The Case for Space Maintainers

You may have heard Dr. Mo mention the term “space maintainer” before when it comes to your child’s mouth, but you might not know exactly what it is and if your child needs it. A space maintainer is a piece of equipment used in pediatric orthodontics to preserve space in your child’s mouth as you wait for the permanent teeth to come in. Read on to learn more about the importance of these orthodontic devices and how they affect your child’s dental health for the better.

What is a space maintainer?

A space maintainer is essentially exactly what it sounds like: a special device used to keep space in your child’s mouth so that an adult tooth has enough room to erupt properly when it’s ready. Sometimes, a child loses a primary (baby) tooth before the adult tooth beneath the gums is due to come in. That prematurely created space often causes other teeth to shift forward. This orthodontic device holds that space open so that the adult tooth can come into the appropriate spot in your child’s mouth and not cause crowding.

There are two types of space maintainers: fixed and removable. 

The removable space maintainer is similar to other removable dental appliances. Often, removable space maintainers are made of acrylic and use a prosthetic tooth to fill the space. These are worn like any other dental appliance, and can be taken out as needed.

In children, the most common type of space maintainer we use is the fixed space maintainer. Often, we anchor a band to one tooth using dental cement, then a wire loop fills the space that needs to be preserved. Once the fixed space maintainer is set in your child’s mouth, they can brush and floss their teeth normally. This orthodontic device shouldn’t cause them any pain, and they can still eat most of their favorite foods as well. However, regular dental checkups with the Must Love Kids team will make sure the device is doing its job.

Why might my child need a space maintainer?

The most common reason a child will need a space maintainer is if they lose a primary tooth early, either naturally or because it needed to be extracted. If that is the case and the permanent tooth won’t be ready to come in for a while, Dr. Mo might need to add this orthodontic device to keep that space open in your child’s mouth. 

Again, the space maintainer will keep other teeth from shifting or moving over into spaces where they don’t belong. If teeth crowd together, the adult teeth waiting to erupt might not have the proper space to come in when they are ready. This can cause your child’s bite to be off, possibly hindering speech clarity and chewing function. And that could mean your child will need orthodontic appliances, like braces, in the future to help straighten out their teeth and realign their bite. 

Benefits of Space Maintainers

Space maintainers are a way that Dr. Mo can help prevent more complex orthodontic needs in the future. If your child’s teeth become too crowded or their adult teeth don’t come into the proper places, braces or other orthodontic appliances may be needed to realign your child’s teeth. If caught early, however, these devices can help your child avoid the need for orthodontics later in life.

Think of a space maintainer as a dental appliance that prepares your child’s mouth for a healthy dental journey. The preventive benefits this type of device delivers can set your child up for a healthy dental journey for the rest of their childhood and teen years.

Visit Dr. Mo Today.

Preventive care is always encouraged, which is why Dr. Mo and the Must Love Kids Pediatric Dental team encourage you to have your child visit us at least twice a year. During each dental checkup, Dr. Mo performs a complete dental evaluation to see how your child’s teeth are coming in and to spot any early dental issues, like cavities. Schedule your appointment today to see us if it has been more than six months since you’ve stopped by.