At ProActive Dental Studio, we recommend space maintainers to help preserve the space left in the mouth when children's baby teeth fall out a little too early.
Preserving space for growing teeth.
Space maintainer are small dental appliances used to hold the space left behind when baby teeth fall out prematurely. This is done so that the growing adult teeth have the proper space and guidance to grow into the correct positions.
What types of space maintainers are there?
Space maintainers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They can also be fixed or removable. Space maintainers can be made from metal, acrylic, or a combination of both, but one of the most common space maintainer designs is a simple metallic band with an attached wire.
How can I tell if my child needs a space maintainer?
During your child's regularly scheduled dentist's appointment, our caring dental team will advise on your options, and let you know if a space maintainer is recommended based on your child's needs.
How is a space maintainer inserted?
Inserting a fixed space maintainer is a two-part process.
During the first appointment, we will take impressions of your child's teeth. These impression will be used to create your child's custom-made space maintainer. If the appliance is removable, there will be an appointment to take an impression.
We'll attach the space maintainer during the second appointment. This second appointment is required so that we can fit, and in some cases, adjust the space maintainer to fit comfortably.
How will I know when the space maintainer needs to be removed?
Space maintainers should be removed at just the right time, so they doesn't interfere with the arrival of the permanent teeth. This means it is more important than ever that you bring your child in for regular check-ups, so we can check the status of the space maintainer.