Restorative dentistry
Holding a gap open, so the right tooth can use it.
Space maintainers are needed if your child loses a tooth early or has a baby tooth extracted due to dental decay.
Credentialed by
The Appliance
What it does, and what happens without one.
Space maintainers are needed if your child loses a tooth early or have a baby tooth extracted due to dental decay. A space maintainer is designed to hold the remaining teeth in a position that will allow the future permanent tooth to erupt in the proper location. If a space maintainer is not places, the teeth will shift into the open areas, making it difficult for the permanent tooth to erupt.
When
Three moments it comes up.
After an early extraction
When decay has taken a baby tooth years before the permanent one underneath is ready to arrive.
After an accident
A knock that takes a tooth out leaves the same gap, and the same problem with the teeth on either side of it.
At the age-seven check
Where we can see that a tooth was lost early and the neighbours have already started to move.
Living With It
What your child will notice.
A space maintainer is small, fixed in most cases, and forgotten within a week. It is checked at the ordinary six-month visits.
What to expect.
- A few days of being aware of it, then nothing.
- Brushing as usual, with a little more care around the appliance itself.
- Checked at each six-month visit as the permanent tooth moves up.
- Removed when the permanent tooth is ready to come through.
The Invitation
If a baby tooth came out early, ask about this.
Contact Mason Park Dental for Kids in Katy, TX and we will tell you whether the space needs holding.
- Hours
- Mon and Wed 9am to 6pm
Tue and Thu 8am to 5pm
Fri to Sun Closed
