Treatment
Space Maintainers
A small appliance that holds space open for an adult tooth after a baby tooth is lost early.
A space maintainer is a small custom appliance that keeps a gap open when a baby tooth is lost too soon. It holds the spot so the adult tooth underneath has room to come in.
The appliance is fitted to the teeth beside the empty space and gently keeps nearby teeth from drifting into the gap. It stays in place until the adult tooth is ready to erupt.
By saving the space, it helps the adult tooth come in straight and lowers the chance of crowding later. This can reduce the need for more involved orthodontic work down the road.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about space maintainers.
Children who lose a baby tooth earlier than expected, often from decay or injury. We check whether the space needs protecting before the adult tooth arrives.
Most children get used to the appliance within a few days. It is small and sits comfortably against the teeth.
Fitting the appliance is quick and usually done in one or two short visits. It then stays in place for months, until the adult tooth is ready to come in.
Your child avoids sticky or hard foods that could loosen the appliance. Regular checkups let us watch the adult tooth and remove the maintainer at the right time.
There is no recovery needed. Once the adult tooth begins to come in, we remove the appliance in a simple visit.
