Space maintainers are a great way to maintain the space necessary for permanent teeth.
If your son or daughter loses his or her baby teeth too soon (before permanent teeth are ready to come up through the gums), a space maintainer may be a good option.
On the other hand, if a primary tooth is lost too early, the new tooth can potentially come through the gums in the empty space rather than where they should be. Later down the road when the rest of the adult teeth are ready to come through the gums, there might not be enough room in the mouth.
Importance of Space Maintainers
In order to prevent this, our pediatric dentists might recommend a space maintainer to “hold” the open space from the missing tooth. This will allow ample space in your mouth for the teeth to erupt in the proper position.
Types of Space Maintainers
There are many types and brands of space maintainers. For instance, fixed and removable space maintainers are just two options to choose from. One of our experienced dentists will evaluate your child’s teeth and gums to determine which one they will benefit from the most.
If this type of dental appliance is best for your child, we will give you specific instructions to properly care for the space maintainer.