If your child loses a baby tooth prematurely, he or she may require a space maintainer, also called a spacer, in order to keep the space in your child’s mouth until an adult tooth can grow in. Here at Kids Town Pediatric Dentistry, we provide this appliance to help your child continue to grow and develop properly so they can avoid the problems of crowded, misaligned teeth and minimize their need for future orthodontic treatments.
How Space Maintainers Benefit Your Child
Space maintainers play a crucial role in ensuring that your child’s teeth develop properly. When a baby tooth is lost prematurely due to decay, injury or other causes, it is essential to maintain the space for the permanent tooth that will eventually grow in its place. Without proper spacing surrounding teeth may shift into the open area, causing misalignment and crowding as the permanent teeth begin to emerge. This can lead to orthodontic issues that may require more extensive treatment in the future.
A space maintainer is a custom-made dental appliance designed to hold the gap left by a missing tooth until the permanent tooth is ready to erupt. These devices can be either fixed or removable, depending on your child’s needs and the recommendation of our pediatric dentists. Fixed space maintainers are cemented to the teeth, while removable maintainers are similar to a retainer and can be taken out for cleaning.
Using a space maintainer can prevent many potential problems. It ensures that the permanent tooth has enough room to erupt in its proper position and helps avoid the need for more invasive dental treatments down the road. By keeping the neighboring teeth in their correct positions, space maintainers support overall dental development, helping your child maintain a healthy and aligned smile as they grow.
Schedule An Appointment With Your Local Pediatric Dentists
At our office, we offer a range of space maintainer options in Roy, Layton, Syracuse and the surrounding areas tailored to meet the specific needs of your child. After a thorough evaluation, Dr. Renn, Dr. Brett, Dr. Tate or our associates will recommend the type of space maintainer that is most appropriate. If you have concerns about your child’s missing tooth or their overall dental development, we invite you to call 801-217-3359 or book online to schedule a consultation. Our team is dedicated to helping your child achieve optimal oral health and a beautiful smile.