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What are Space Maintainers?
What are Space Maintainers, and why are they important to children's dental
care? Well, baby teeth usually stay in place until "pushed out" by a
permanent tooth that takes it's place. Unfortunately, some children lose
baby
teeth too early. A tooth may be knocked out accidentally or be removed
due
to severe disease. When this occurs, a space maintainer may be required
to
prevent future dental problems. Space maintainers encourage normal
development of the jaw bones and muscles, and save space for the
permanent teeth and help guide them into position.
How can losing a baby tooth too early cause problems
for permanent
teeth?
Well, teeth are strange in that regard. Teeth attempt to "fill" any space
available to them. If your child loses a baby tooth to early, the remaining
baby teeth may tilt, drift, or move up or down to fill the gap. When this
happens, they fill the space intended for the permanent tooth, and the
permanent tooth can come in crowded or crooked. And this condition, if
left
untreated, may require extensive (and expensive) orthodontic treatment
(braces or even surgery).
What are space maintainers?
Simply put, they are an appliance made of plastic or metal custom fit to
your
child's mouth to maintain the space intended for the permanent tooth when
it
decides to come in. They do this by "holding open" the empty space left
by a
lost tooth by preventing movement in the remaining teeth until the permanent
tooth takes it's natural position in the child's mouth. This treatment
is much
more affordable and much easier on your child than to move them back later
with orthodontic procedures. Think of space maintainers as insurance
against braces.
Do space maintainers require any special care?
Yes, they do, and you as a parent can help.
# Make sure your child avoids Hard/Sticky foods (suckers,
carmels,
gum, popcorn, etc.).
# Teeth should be brushed after each
meal and clean the teeth with
bands especially well.
# Once a day, a fluoride mouthwash should be used to help prevent
decalcification of the teeth around the band and wire.
# Avoid Hard/Sticky foods!
# Do not try to bend the wire for any
reason with finger or tongue.
# Notify our office immediately if
the bands come loose or the space
maintainer is damaged in any way. If a tooth erupts under the wire this
also needs to be checked.
AVOID HARD/STICKY FOODS!
