Dental implants in growing patients: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Oral Surgery
• Pediatric Dentistry

Background:

• Dental implants in pediatric patients present unique challenges due to ongoing jaw growth.
• Conditions like ectodermal dysplasia and dental trauma often necessitate early tooth replacement strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review protocols and clinical outcomes of dental implants placed in growing jaws.
• To identify common complications and provide evidence-based recommendations for implant placement in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Science Direct databases (October-November 2017).
• Included 28 studies involving 493 dental implants in 147 patients aged 3-18 years.

Main Results:

• Common complications included infraocclusion (maxilla) and rotation (mandible).
• Implants were indicated for anterior regions in patients over 10 years old.
• Maxillary implants recommended in a more coronal position; prostheses required adjustments until growth ceased.

Conclusions:

• Dental implants in growing jaws require positional modifications and are indicated only under special circumstances.
• Early implant placement necessitates long-term management and potential revisions.
• Further research on optimal timing and techniques for pediatric dental implants is warranted.