A space maintainer is an orthodontic device that enhances dental health in the long run by assisting your child’s permanent teeth to form and erupt correctly. This little dental device is comparable to an adult bridge, except it’s intended to keep the gap between teeth after a primary (baby) tooth falls out rather than replace missing teeth. Typically constructed of metal, space maintainers are custom-made to fit each patient’s mouth. A space maintainer holds a child’s baby teeth in place, enabling normal development and eruption of the permanent teeth. Your child’s permanent teeth will erupt properly with space maintainers, ensuring a pleasant appearance and a secure bite and improving their functionality. Children thereby avoid the requirement for future, more expensive and severe dental repairs.
Does your child need a space maintainer?
Childhood is about giving kids the greatest start possible by fostering positive growth and giving them all they need to grow up healthy and strong, whether you’re thinking about wellness care, education, or socialization. Kid’s dentistry must also strongly emphasize a child’s overall development. Your Edmonton dentist may advise your child to use a space maintainer with consideration for their future.
What are the benefits of space maintainers?
- Maintains the proper alignment of the adjacent teeth – The fact that space maintainers retain your child’s teeth in the proper locations is their greatest benefit. When a child loses a tooth, their neighbouring teeth sometimes naturally move toward the empty socket. As a result, it could seriously affect your child’s dental development if it occurs before their permanent teeth have erupted. Space maintainers keep the teeth in the proper position and keep them from shifting.
- Promotes proper permanent teeth eruption – The “pathways” that your child’s permanent teeth will take when they erupt are created by their baby teeth. As they develop and mature, the permanent tooth may not come in properly if they lose a tooth. However, by keeping teeth from shifting after tooth loss, a space maintainer helps protect your child’s mouth and promotes the normal eruption of permanent teeth.
- Reduces the need for orthodontic treatment and braces – Using a space maintainer can save tons of money in additional orthodontic treatment costs. It is because you can reduce future orthodontic problems by assisting the permanent teeth to develop into your child’s mouth appropriately. The permanent teeth may erupt incorrectly and become crooked, resulting in braces and other orthodontic procedures if the space left by your child’s missing tooth is not protected. You may keep your child’s mouth healthy and prevent expensive orthodontic treatment by having a space maintainer fitted as soon as they lose a baby tooth.
- Causes no pain – The space maintainer for your child won’t cause any harm. After it has been attached, the initial few days may be slightly unpleasant. It is because your child will have to get used to how it feels and that, like a retainer, it might put a little pressure on the teeth while it settles into the appropriate place.
What are the possible reasons that a child might need a space maintainer?
Not every child will require a space maintainer whenever a baby tooth falls out. Typically, children only require space maintainers when they lose a tooth before their permanent replacement has formed or is about to erupt. A child can have crooked or misaligned teeth due to genetics, tooth decay, bad oral health habits (e.g. thumbsucking), early baby tooth loss, and trauma, which requires a space maintainer.
Smile Zone Dental is dedicated to giving patients of all ages the dental care they deserve, including your child’s little smile. We offer space maintainers to help your child achieve the smile they need. Call us now at 780-989-5733 to book your child’s appointment today!