In the Know for You to Know

You’re going along, everything is good and then out of the blue your child loses a baby tooth way earlier than they should be losing the tooth.

So why worry? You’re thinking that the permanent tooth will eventually come in and replace that baby tooth.

Not necessarily. Losing a baby tooth too early can change the position of where the adult tooth comes into their mouth.

What do you do?

There is something that is used to keep the space for the adult tooth. It’s called a space maintainer.

Haven’t heard about space maintainers? You’re not alone. Many parents haven’t heard about them. This is some information for you to know about space maintainers.

What Is A Space Maintainer?

Space maintainers help “hold space” for adult teeth when a child loses a baby tooth early, before the permanent tooth is developed enough to come into their mouth.

Why Is A Space Maintainer Important?

Baby teeth are important for a lot of reasons. One of the most essential functions of baby teeth is to hold the space necessary for the growth and position of the future adult teeth.

The same way baby teeth have a natural cycle of growing in and going to the tooth fairy, adult teeth have a natural growth cycle which can’t be rushed.

When a baby tooth is lost naturally at the time the permanent tooth is developed enough to come in, the adult tooth grows right into the same site.

A baby tooth can be lost early due to cavities, infection or trauma. When it’s lost before the adult tooth is developed, it is a long time before it will come in and the space maintainer “maintains” the space. When this space is maintained, the permanent tooth has a place to grow into.

Why Does Tooth Space Need To Be Maintained?

When a baby tooth is lost early before adult teeth are ready to come into the mouth the space the baby tooth occupied is lost. This is because the teeth on each side of the space naturally move into the gap left behind and when the adult tooth is ready to come in there isn’t enough empty space available for it to grow into.

To help prevent this from happening, pediatric dentists recommend a space maintainer to hold open the space left by the missing tooth.

How Long Does The Space Maintainer Stay In?

The space maintainer stays in for as long as it takes the new permanent tooth to grow in. When the permanent tooth starts to grow in, the space maintainer is removed.

How Do You Know A Space Maintainer Is Necessary?

Pediatric Dentists recommend space maintainers for children who lose their teeth well before the permanent tooth is expected to grow into their mouth. The development of the adult teeth is different for each child; even among siblings.

To help in determining when and the order teeth come in, it’s important to look at each child’s dental history and the age they began teething to determine if a space maintainer is needed.

Are There Different Types Of Space Maintainers?

There are several types of space maintainers and each is used for a specific reason.

Once the style of space maintainer is determined for your child, it is custom made for your child’s specific needs.

The 4 most common types of space maintainers are:

• Band and Loop is one of the most common types of space maintainers for back teeth. This space maintainer is fabricated with a metal band that is placed on the tooth behind the gap with a stainless steel open wire loop that extends over the gap to the tooth in front of the gap. A band and loop is used when there is one baby tooth missing, and can be used for the top and bottom teeth.
• Nance is used when more than one top back baby teeth have been lost early. With a nance, a metal band is placed on each of the teeth behind the gap attached to a stainless steel wire which goes behind the top teeth.
• Lower Lingual Holding Arch is a third type of space maintainer. This is for bottom back teeth when two or more baby teeth have been lost. With a lower lingual holding arch, a metal band is placed on each of the teeth behind the gap attached to a stainless steel wire that goes behind the bottom teeth.
• Distal Shoe is designed when a specific baby molar is lost before the first permanent molar (6 year molar) comes into their mouth. This spacer is inserted under the gums to keep the gap open and the 6 year molar to come into the correct position.

Does This Mean My Child Won’t Need Braces?

Space maintainers are not a guarantee that your child won’t need braces. This is because there are a lot of factors during your child’s growth that go into deciding about braces.

How Do We Take Care Of A Space Maintainer?

No matter which type of space maintainer your child has, taking caring of it properly is important.

Plaque can still build up on and around the space maintainer. Food can also become stuck in it, on it and around it. Chewy and sticky foods will pull the space maintainer off.

The best way to take care of your child’s space maintainer, the teeth supporting it, and their whole mouth is still, as always with really good brushing and flossing.

What To Remember

If your child loses a baby tooth early and a space maintainer is indicated, the type of space maintainer is specifically designed for their needs.

Has your child lost a baby tooth early? Does your child need a space maintainer? or already have one? Is this helpful for you to learn about space maintainers? Tell us what you think. We’d really like to know. Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us or Chat with us on Facebook at facebook.com/kidstoothhotline

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