Space Maintainers For Children: Aligning Teeth The Easy Way

A complete set of teeth can help your child eat comfortably and socialize with confidence. But, sometimes, there’s no avoiding a lost tooth – especially during childhood. The gaps these teeth leave behind can cause long-term problems like dental shifting, impacted growth, and a misaligned bite.

The good news is that the solution is surprisingly simple: space maintainers from a qualified dentist. We offer this (and more) at Children’s Dentistry of Manatee! Reach out to our team, so we can fill the gaps for your child’s growing smile.

What Are Space Maintainers?

A space maintainer is a type of oral appliance used to fill the spaces left by missing teeth. These stainless steel appliances are fixed to an adjacent tooth for support. This allows permanent teeth to eventually grow in the correct position, preventing dental problems in the future.

Depending on your child’s needs, our in-house dentist may recommend one or more of the following types:

• Fixed space maintainers attach to one or more adjacent teeth with cementing or bonding.
• Removable space maintainers guide your child’s teeth to the correct position when worn as needed.
• Unilateral space maintainers attach to only one side of your child’s mouth for minimal support.
• Bilateral space maintainers attach to both sides of your child’s mouth for added support.

How Can Teeth Space Maintainers Help Your Child?

When a baby tooth is lost prematurely, the surrounding teeth may shift and interfere with the natural eruption of permanent teeth. To prevent this from happening, we recommend space maintainers to secure the other teeth in place. Space maintainers guide their teeth to the correct position, reducing the chances of bite problems for your little one.

Does Your Child Need Dental Space Maintainers?

To find out whether your child needs space maintainers or not, your child will need to undergo a comprehensive exam at our dental practice. Your child will need space maintainers if they meet the following criteria:

• Your child has lost a second primary molar before or after their first permanent molar erupts.
• Your child has lost one or more molars to traumatic injuries or dental disease.
• Your child has lost molars to dental extractions or tooth decay.

After the procedure, we’ll schedule follow-up appointments to monitor how well your child’s teeth adjust to the space maintainers. We’ll also need to perform regular cleanings, especially for fixed types of oral appliances. As soon as your child’s permanent molars have emerged, we’ll remove the space maintainers on your child’s next appointment.

Get Premium Space Maintainers At Children’s Dentistry Of Manatee

Don’t overlook the benefits that space maintainers can offer your child, especially if they’ve lost a molar or two prematurely. With our help, your child can avoid more invasive orthodontic treatments in the future by getting their problems resolved early on.

Whether your child needs single or multiple space maintainers, we guarantee that they’ll feel comfortable and cared for at Children’s Dentistry of Manatee. Get in touch with us today, and our friendly staff will be happy to schedule your child’s first consultation!