Space mainteiner

When your child’s baby tooth falls out prematurely, it is important to ensure that there will be no complications for when the permanent teeth begin to grow in. If the baby tooth falls out or needs to be pulled prematurely, it may cause the adjacent teeth to begin to drift into the gap where the baby tooth had been. In order to solve this issue, at Advanced Dental Bronx – Children's Dentist our specialists use a device called a space maintainer. The space maintainer is placed in the gap where the baby tooth was and holds the place for the permanent tooth until it grows in. Using a space maintainer will eliminate the worry of having your child’s teeth growing incorrectly, and will leave your child with a healthy and beautiful smile.

When will my child need a space maintainer?

When your child loses a baby tooth and the permanent tooth has not yet grown in, this may cause for the adjacent teeth to slowly drift into the gap left behind by the baby tooth. As the teeth drift, this may lead to the permanent teeth growing incorrectly. However, this can be easily solved by using a space maintainer. If your child loses their baby tooth prematurely, schedule an appointment at Advanced Dental Bronx – Children's Dentist to find out if a space maintainer is the right treatment for your child.

What types of space maintainers do we recommend at Advanced Dental Bronx

There are two different types of space maintainers offered at Advanced Dental Bronx – Children's Dentist: a removable space maintainer and a fixed space maintainer. However, while removable space maintainers are just as effective as permanent space maintainers, children tend to lose the removable maintainers or forget to wear them. If your child forgets to wear their removable space maintainer, it may not work as effectively as it should and may still cause the adjacent teeth to drift into the space left behind by the baby tooth. Our specialists at Advanced Dental Bronx – Children's Dentist recommend permanent space maintainers which are cemented onto the tooth, and will eliminate the risk of your child losing or forgetting to put on their space maintainer.

In the case of the child having several gaps left behind by missing teeth, our specialists at Advanced Dental NYC – Children's Dentist recommend a bilateral space maintainer. For teeth on the top jaw, this appliance is called a Nance appliance, while for the teeth on the bottom jaw this is called a lower lingual holding arch.

How are space maintainers made?

At Advanced Dental Bronx – Children's Dentist, we create custom space maintainers for each child, to ensure it is perfectly fit for the child’s mouth. If the child needs only one space maintainer, it can be made on the same day as the appointment. In the case that the child needs a bilateral space maintainer, a space maintainer made for several gaps in the teeth, there must be an impression taken of the mouth. This impression is sent to a dental lab which makes the custom space maintainer over the course of a few days.

When will the space maintainer be removed?

After the space maintainer is placed in the child’s mouth, it must remain there until the permanent tooth begins to grow in. As the permanent tooth grows in, you must bring your child in to Advanced Dental NYC – Children's Dental to allow our specialists to determine if your child’s space maintainer can be taken off.

Are there any special precautions that should be taken when having a space maintainer?

As with many orthodontic appliances, it is common for the space maintainer to cause some gingival irritation around it for a short period of time until the child gets used to the maintainer. It is essential for your child to maintain their oral hygiene habits to prevent any further irritation, as well as develop a habit of cleaning the mouth with a salt water solution or mouthwash. The solution or mouthwash will allow the child to keep their space maintainer clean and prevent any bacteria from further irritating the space maintainer.