Space Maintainers

What Are Space Maintainers?

Space maintainers are small dental devices used to reserve the proper space for permanent teeth to emerge. These appliances can be fixed or removable, depending on your child’s specific needs. Our experienced pediatric dental team will thoroughly assess your child’s mouth and determine the ideal type of space maintainer to ensure optimal results.

When Are Space Maintainers Recommended?

We usually recommend space maintainers when a child loses a baby tooth earlier than expected. Early loss of baby teeth can result from several causes, including:

• Advanced tooth decay or dental infection
• Accidents or injury
• Certain medical conditions
• Congenital absence of teeth

Baby teeth play a crucial role in your child’s eating, speaking, and, most importantly, guiding the permanent teeth into the correct positions. When a primary tooth is lost too soon, there is a risk that surrounding teeth will drift into the empty space. This can lead to misalignment and crowding when the adult teeth eventually erupt. Space maintainers are used to prevent unwanted tooth movement, helping ensure that permanent teeth come in properly and your child’s smile develops just as it should.