Mendota Heights Orthodontist Knows How to Give Patients Their Space
EAGEN, MENDOTA HEIGHTS, ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – Lots of kids want their space by the time they reach their teenage years, and Mendota Heights orthodontist Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth is giving it to many of her patients, in a manner of speaking.
Children who are born without their upper lateral incisors must have the space maintained where the teeth should be until they are old enough for dental implants.
About 2.5 percent of people in the United States are born with congenitally missing upper lateral incisors, according to information available on DentalResource.org. It is typical for adult teeth to be missing, as opposed to baby teeth. However, a missing baby tooth usually indicates that the adult replacement likely has not formed.
Most young patients complete their treatment at Eisenhuth’s Eagan and Mendota Heights orthodontics practice by the time they are age 14 to 15. But because they still are growing, dental implants cannot be placed until the patient is about 18 years old.
“That leaves us with several years to maintain the space needed for the future implant,” Eisenhuth said. “It’s no secret that teeth like to move, and without adequate retention, the space will close, necessitating future orthodontics when the patient is ready for the implant.”
The Mendota Heights braces expert recommends that a fixed retainer be placed in the patient’s mouth to maintain the space, combined with either a removable retainer with an artificial lateral incisor, or a Maryland Bridge fabricated by the family dentist.
A Maryland bridge consists of a porcelain tooth baked onto a metal framework . The framework includes metal wings on either side of the artificial tooth that are bonded to the tongue side of the teeth adjacent to the space, Eisenhuth said.
Eisenhuth, who also is a Mendota Heights Incognito braces provider, prefers the Maryland Bridge because the patient can remove their retainer to eat lunch at school and still have a lateral incisor in place.
“If we put it in the removable retainer, the patient will have a large space in the front as they eat their lunch,” she said. “The Maryland Bridge also helps lock-in root position, which is crucial for the oral surgeon when the patient is ready for the implant.”
Once the patient stops growing, an oral surgeon can place dental implants into the jawbone to serve as anchors for porcelain crowns to permanently replace the missing teeth. Dental implants today include immediate load options, meaning that once the implant is placed, the oral surgeon can immediately secure the porcelain crown to it.
Traditional dental implants require a healing process of several months to allow the implant to integrate itself into the jawbone through a process called osseointegration.
Once placed, dental implants and porcelain crowns have the look, feel and function of natural teeth, Eisenhuth said.
Learn More
If you would like to learn more about treatment options for congenitally missing upper lateral incisors or you wish to schedule a consultation with Mendota Heights Invisalign provider Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth, please call: (651) 406-8100 or visit her Web site: http://doctorjennifer.com.
About Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth
Dr. Eisenhuth attended the University of Minnesota Dental School and graduated in the top of her class. She earned the Minnesota Association of Orthodontic Achievement Award and several academic achievement awards. She entered her orthodontic residency at the University of Minnesota and earned a certificate in orthodontics and a Master of Science degree.
Dr. Eisenhuth is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.
She takes pride in caring for the orthodontic needs of residents in the Twin Cities- St. Paul and Minneapolis, and their surrounding regions, including St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville, Eagan and Eagan, Minnesota.
Her office is located at 3340 Sherman Court, Eagan, Minn., 55121.
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