Space Maintainers
Space maintainers help hold the location for adult teeth if a primary tooth is lost early.
Space Maintainers
When baby teeth fall out prematurely, problems can arise if not maintained properly. In these cases, a pediatric dentist will place a device called space maintainers in your child’s mouth to make sure that 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 defects, accidents, or decay. There are different types of space maintainers, so your child’s dentist will recommend a space maintainer depending on your child’s situation.
At Grin Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we can provide pediatric space maintainers for your child to ensure their permanent teeth grow in correctly.
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How long do space maintainers last?
Space maintainers last until the permanent teeth come in–they act as a replacement for teeth that are lost early.
It is important with space maintainers that regular brushing and dental check-ups take place.
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Are space maintainers painful?
There is no pain or discomfort associated with space maintainers. If you do experience pain this could be an indicator that something is wrong and you will want to schedule an appointment with your dental office.
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Do space maintainers need to be removed?
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.
More Questions?
If you have more questions about space maintaining appliances, please contact our office, request an appointment for your child, or explore the other pediatric dental services we provide.