Normally, as a permanent tooth comes in
beneath a baby tooth, the roots of the baby tooth dissolve, and the
permanent tooth replaces the baby tooth. In
addition to being important for chewing, the baby tooth holds the adjacent
teeth in place.
However,
when a baby tooth is lost early due to
decay or injury, the adjacent teeth may shift and close the gap left by
the missing tooth, thus, causing loss of
space in the dental arch. By placing a space
maintainer, this loss of arch space can be prevented.
Depending on the situation, space
maintainers are usually cemented in place, but they can be removable in
some cases. Generally two or more appointments are required to complete a space
maintainer.
On
the first appointment, orthodontic bands are carefully placed and an
impression is taken. A duplicate model of the child's mouth is made from
this impression so the dental laboratory can custom fabricate the space
maintainer to the exact contours of the mouth.
On the next appointment, your child
will try out the space maintainer. Then the Dentist adjusts it if
necessary. Following this, the space maintainer is cemented in place.
Space maintainers are used until
the permanent teeth begin to break through the gums.
While wearing a space maintainer, it is
important to avoid chewing gum, sticky candies, and hard foods like nuts or ice.
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