Space Maintainers
At ABC Kids Dental Group, we understand that a child’s baby teeth serve as guides for where the permanent teeth will erupt. If a baby tooth is extracted or falls out prematurely, then adjacent teeth may drift into the gap created by the missing baby tooth. If this happens there will be no room for the permanent tooth to grow into. To prevent this, we recommended the use of space maintainers to preserve the space until the child’s permanent teeth are ready to replace the lost baby tooth.
When Will My Child Need A Space Maintainer?
If a child has lost a baby tooth prematurely and the permanent tooth has not erupted yet, then a space maintainer can be used to maintain the space needed for the permanent tooth. A baby tooth can be lost early because the extent of decay requires for it to be pulled out or because it is infected. Some teeth also get loose due to internal resorption and fall out early on their own. Either way, the loss of the tooth creates a space and the only way to prevent other teeth from drifting into that space is using space maintainers.
What Types of Space Maintainers Do We Recommend?
Since young children and adolescents tend to lose removable space maintainers, or do not wear them often enough, we recommend fixed space maintainers that are cemented onto the tooth. These are more efficient at maintaining the space and require minimal care on the part of the child. Also, in the event that the child is missing only one tooth, we recommend a unilateral space maintainer. If the child is missing more than one tooth however, the space is best maintained using a bilateral space maintainer.
How Are Space Maintainers Made?
Our dentists at ABC Kids Dental Group always custom make the space maintainer so that it is the perfect fit for your child’s mouth. If it is a unilateral space maintainer, it can be fashioned on the same day of the appointment. However, if it is bilateral space maintainer measurements as well as an impression need to be taken. These are then sent to a dental lab that will custom make the space maintainer to meet the individual needs of the child.
When Will the Space Maintainer Be Removed?
As soon as the permanent tooth begins erupting, it is a good idea to bring your child in to our dentists so they can determine if the timing is right to remove the space maintainer.
Are There Any Special Precautions That Should Be Taken When Having A Space Maintainer?
After the space maintainer is in place, it is common to have some gingival irritation around it, until the tissue gets use to the appliance. As with all orthodontic appliances, it is important to maintain good brushing habits in order to prevent further irritation. Gargling with salt water or mouth wash can also help the tissues heal and kill the bacteria that may build up in the region.
Are Space Maintainers Painful?
A space maintainer is an appliance to maintain space for the permanent tooth to erupt. Every case is different but having a space maintainer can cause some discomfort, which may take some getting used to.
For more information on the insertion and maintenance of space maintainers, call us at 833-i-ABC-Kid (833-522-2543) or visit one of our offices in Pacoima, Sun Valley or Granada Hills.
