When baby teeth fall out prematurely, problems can arise if not properly maintained. In these cases, we will place a device called a space maintainer in your child’s mouth to ensure their adult teeth will grow properly. Space maintainers help “hold space” for permanent teeth. This prevents adult teeth from growing into an empty space instead of where they should be in the mouth, causing overcrowding and other dental problems as primary teeth fall out and adult teeth replace them.
Sometimes, kids lose their baby teeth early due to trauma, congenital issues, accidents, or decay. There are different types of space maintainers, so your child’s orthodontist will recommend a space maintainer depending on your child’s situation.
At Link Dental Excellence, we can provide pediatric space maintainers for your child to ensure their permanent teeth grow correctly.
There are two categories of pediatric space maintainers, and each category has different types of maintainers.
The first category is fixed space maintainers. A fixed space maintainer is a semi-permanent tooth fixture that keeps enough space open for the adult teeth to grow. Once the adult teeth come in, the maintainer is removed. The four different types of fixed space maintainers include crown and loop, distal shoe, lingual, and unilateral.
The second category of maintainers is removable space maintainers. These maintainers are a good option if your child’s tooth is almost ready to grow. These devices are usually made of acrylic material and can be fitted with a fake tooth. The removable maintainers make it easier for your child to keep good oral hygiene habits. The downside to these maintainers is that they are not as effective at maintaining space as fixed devices.
Space maintainers last until the permanent teeth come in. They act as a replacement holder for teeth that are lost early.
It is important for space maintainers that regular brushing and dental check-ups take place.
There is no pain or discomfort associated with space maintainers. If you experience pain, this could be an indicator that something is wrong, and you will want to schedule an appointment with your dental office.
Yes, a dental space maintainer should be removed when the permanent tooth is ready to come into place. Your dentist will know when the time is right to remove the space maintainer.