Your
kid may require space maintainers in case he/she loses teeth early or gets a
primary/baby tooth removed because of tooth decay. In terms of any aforesaid
case, you must know the advantages of using a space maintainer and how it is helpful
in supporting your kid’s dental wellbeing.
What Is A Space Maintainer?
This
tool is tailor-made by an orthodontist in metal or acrylic material. It can be
either cemented in a kid’s mouth or removable. It is used for keeping the space
open for enabling the permanent teeth to appear and come into place. Primary
teeth are essential for the growth of jawbones, muscles, and teeth and help
guide the permanent teeth into place when the primary teeth are lost. In case
the space is unmaintained, teeth can move to the open space and orthodontic
treatment may be needed. Not every kid who loses a primary tooth early or to
tooth decays needs a space maintainer; nevertheless, an expert consultation
with our orthodontist or dentist at Advanced Dental Clinic must be conducted to
decide if the use of space maintainers is required.
Types of Space Maintainers
Two
types of space maintainers for kids include:
1. Fixed – 4 different
types of Fixed Space Maintainers are available – Lingual, Distal Shoe, Crown
& Loop, and Unilateral.
2. Removable – These are the
same as orthodontic tools and are generally made of acrylic. In a few cases, an
artificial tooth is possibly utilized for filling a space that should be open
for the non-erupted tooth.
How to Wear the Space Maintainer
Once
our dentist or orthodontist makes the appliance, it takes the kid some days for
being prepared to wearing the fixed or removable space maintainer. Our dentist
will review with the kid and parent for thoroughly cleaning the space maintainers
and keeping the gum tissue free of plaque and healthy. Proper guidance for
teeth brushing and flossing will be offered for enhanced oral hygiene.
In
terms of a removable space maintainer, your child must avoid sugary and chewy
foods, which may get caught or loosen on this dental apparatus. The appliance
must not be pushed or pressed using fingers or the tongue as it could bend or
loosen the space maintainer.
Our
dentist or orthodontist will see the child regularly to monitor his/her
treatment progress with the space maintainers. Book an appointment with our
dental expert for professional cleaning!
