Dentures have been a longtime staple solution for tooth loss. For centuries, wearable dental prosthetics have given countless people back their smiles. But can all age groups benefit from dentures? Specifically, can children have dentures?

 

Childhood Tooth Loss

Most children have two sets of teeth when born. That first set, called baby teeth or milk teeth, will naturally fall out. Typically, the last of the baby teeth will fall out just before one reaches puberty.

Of course, this rarely is an issue. Your second set of teeth should come in and fill out your permanent smile. The timeline for adult teeth appearing varies by the individual, but they are expected to be visible no longer than 6 months after losing the baby tooth. The adult tooth should be fully grown within one year.

In these cases, children will not need dentures. At any given point, they should still have most of their teeth. Though multiple teeth may be missing at any time, it should not significantly impede speech or eating.

 

When Can Children Have Dentures?

Children tend to only need dentures when they have a specific medical condition. Extreme decay or injuries may also cause preadolescent tooth loss, but such cases are extremely rare in the US. Still, childhood oral health problems are quite common for kids with high-sugar diets.

Usually, if a child needs dentures, it is because of ectodermal dysplasia.

 

What Is Ectodermal Dysplasia?

Ectodermal dysplasia describes a group of about 180 medical disorders caused by genetic mutations. While exceptionally rare, the condition can lead to significant issues with a child’s dental health.

As it is a genetic condition, there is no cure for it. Instead, treatment focuses on addressing the condition’s symptoms. As we will see, dentures can play a central role in the treatment of children with ectodermal dysplasia.

 

Signs of Ectodermal Dysplasia

Even among two family members with ectodermal dysplasia, the symptoms can manifest differently. However, many patients experience some dental symptoms. These typically affect:

• Tooth Enamel: Thin, soft tooth enamel may present, which increases the risk of tooth decay significantly.
• Tooth Shape: Teeth may be pointed, globe-shaped, or smaller than normal.
• Spacing & Position: Patients with ectodermal dysplasia may have more widely spaced or abnormally positioned teeth.
• Missing Teeth: Some teeth may not grow at all in patients with ectodermal dysplasia.
• Saliva Issues: Many ectodermal dysplasia patients have decreased saliva production, which can lead to dry mouth and other oral health issues.

 

Addressing Tooth Issues in Children

A child with ectodermal dysplasia will be far more prone to significant dental health issues, including permanent tooth loss. Each missing tooth only further worsens the situation. The remaining teeth will experience more strain and can shift without neighboring teeth to support them.

For this reason, dental prosthetics serve as a core element of ectodermal dysplasia treatment. Children typically have partial or full dentures, depending on the number of missing teeth. Ideally, your physician diagnoses ectodermal dysplasia before the condition results in total tooth loss. Speedy and effective diagnoses will typically require a team of physicians working together to evaluate your child’s symptoms and condition.

 

Challenges for Kids with Dentures

Children face a unique set of challenges with dentures. Dentists will do their part, but parents will also need to stay involved in the process. Some of these issues include:

• Maintenance: Cleaning dentures can be a chore, and kids, historically, tend to hate chores. Parents will need to be involved in helping their child build good denture care habits or even clean the dentures themselves.
• Growth: A child’s body is constantly changing. Adult bodies change, too, but at a significantly slower rate. The rapid changes in a child’s body will require constant dentist visits to adjust their dentures. We need to ensure they fit perfectly, otherwise, more issues can arise.

 

Benefits for Kids With Dentures

There are challenges, but meeting them will help set your child up for a lifetime of benefits. If your child does need dentures, we recommend making the effort sooner rather than later. Dentures can help kids in a  range of ways, including:

• Better Nutrition: With a full set of teeth, your kid can more easily eat a balanced diet. Dentures still require some dietary restriction, but much less than a mouthful of missing teeth would.
• Speech Development: Missing teeth are the bane of good speech development. Dentures allow this crucial period to progress with minimal impediment.
• Physical Development: Well-fitted dentures can help promote healthy jaw development.
• Psychological Well-Being: Your kid can share their smile with those around them without being worried about the gaps in it.

 

Expert Tooth Replacement Solutions

At Baseline Dental, home to a top experienced dentist in Rialto, patients can explore multiple options for replacing missing teeth.