Space maintainers
Baby teeth are important, despite their temporary stay. Baby teeth serve as placeholders for permanent teeth and allow children to eat their first solid foods. When kids lose their baby teeth early due to trauma, tooth decay, or genetic conditions, there’s a chance that the premature tooth loss can lead to orthodontic problems as the permanent teeth erupt.
How Do Space Maintainers Help?
Space maintainers do exactly what their name implies: they maintain the space left open by premature tooth loss so that permanent teeth can erupt properly. Without space maintainers, permanent teeth can form poorly. Teeth adjacent to the space might shift into the empty space, which can spur orthodontic issues like teeth crowding. When a primary tooth is missing, surrounding teeth might become loose because there is less support overall. Teeth crowding and incorrect eruption of permanent teeth may make it difficult for your child to carry on with proper dental hygiene. This could lead to permanent tooth decay and further dental and orthodontic expenses over time.
Does Your Child Need a Space Maintainer?
Depending on how many teeth are lost prematurely, your child may not need a space maintainer. If permanent teeth are close to coming in, the natural eruption of the permanent teeth will do all of the work of filling in the gap and keeping your child’s teeth in their proper place. However, it’s best that you consult with a dentist when your child begins to lose baby teeth in the case that a space maintainer is necessary.
How Do They Work?
There are several types of space maintainers. Most are made of stainless steel while others are made of acrylic. Removable space maintainers are made with acrylic and are best suited for older children who can properly care for the appliance and clean it. Fixed space maintainers are attached with dental cement to the teeth adjacent to the gap. There are unilateral and bilateral space maintainers, the first fitting on one side and the second fixed on both sides of the space. The dentist will recommend a space maintainer on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the number and location of missing teeth.
Types of Space Maintainers
Band-and-Loop Device
A stainless steel wire is held with orthodontic bands on the crown of a tooth adjacent to the gap. This is used when baby molars are lost in one dental arch.
Distal shoe
This type of space maintainer is used when a baby’s first molar is lost. It saves the space for the first permanent molar to come in.
Lingual Arch
If there are back teeth missing on both sides of the lower jaw, a lingual arch is the best option. The wire runs along the inside of the bottom teeth where it cannot be seen and is anchored down by orthodontic bands.
Trans Palatal Arch Appliance
A space maintainer for the upper jaw when primary molar teeth are lost on both sides. Two metal bands are joined across the palate and are attached to the teeth with a rigid wire. This appliance is custom-made using an impression of the child’s teeth. It’s effective at preventing the teeth from moving forward.
Taking Care of Space Maintainers
if your child needs a space maintainer, it’s important to ensure that he or she is practicing good oral hygiene in order to keep the teeth and the appliance in good shape. Dentists should go over proper hygiene practices for the specific device so that your child is cleaning the areas that may be hard to reach because of the maintainer. If your child ends up needing a space maintainer, it’s best that he or she avoids sugary foods, chewing gum, and resists the urge to mess with the device as this can hinder its effectiveness.
Find out about the types of space maintainers for tooth loss in kids and how to take care of them. Contact Us at smile factory dental care.
