Pediatric dental space maintainers help guide your child’s teeth into proper alignment after early tooth loss. At Lansdowne Pediatric Dentistry, we provide custom-fit space maintainers to prevent shifting and ensure healthy dental development. Protect your child’s smile with expert pediatric care—schedule a consultation with us today!
We understand the importance of maintaining proper dental alignment and spacing for your child’s developing mouth. One of the key preventative treatments we offer is the application of dental space maintainers. These devices play a crucial role in ensuring that your child’s permanent teeth come in correctly, helping to prevent future dental issues.
A dental space maintainer is a custom-made appliance used to hold the space for a permanent tooth when a baby tooth is lost prematurely. Baby teeth act as guides for the eruption of permanent teeth. When a baby tooth is lost too early, the adjacent teeth can shift into the empty space, leading to crowding and misalignment of the incoming permanent teeth. Space maintainers help prevent these issues, ensuring proper dental development.
There are two main types of space maintainers:
If your child loses a baby tooth prematurely due to decay or injury, a space maintainer can prevent the surrounding teeth from shifting into the empty space and ensure proper alignment of the incoming permanent teeth.
The duration varies depending on when the permanent tooth is expected to erupt. It can range from a few months to a few years. Regular dental check-ups will help monitor progress and determine when the device can be removed.
Initially, your child may feel some discomfort or pressure, but this usually subsides within a few days. If your child experiences persistent pain or the device feels uncomfortable, contact us for an adjustment.
Encourage your child to maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly. Avoid sticky or hard foods that could damage the appliance. Attend regular dental check-ups to ensure the space maintainer is functioning correctly.
If the space maintainer becomes loose or breaks, contact our office immediately. Do not attempt to fix it yourself. We will schedule an appointment to repair or replace the appliance as needed.
Fixed space maintainers are designed to be as discreet as possible. They are usually placed at the back of the mouth, making them less noticeable.
Yes, your child can eat most foods with a space maintainer. However, they should avoid sticky, hard, or chewy foods that can dislodge or damage the device.
Regular dental check-ups are crucial to monitor the condition of the space maintainer and ensure it’s functioning correctly. Typically, visits every six months are recommended, but your dentist may suggest more frequent visits based on your child’s needs.
In some cases, orthodontic treatment might be considered as an alternative. However, space maintainers are often the preferred choice due to their effectiveness in maintaining space and guiding proper tooth eruption.
Many dental insurance plans cover space maintainers as a preventative treatment. It’s best to check with your insurance provider to understand your coverage.
