Management of a prosthetic complication on an implant restoration placed when the patient was 10 years old: A case report

The use of dental implants in pediatric patients may create unique complications. A 38-year-old patient presented with a mobile, cement-retained implant crown due to an abutment screw loosening. The maxillary right central incisor implant was placed when the patient was 10 years old. Pus discharge from the peri-implant sulcus was observed. The mucosal margin of the implant was at the level of the mucogingival junction of neighboring teeth. Radiographically, the platform of the implant appeared to be at the level of the apical third of the adjacent roots. After removing the existing implant-retained crown, the inflamed peri-implant tissue covering the implant platform was removed and the stability of the implant was confirmed. A new screw-retained implant crown was made using an angulated screw channel to correct the labiopalatal angulation of the implant and allow for retrievability. Pink porcelain was used to match the mucosal margin of the implant crown to that of the maxillary left central incisor. This case report highlights the risk of implant placement in pediatric patients and agrees with previous reports that implants should be delayed until growth is complete.