Try thinking about dentures without visualizing an elderly person putting in their teeth in the morning or taking them out and dropping them into a glass of water at night. Go ahead.

The truth is, dentures may become necessary at any age.

A bad fall, a violent hit during a sporting game, excessive tooth decay or entire host of accidental trauma scenarios…all could potentially create the need for tooth replacement. And yes, even young children may need dentures or pediatric partial dentures.

This might well raise the question of whether a pediatric partial denture is even necessary, given that the child’s adult teeth will eventually grow in. While this is true, your child needs the use of his or her teeth in the meantime. Missing multiple teeth can make it difficult for a child to chew or learn to articulate words correctly. The partial denture also acts as a space maintainer, which will minimize potential crowding of the adult teeth when they erupt.

Missing teeth can and will impact quality of life. And now might be the time to call your dentist and ask about pediatric partial dentures.