What do you recommend that I do about this? I know dental implants are expensive but I am willing to get her one if that is the best option.
Although a dental implant will probably be the best option for her, she may not be ready to have a dental implant placed just yet because of her age and incomplete gowth. But that doesnt mean we should ignore some very important considerations. Yes, a dental implant will probably be her best option in terms of replacing a tooth in the most natural, least invasive way. This is beacuse an implant tooth replacement does not require the dentist to cut healthy natural teeth adjacent to the tooth that is being replaced as a conventional bridge would. Also, if the bone and gum after a tooth removal is left to heal on its own without the use of a bone and tissue preservation protocol, it usually begins to shrink or atrophy. The consequences could be cosmetic in that the missing tooth space when replaced may require an unsightly longer artificial tooth. Bone requires function to maintain itself. In the mouth this can only be accomplished with a health tooth root or a dental implant. The atrophy, if allowed to take place, could also lead to a more complex and more expensive bone grafting surgery in the future. So my advice is to have a consultation to evaluate for the following among other things: 1. Bone preservation/augmentation procedure. 2.Temporary tooth for cosmetic and space maintenance that would help transition the case until she is old enough for the implant (when she stops growing). 3. An Orthodontic consult to determine whether there is a general need for braces as well as specifically looking at the spacing remaining in the area of the missing tooth ( since teeth can be moved orthodontically but implants can’t). Finally, consider that implants may not be as expensive as you think when you compare them to the cost of reversing the negative changes that could take place if a good treatment plan is not developed.
