Maxillofacial growth and dental implants in the maxillary anterior region

Single tooth replacement with a dental implant is an increasingly popular solution in patients with loss of an upper anterior tooth. There is a risk, however, of placing the implant prematurely in youths. In a case series the effects of residual maxillary growth on the results of implant treatment in the anterior maxillary region were measured. The results confirm findings from other studies on this subject and indicate that cessation and degree of vertical growth are unpredictable. This may result in infraposition of the implant and lead to periodontal bone loss around the implant region and its neighbouring teeth. Clinicians should be aware of this and inform their patients that these changes may eventually compromise the aesthetic result of the treatment.