Page 45 - Southdown Dental Implant Book

44 | GETYOURSMILEBACK:EVERYTHINGYOUNEEDTOKNOW... *However when patients control diabetes with insulin and their diet, for example, it’s possible for them to experience the same success with dental implants that non-diabetic patients enjoy. 3. PHYSICAL & FINANCIAL CONCERNS i. Age You’re never too old for implants! If there aren’t any medical or dental conditions getting in the way, age doesn’t carry any negative impact by itself. That being said, you can definitely be too young for implants. When placed too early, implants can shift out of position as the jawbone grows, which causes a bunch of issues. Generally speaking, girls don’t stop growing until they’re about 16... while most boys can reach their maximum size at about 21 years of age. In the meantime, there are temporary solutions, (which can be used instead of implants) for func- tional or aesthetic purposes. More importantly, a temporary solution can be used to prevent other teeth from shifting into the space(s) before the