Space maintainers hold open the empty space left by a lost baby tooth.
Space maintainers are appliances made of metal or plastic that are custom fitted to your child’s mouth. They are small and unobtrusive in appearance. Most children easily adjust to them after the first few days.
A baby tooth usually stays in place until a permanent tooth underneath pushes it out and takes its place. Unfortunately, some children lose a baby tooth too soon. A tooth might be accidentally knocked out or removed because of dental disease. When a tooth is lost too early, Dr. Nix may recommend a space maintainer to prevent future space loss.
Baby teeth are important to your child’s present and future dental health. They encourage normal development of the jaw bones and muscles. They save space for the permanent teeth and guide them into position. Remember that some baby teeth are not replaced until a child is 12 to 13 years old.
If a baby tooth is lost too soon, the neighboring teeth may tilt or drift into the empty space. Teeth in the other jaw may move up or down to fill the gap. When adjacent teeth shift into the empty space, they create a lack of space in the jaw for the permanent teeth. Therefore, permanent teeth are crowded and come in crooked. If left untreated, the condition may require extensive orthodontic treatment.
Space maintainers hold open the empty space left by a lost tooth. They steady the remaining teeth, preventing movement until the permanent tooth takes its natural position in the jaw. Once the permanent tooth takes its position, the space maintainer is no longer needed and is quickly and easily removed by Dr. Nix.
