Space Maintainers For Children In Valencia, CA

Creating Space For Adult Teeth

When a child loses a baby tooth before it is naturally ready to come out, the teeth around it may begin to move into the empty spot. This can leave less room for the adult tooth that will eventually take its place. Space maintainers for children are a custom dental appliance designed to help prevent shifting while your child’s smile continues to develop. 

Modern pediatric dentistry and orthodontic treatment area at valencia smiles in valencia, ca, offering dental space maintainers for children.

Why Space Maintainers For Children Are Necessary

Baby teeth do more than help your child chew and speak. They also help guide the adult teeth into their proper positions as your child’s smile develops. When a baby tooth is gone before its expected time, the surrounding teeth may gradually drift toward the open area. This can change the amount of room available for the adult tooth underneath.

Space maintainers for children can help preserve that room while your child’s permanent teeth continue developing. Depending on when the tooth was lost and your child’s individual dental development, maintaining the space may help reduce the chance of:

  • Adult teeth having insufficient room to come in
  • A permanent tooth becoming trapped or developing in an unusual position
  • Teeth becoming crowded or overlapping
  • Changes to the way the upper and lower teeth fit together
  • More complex orthodontic concerns as the smile develops

What Are The Different Types Of Space Maintainers For Children?

Space maintainers for children come in several designs, and the right option depends on which tooth was lost, where the space is located and how your child’s permanent teeth are developing. They generally fall into two groups: fixed and removable.

Fixed Space Maintainers

Fixed space maintainers are attached to your child’s teeth and stay in place as their smile develops. They are designed to protect the open area until the permanent tooth is ready to take its place. Once that tooth begins to come through, your pediatric dentist can determine when the appliance should be removed.

There are several types of fixed space maintainers for children, each suited to different situations.

Crown and Loop Space Maintainer

Crown and loop space maintainers for children use a small stainless steel crown that fits over one of the teeth next to the open space. A metal loop extends from the crown and rests against the neighboring tooth, helping keep the area from closing as your child’s permanent tooth develops.

A distal shoe space maintainer may be recommended when a baby molar is lost before the permanent first molar has come in. This type of appliance extends slightly below the gumline to help guide the incoming permanent molar and preserve the space left by the missing baby tooth. Because part of the appliance sits beneath the gum tissue, your child’s pediatric dentist will monitor it closely as the permanent tooth develops and erupts.

Lingual space maintainers are designed to help preserve space in several areas of the lower or upper arch. They typically use a wire connected to crowns placed on supporting teeth. This type of appliance may be considered when a child is missing multiple teeth, including cases where teeth did not develop naturally.

A unilateral space maintainer is designed to preserve an open area on one side of your child’s mouth. Similar to a crown and loop appliance, it uses a metal wire to keep nearby teeth from shifting into the space. The wire wraps around the teeth next to the missing tooth, helping maintain the area while the permanent tooth develops.

Removable Space Maintainers

Removable space maintainers for children may be recommended when a permanent tooth is getting closer to coming in. These appliances are custom-made to fit your child and resemble some of the removable appliances used during orthodontic treatment. Because they can be taken out, your child’s ability to wear the appliance as directed is an important part of keeping the space protected.

Space Maintainers For Children FAQs

If your child has lost a baby tooth earlier than expected, you may have questions about what happens next. These frequently asked questions cover some of the most common concerns parents have about space maintainers for children, from how they work to what to expect while your child wears one.

Does a space maintainer hurt?

A space maintainer should not be painful to wear once your child adjusts to it. Your child may notice the device at first or experience some temporary sensitivity after it is placed. If your child experiences ongoing pain, irritation or discomfort, contact us so the space maintainer can be checked.

Your child can generally continue eating with a space maintainer, but some foods may need to be avoided to protect the device. Sticky or hard foods can damage or dislodge certain types of spacers. Our dentists can provide specific instructions based on the type of device your child receives.

Good oral hygiene is especially important while your child is wearing a space maintainer. Help your child brush carefully around the device and keep the surrounding teeth and gums clean. Your child should also continue attending regular dental visits so their dentist can check the space maintainer and monitor the developing permanent teeth.

A space maintainer is designed to help preserve the space needed for a permanent tooth to erupt properly. By preventing nearby teeth from shifting into that space, it may help reduce some problems associated with premature tooth loss. However, a space maintainer cannot guarantee that a child will not need braces or orthodontic treatment later.

One Office for Growing Smiles in Valencia, CA

From a child’s first dental visits to braces, Invisalign® and adult orthodontic treatment, Valencia Smiles Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry is here to support your family through every stage of the smile. Experience personalized pediatric dental and orthodontic care in a comfortable, family-focused office in Valencia, CA.