Space maintainers are oral appliances primarily used on children to hold the space of baby teeth that fall out prematurely. There are a number of things that can lead to a child’s tooth falling out prematurely, like genetics, trauma, or tooth decay.
Losing a baby tooth prematurely can have serious consequences. Milk teeth serve an important role, holding space for the permanent teeth behind them. The baby tooth helps the permanent tooth to erupt in the proper alignment when it is time to emerge. Children who lose their teeth prematurely and do not get space maintainers are more likely to develop orthodontic issues as their permanent teeth erupt.
A space maintainer does precisely what its name implies, keeping the space left by prematurely lost baby teeth. Teeth often move towards any spaces that develop in a person’s smile to fill up the gap created. This throws the remaining teeth out of their natural alignment, leading to orthodontic issues.
Space maintainers are typically made out of acrylic or metal. The appliance can be fixed in place once a dentist installs them, or it can be removable. Some space maintainers are designed to look like teeth, so they also help to create the illusion of a full smile.
Some of the more popular types of space maintainers include:
Ideally, a child’s permanent teeth should erupt soon after their milk teeth fall out. The baby tooth keeps space for the permanent tooth, and the permanent tooth helps to keep other teeth properly aligned. A child’s baby teeth erupting prematurely typically leads to their permanent teeth not emerging in their proper positions.
Parents of children who lose their teeth prematurely should visit a pediatric dentist to determine if their child needs a space maintainer. Space maintainers should not cause discomfort, and it only takes a few days for most children to get used to them.
A space maintainer can help your child avoid a lifetime of orthodontic issues due to one of their teeth falling out prematurely. Call or visit our Burbank clinic to set up an appointment with our pediatric dentist.
Request an appointment here: https://www.starkidsdental.com or call Star Kids Dental & Orthodontics at (818) 483-9064 for an appointment in our Burbank office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Pediatric Dentist in Burbank, CA.
Wondering whether your child needs to undergo baby root canal therapy? Pediatric dentists are dental specialists for children, making it so many parents are choosing to take their child to a pediatric dentist to provide their child with any necessary dental services. Parents can ask this dental professional any questions they have that pertain to…
Wondering what kind of tips a pediatric dentist can offer so that your kids’ teeth are as healthy as they can be? A pediatric dentist is a dentist who has decided to focus their attention on treating children, which includes those up to the age of about 17. They are specially trained in understanding the…
Trying to teach your kids about oral hygiene can be tricky, but with a little help from your local children's dentist, you can make the process much easier and have them wanting to keep their teeth healthy on their own. It all starts with knowing how to teach them about oral hygiene and how to…
Many parents neglect early cavity treatment for kids, as they may feel that it is not essential because the child’s teeth will eventually fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth, anyway. However, diagnosing and treating cavities in kids as early as possible is incredibly important. In this review, we discuss the reasons that early…
Curious about the importance of dental checkups for children? Read on to learn more. As parents, one of your top priorities is making sure your kids have healthy teeth and gums. Maintaining your child's oral health requires regular dental checkups. This article covers some of the reasons why you should take your child in for…
Wondering whether your child needs to undergo baby root canal therapy? Pediatric dentists are dental specialists for children, making it so many parents are choosing to take their child to a pediatric dentist to provide their child with any necessary dental services. Parents can ask this dental professional any questions they have that pertain to…