dental function and appearance. Of the various types of RPDs the one usually recommended for teens has a hard acrylic base colored to resemble the gums, to which we attach prosthetic (“false”) teeth at their appropriate positions on the jaw.
Besides effectiveness, RPDs are easy to clean and maintain. On the downside, though, an RPD can break and—as a removable appliance—become lost. They can also lose their fit due to changes in jaw structure.
The bonded bridge is similar to a traditional fixed bridge. But there’s one big difference: traditional bridges crown the natural teeth on either side of the missing teeth to secure them in place. The supporting teeth must be significantly (and permanently) altered to accommodate the life-like crowns on either end of the bridge.
Instead, a bonded bridge affixes “wings” of dental material extending from the back of the bridge to the back of the natural teeth on either side. While not quite as strong as a regular bridge, the bonded bridge avoids altering any natural teeth.
While a fixed bridge conveniently stays in place, they’re more difficult than an RPD to keep clean. And while less prone to breakage, they aren’t entirely immune to certain stresses from biting and chewing especially in the presence of some poor bites (how the upper and lower teeth come together).
Choosing between the two restorations will depend on these and other factors. But either choice can serve your teen well until they’re able to permanently replace their missing teeth.
If you would like more information on dental restorations for teens, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.
Comments:
Find Us
Carmela LaFalce, DMD
Dentist - Toms River
616 Washington St
Toms River, NJ 08753
Request Appointment
Our office has flexible hours to fit your busy schedule
Patient Eductation

Archive:
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
Tags
- celebrity smiles (54)
- chipped teeth (1)
- pediatric dentistry (10)
- age one dental visit (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- eating disorders (1)
- oral health (16)
- dental anxiety (1)
- gum disease (10)
- Teeth Whitening (7)
- dental emergency (1)
- dental injury (6)
- oral hygiene (20)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- veneers (11)
- wisdom teeth (4)
- crowns (3)
- orthodontic treatment (20)
- retainers (5)
- cosmetic dentistry (16)
- dental implants (10)
- braces (7)
- mouthguard (1)
- smoking (1)
- fluoride (3)
- periodontal (gum) disease (1)
- orthodontics (4)
- root canal treatment (4)
- palatal expander (2)
- pain management (1)
- porcelain veneers (4)
- mouth sores (1)
- dental crowns (2)
- cerec (2)
- restorative dentistry (2)
- teeth grinding (1)
- cancer (1)
- Preventive Dentistry (1)
- periodontal disease (1)
- tooth decay (5)
- thumb sucking (2)
- oral cancer (3)
- space maintainer (1)
- nutrition (4)
- loose teeth (1)
- mouthguards (3)
- wedding day smile (1)
- topical fluoride (1)
- antibiotics (1)
- baby teeth (1)
- dentures (2)
- pediatric care (1)
- clear aligners (1)
- Root Canal (1)
- gum recession (2)
- tmj disorders (3)
- missing teeth (1)
- partial denture (1)
- bone grafting (2)
- Damaged Teeth (1)
- crown (1)
- bad breath (2)
- canker sores (1)
- toothache (1)
- tooth pain (1)
- gummy smile (1)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- pregnancy (1)
- floss (1)
- chipped tooth (1)
- tooth replacement (1)
- jaw pain (2)
- lingual braces (1)
- Veneer (1)
- gerd (1)
- cleft lip (1)
- cleft palate (1)
- oral surgery (1)
- Implant (1)
- Restoration (1)
- smile makeover (1)
- tooth extraction (1)
- cosmetic gum surgery (1)
- dental implant (3)
- Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments (1)
- Services (1)
- dental injuries (3)
- dry mouth (1)
- loose tooth (1)
- dry socket (1)
- Filling (1)
- sleep apnea (1)
- snoring (1)
- diabetes (1)
- Dentist Toms River NJ (1)
- Implant Restoration Toms River NJ (1)
- Dental Office Toms River NJ (1)