SPACE MAINTAINERS
Introduction:
A space maintainer is a small dental appliance that is used to hold the space in a child’s mouth after a baby tooth has been lost. The space maintainer looks like a metal “wire” with a small loop or “crown” on each end. It is cemented (attached) to the back teeth on either side of the space left by the lost tooth.
Space maintainers are used when baby teeth are lost too early (before they are ready to fall out on their own). If the space is not maintained, the other teeth can begin to shift into the empty space. This can cause problems with chewing and may make the permanent teeth come in crooked.
Space maintainers are usually removed by the dentist when the permanent teeth are ready to come in (around age 6 or 7). Until then, it is important to take good care of the space maintainer and keep it clean.
Types of Space Maintainers:
There are two basic types of space maintainers: removable and fixed (cemented).
1. Removable Space Maintainers look like a retainer with a wire running across the front teeth. They are easy to take out and clean, but they must be worn as directed by the dentist or orthodontist.
2. Fixed (Cemented) Space Maintainers are attached to the teeth with a special dental cement. They are not as easy to clean as removable space maintainers, but they are more effective in holding the space.
Why are Space Maintainers needed?
Space maintainers are used when baby teeth are lost too early (before they are ready to fall out on their own). If the space is not maintained, the other teeth can begin to shift into the empty space. This can cause problems with chewing and may make the permanent teeth come in crooked.
Space maintainers are usually removed by the dentist when the permanent teeth are ready to come in (around age 6 or 7). Until then, it is important to take good care of the space maintainer and keep it clean.
How are Space Maintainers used?
Space maintainers are used to hold the space in a child’s mouth after a baby tooth has been lost. The space maintainer looks like a metal “wire” with a small loop or “crown” on each end. It is cemented (attached) to the back teeth on either side of the space left by the lost tooth.
Functions of Space Maintainers:
Space maintainers have two main functions: to keep the space open and to guide the permanent tooth into place.
- To keep the space open: Space maintainers help by keeping the space between the teeth open. This is important because it prevents the other teeth from shifting into the empty space.
- To guide the permanent tooth into place: Space maintainers also help guide the permanent tooth into place. This is important because it helps ensure that the permanent tooth comes in straight.
How to care for a Space Maintainer:
It is important to take good care of your space maintainer and keep it clean. Here are some tips for caring for a space maintainer:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with toothpaste and floss once a day. Be sure to brush and floss around the space maintainer.
- Avoid sticky and hard foods. Sticky foods can loosen the cement that holds the space maintainer in place. Hard foods can break the space maintainer.
- Wear your space maintainer as directed by the dentist or orthodontist.
Conclusion:
Space maintainers are an important part of taking care of your child’s teeth. They help keep the space between the teeth open and guide the permanent tooth into place. It is important to take good care of the space maintainer and keep it clean. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. Avoid sticky and hard foods. Wear your space maintainer as directed by the dentist or orthodontist. See your dentist or orthodontist for regular checkups.
FAQ’s:
1. What are Space Maintainers for teeth?
Space maintainers are devices that are used to hold the space open in a child’s mouth after a baby tooth has been lost. They are made of metal or plastic and are custom fit to your child’s mouth. Space maintainers can be removable or cemented into place.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that space maintainers be used when a child loses a tooth prematurely (before the age of six). This is because primary (baby) teeth play an important role in helping guide the permanent teeth into place. If a child loses a primary tooth too early, there is a risk that the permanent tooth may not come in properly, or that it may come in crooked.
2. Do Space Maintainers cause Tooth Decay?
The AAPD does not recommend the use of space maintainers for teeth that have been lost due to decay. This is because space maintainers can actually trap food and bacteria against the teeth, which can lead to further decay. If your child has a space maintainer for a tooth that has been lost due to decay, it is important to brush and floss the tooth carefully to avoid decay.
3. Are Space Maintainers comfortable?
Space maintainers are usually very comfortable. However, your child may need to adjust to having them in his or her mouth. It is important to have your child practice eating and drinking with the space maintainer in place so that he or she gets used to it.
4. How long do Space Maintainers need to be worn?
The length of time that a space maintainer needs to be worn depends on the individual child. In general, space maintainers are worn until the permanent tooth comes in to take its place. This can be anywhere from six months to two years.
5. How are Space Maintainers cared for?
It is important to brush and floss around space maintainers just as you would with natural teeth. This will help to keep the area clean and free of bacteria. Space maintainers should also be removed before eating sticky foods, such as candy or gum.
6. How to cement Space Maintainers?
Cementing a space maintainer is a simple procedure that can be done in your dentist’s office. First, the tooth that the space maintainer will be attached to is cleaned and polished. Then, the space maintainer is placed on the tooth and held in place with temporary cement. Once the cement has hardened, the space maintainer is permanently attached to the tooth.
7. Is there anything else I need to know about Space Maintainers?
It is important to follow your dentist’s instructions on how to care for your child’s space maintainer. It is also important to bring your child back to the dentist for regular checkups so that the space maintainer can be checked and adjusted, if necessary.
8. Do Space Maintainers hurt?
Space maintainers are usually very comfortable. However, your child may need to adjust to having them in his or her mouth. It is important to have your child practice eating and drinking with the space maintainer in place so that he or she gets used to it.
9. What are the benefits of Space Maintainers?
Space maintainers have many benefits. They can help to prevent crooked teeth, and they can also help to guide permanent teeth into place. Space maintainers can also be used to hold the space open in a child’s mouth after a baby tooth has been lost.
10. What are the risks of Space Maintainers?
There are some risks associated with space maintainers. These include the risk of decay and the risk of swallowing or choking on the space maintainer. However, these risks are rare and can be minimized by following your dentist’s instructions on how to care for your child’s space maintainer.
11. Do Space Maintainers fall out?
Yes, space maintainers can fall out. However, this is usually not a problem because the space maintainer can be easily re-cemented back into place. If a space maintainer does fall out and you cannot find it, please contact your dentist so that a new one can be made.