Dental Implants for a Dramatic Cosmetic Smile Makeover

Transforming a Teenager’s Smile with Dental Implants

This fifteen-year-old native Bethesda/Chevy Chase patient was referred to Elite Prosthetic Dentistry by her orthodontist and general dentist. She was born with congenitally missing teeth, a condition that affects approximately 2-8% of the population. By using dental implants to replace her missing teeth, her smile would be remarkably transformed.

Even though she was in the middle of orthodontic therapy, we were called upon to provide guidance on tooth positioning so that there would be adequate spacing for the future implant placement. Implants should not be placed in children until they have stopped growing. At Elite Prosthetic Dentistry, we have established eighteen years old as our minimal benchmark for implant placement to ensure proper skeletal development is complete before permanent restoration.

Assembling a Multidisciplinary Treatment Team

Complex cases like this one require coordination across multiple dental specialties. In order to provide the right arch form and bony architecture, Dr. Gerald Marlin assembled a precision team of practitioners.

The team included the patient’s existing orthodontist, an oral surgeon to reset the jaws into the ideal occlusion (bite), a periodontist for bone grafting the sites of missing teeth, and an endodontist for necessary root canal therapy. This collaborative approach ensured that every phase of treatment built upon the last, creating the ideal foundation before implant placement could begin.

The orthodontist first positioned the remaining teeth to create proper spacing. The oral surgeon then corrected the jaw relationship. The periodontist performed bone grafting to build adequate bone volume at the implant sites. Only after these preparatory procedures were complete did we proceed with implant placement.

Results: A Complete Smile at Last

Once the implants had fully integrated with the bone through osseointegration, we inserted custom abutments and final crowns. Each crown was fabricated in our in-house laboratory to match the patient’s natural teeth in color, translucency, and shape. The patient now has a complete dentition and a natural-looking smile.

The transformation was so profound that she is considering pursuing a career in dentistry. Her case demonstrates why congenitally missing teeth require a prosthodontist’s expertise for long-term, stable results rather than temporary solutions that will need replacement.

Why Prosthodontic Expertise Matters for Complex Cases

Replacing congenitally missing teeth is not a simple implant procedure. It requires understanding how teeth, bone, gums, and jaw relationships all interact. A prosthodontist like Dr. Marlin is specifically trained in the planning and execution of complex full-mouth restorations, making Elite Prosthetic Dentistry the right choice for cases that demand precision and artistry.

If your child or teenager has been diagnosed with congenitally missing teeth, contact Elite Prosthetic Dentistry to discuss a long-term treatment plan. Early planning with a prosthodontist ensures the best possible outcome when the patient reaches the appropriate age for dental implant placement.