Tooth Space Maintainers

Sometimes, when a “baby” tooth falls out, the “adult” tooth isn’t quite ready to come up (erupt) we might need to place a small space maintainer connected to an adjacent tooth, to prevent the space from closing up from the adjacent teeth shifting into that open space.

This sometimes occurs if a patient has extensive decay on a tooth and it is extracted early because it is beyond repair, or possibly due to an accident, such as a fall or trauma. We want to preserve that space for the future when the permanent tooth is ready to erupt.

Some of the more common styles of space maintainers are the “band-and-loop” style when a thin metal band is placed on the adjacent tooth and a small stainless steel wire loop extends out to “hold” open that space. Another common style is the “lingual arch” style which will hold multiple teeth in position. This is also handy to prevent the arch form from collapsing and teeth shifting.

Finally, there is a removable partial denture that can be placed, particularly if there is a front tooth missing and you don’t wish to put a band on the adjacent teeth. Similar to partial dentures adults might wear if they are missing teeth, this benefits esthetics, function, speech, and maintaining the space.

Identifying issues such as tooth tilting, crowding, excess spaces between teeth, or delayed eruption of adult teeth are generally correctable with orthodontics. In addition to maintaining healthy teeth and gums, having a great smile and being able to speak with confidence, as well as chew comfortably, are important functions most of us take for granted. Whether we see a child very early or later in life (as a teen), there are several different options for care available.

When you come in for your exam, the alignment of your teeth is definitely one of the things we evaluate. Whether you need a simple space maintainer, an oral habit appliance, or full orthodontics, we can guide you in the right direction for having or obtaining that beautiful smile.

At Coastal Pediatric Dentistry, we offer a variety of orthodontic solutions. When you and your child come in to see us at any of our convenient locations, we will explain alternative solutions to you. In many cases, doing early treatment can prevent more invasive treatment as your child gets older.