Why does my child need a space maintainer?
If your child loses a baby tooth prematurely, a space maintainer will maintain the space of the tooth to ensure that other teeth do not invade the space. Once the adult tooth begins to grow in, we’ll remove the space maintainer. Without the space maintainer, it may take years of orthodontic treatment to create enough space for the adult tooth.
What happens if my child doesn’t have a space maintainer placed?
After a baby tooth has been lost prematurely, neighboring teeth will begin to crowd the area, making it difficult for the adult tooth to erupt and come into its proper place. Once the gap or space has closed, the only way to correct it is through orthodontic treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the big deal? Aren't baby teeth supposed to fall out?
Yes, it's true that all baby teeth fall out eventually, but some aren't replaced until the child is 12-13 years old! If your child loses a primary molar at 8 years of age, they have several years to develop a need for orthodontic treatment that could have been prevented with a space maintainer.
Do space maintainers need extra care?
To keep space maintainers in the mouth, it's important to avoid sticky candy or sticky foods. Space maintainers are only attached to the neighboring tooth with a bit of cement, so it will easily come off when it needs to.
Space maintainers should also be brushed regularly; paying extra attention to the gumline, below, and above the tooth ring. Foods that get lodged into the space maintainer can cause cavities if not cleared daily.
My child's space maintainer fell out, what do I do?
Give us a call if your child's space maintainer has fallen out. It won't take us very long to recement it. It's okay if a few days pass without the space maintainer, but keep in mind the longer you wait there is a chance it might no longer fit properly.