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FAQ: Retainers

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Retainers FAQ Dental Health Library James Awbrey

Question:
Permanent Retainer: My daughter is age 14.

She got her braces off about 6 months ago and is wearing a retainer with a fake tooth attached because she is missing a tooth and cannot have an implant until age 17 or 18.

Is there a way to keep her teeth in place with a fake tooth that doesn't have a wire across her front teeth that can be seen? ... Visitor from FL

Answer:
It is my experience that most females have completed all their growth by 15-16 years of age.

If your child is postmenarchial by at least two years and a hand wrist radiograph indicates that the epiphyseal plates are completely fused, I would have no problem at this point placing the implant.

Up to this point you could place a temporary Maryland Bridge or what I am doing in my practice is placing a mini-screw implant and building a temporary crown on top of this screw.

I place these screws at chairside with topical anesthesia in about 2 minutes painlessly. If the screw becomes loose it can be removed very easily and a new one replaced several months later.

These screws are made of titanium and we are hoping they will retain themselves until growth is completed and a permanent implant can be placed.

This is a fairly new procedure and we are hoping for some promise. Dr. John Graham, an oral surgeon, has started a study using these mini-screw implants for congenitally missing teeth to get some information for your orthodontist.

James J. Awbrey, D.M.D.
4895 Windward Parkway, Suite 200
Alpharetta, Georgia GA 30004
(770) 751-1688

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