Dentures For Kids: The Options

When one hears the word dentures, one always connects the elderly with their use. The reality of it is that children may also use these. The instances when there is a need for kids to use these is usually centered on the permanent teeth being missing or not being suitable for the function that they were supposed to do.


Circumstances that can cause tooth loss in children include, sports injuries, accidents wherein the oral cavity is concerned, and when they have advanced tooth decay. Tooth trauma as a result of sports injuries and accidents usually result in the loosening or dislodging of a tooth or multiple teeth. If the loose ones were temporary, there should be little to worry about since the permanent ones should grow in a few years. Permanent ones, which may have loosened or dislodged themselves may have to be pulled out. These are the cases when a pedo partial is most likely to be recommended by the dentist.

A pedo partial is a form of dentures for children that are used when the permanent ones are pulled out or if they are missing due to decay. Although these resemble the real and natural ones immensely they are actually not at all like the ones that adults use. Adults have the ones that they can take off, clean and rinse while the ones that children have are usually bound to the molars with the use of metal bands. These metal bands bind the pedo partial to the molars in such a way that they do not move when they need to be used such as when chewing.

Pedo partials are actually considered temporary because these will have to be replaced with other kinds of dental appliances when the child turns into an adult. The reason behind the replacement into adult dentures may be due to the loosening of other permanent teeth or the widening of the space of the molars, which are used for the metal bands. Regardless, when the child turns into an adult or when the dentist deems it possible, the pedo partials will be replaced. Crowns and bridges may replace it depending on the need of the individual.

Other alternatives to dentures may be implants, which can be used to anchor prosthetics, which resemble teeth in a very natural way. Although these are expensive, these can also be advantageous due to the fact that they have less maintenance compared to the detachable ones that adults use and they are also very sturdy and strong. These are anchored to the jawbone and they are permanent unless the manmade prosthetic comes off due to mishandling.

In spite of the possible future alternatives, pedo partials will be used when the child still needs to have a functioning prosthetic. The health of the kid is dependent on his or her ability to chew the food. When there is a missing tooth, chewing and digestion may be hampered. The physical appearance of the child with one missing may also be subject to teasing and bullying by his or her peers.