Is it true that I can't get a tooth implant until I am 18?

Question

I think that the dentists are bullsh*ting me and my parents. I have had braces on and off which has cost more money. I have had retainers for two years now and I am 16. They said I have to have retainers until I'm 18 or 21. That sounds so wrong, doesn't it? They made me take my braces off then put them back on. I am missing one tooth and they said I can't get an implant until I am 18 or in my 20's. I wear retainers and 2 brace brackets on my front teeth because my 2 front teeth were getting cricket. I don't think they're doing a good job on me and my sisters teeth. Me and my sister are twins and we both wen't through the same thing -- we had to take them off and put them back on and we had to get retainers on and off too. We're both missing one upper tooth and shes missing two bottom teeth which the dentist didn't even notice (I had to tell her)......I think they just want money and they seem so clueless. What do I do? My mom said that everything is already getting paid for and she does not want to switch dentists. The retainers have a fake tooth in it so we won't walk around with a gap.

PS.

We've had braces & retainers on and off since we we're about 11 and we're 16.

Answer 1

I have been a dental assistant for 2yrs.  We deal a lot with implant cases.  Implants are screws that are screwed down into your gums and jaw bone area.  So in order to do this, your bones have to be done growing and so does your jaw line.  Those areas of your body can grow all the way til you're in your early 20's.  Your jaw needs to be done growing bc once you have an implant in, there's no going back and moving it bc there's now a hole in your jaw bone.  Also, if you are still under going ortho treatment, they are still trying to move your teeth around.  If you have an implant in, you can't move the teeth around it.  I know it stinks having to have a fake tooth on a retrainer in, but until your bones stop growing and your teeth get straight, you'll have to hang in there longer.

As far as the braces go, I'm not an ortho assistant, so I don't know the reasoning behind taking them off and putting them back on.  I had braces on 2 yrs ago and they only kept them on for a year.  Now two yrs later, my teeth have moved back to the old way, which doesn't make me very happy.  I'd have your mom call around to different ortho offices and most of them will give you the 1st appointment free.  Have them give you another opinion.