Losing a baby tooth is usually a cause for celebration, but did you know that if it happens too early, it can potentially cause problems down the road? Without that tooth holding space in the mouth, sometimes the underlying permanent tooth doesn’t have the room it needs. But this is where space maintainers come into play. These small, simple appliances actually have a large role in keeping your child’s smile right on track. Here’s what you should know about how they work.
What Exactly Is a Space Maintainer?
A space maintainer is a small orthodontic appliance designed to hold open the gap left behind by a prematurely lost baby tooth. It’s typically made of metal or a combination of metal and acrylic, and it’s customized to fit your child’s mouth. While it might look small and humble, it has an important job: keeping the surrounding baby teeth from overtaking the spot where your child’s future permanent tooth will reside.
By keeping the space open, it’s far less likely that the tooth in question will need orthodontic intervention to make it to its final, healthy spot. Not every baby tooth lost prematurely will need a space maintainer; it depends on the child’s age, which tooth was lost, and how soon the permanent tooth will come in.
Space maintainers generally come in two types: fixed and removable. Fixed ones are cemented to the teeth and stay there full-time until they’ve done their job. Removable ones, on the other hand, are taken out for eating and cleaning. That said, they only work as intended if your child wears theirs as instructed!
Caring for Your Child’s Space Maintainer
Whether your child has a fixed or removable space maintainer, a little care goes a long way. They will need to maintain excellent oral hygiene, meaning they should brush and floss around their appliance—or remove it to clean their teeth and then clean it separately. If your child’s space maintainer ever feels loose, breaks, or falls out while it’s being worn, it’s important to let their orthodontist know at once so that it can be repaired or replaced before the space begins closing.
The bottom line is, space maintainers are often an important part of guiding your child’s smile toward healthy development. If your child has lost a tooth seemingly early, don’t wait to let their orthodontist know.
About the Practice
Here at Simply Orthodontics, our team has proudly served the needs of patients and families all across New England, offering a wide range of orthodontic treatments for all ages, including braces, clear aligners, and several types of appliances like space maintainers. If you have any questions about the blog or you’re ready to schedule an appointment for your child, you can call or reach out online for more information or to find the office closest to you.
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