Clinical and radiographic findings following placement of single-tooth implants in young patients--case reports

Single-tooth implants were inserted in the maxillary anterior segments of three young patients aged 11.5 to 13 years. The patients were monitored for a period of 2.5 to 4.5 years. All implant-supported crowns ended up in an infraocclusion position relative to the adjacent teeth because of the continued vertical growth of the maxillary alveolar process. Between base-line examination and the date of recall, the distance from a fixed reference point located on the fixture to the crestal bone on the proximal surfaces of teeth adjacent to the implant sites increased up to 3 mm. Transverse growth changes were also observed. Although the prostheses could be removed and modified to compensate for the resulting soft and hard tissue changes, complications may occur altering the health of the mucogingival unit and the esthetic appearance of implant-supported restorations, and requiring further soft tissue correction procedures.