Why Space Maintainers Matter
Baby teeth do more than chew food. They hold space in the jaw for permanent teeth developing beneath them. When a baby tooth is lost too early due to decay, injury, or extraction, the neighboring teeth can drift into the empty space.
This drifting can block permanent teeth from coming in properly, causing crowding, impaction, and misalignment. Space maintainers hold the gap open until the permanent tooth is ready to emerge, helping ensure proper dental development.
When Space Maintainers Are Needed
Our Pickering pediatric dentists recommend space maintainers when a baby tooth is lost more than six months before the permanent tooth is expected, when X-rays show the permanent tooth isn't close to erupting, when there's risk of adjacent teeth shifting, and when preserving space can prevent future orthodontic problems.
Not every lost baby tooth requires a space maintainer. If the permanent tooth is close to erupting, or if the tooth lost was a front tooth, a space maintainer may not be necessary. We evaluate each situation individually to determine the best approach.
Types of Space Maintainers
There are several types of space maintainers, and we choose the appropriate one based on which tooth was lost and your child's specific needs.
Band and loop maintainers wrap around an adjacent tooth and have a wire loop that spans the gap. They're commonly used when a single back tooth is lost. Distal shoe maintainers are used when the tooth lost was in front of a permanent molar that hasn't erupted yet, guiding the molar into proper position.
Lower lingual holding arches and transpalatal arches span across the mouth and maintain space when multiple teeth are lost. We'll explain which type is right for your child and why.
Living with a Space Maintainer
Space maintainers require some adjustment but become comfortable quickly. Your child should avoid sticky and chewy foods that could dislodge the appliance. Regular brushing around the maintainer keeps the area clean and healthy.
We monitor the space maintainer at regular checkups, watching for the permanent tooth to approach. Once the permanent tooth is ready to erupt, we remove the maintainer to allow it to come in naturally.
Families from Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and throughout Durham Region trust Hi Five Kids Dental & Braces for space maintainers that protect their children's developing smiles.
