If a baby tooth is lost early in life, we may recommend treatment with a space maintainer.

A space maintainer is an appliance which is designed to hold the space of the extracted primary tooth until the permanent tooth erupts into its proper place. If the primary tooth is lost due to accident or decay, the surrounding teeth should be held in place to prevent closing of this apace. The space maintainer should be placed as soon as possible after the loss of the tooth. Teeth may shift position in a few weeks after the loss of the neighboring tooth. This space maintainer is fixed or cemented.

Home Care Instructions

  1. Hard, sticky foods such as chewing gum and taffy should be avoided.
  2. Encourage foods that do not place unnecessary pressure on the wires of the appliance.
  3. If the appliance is fixed and loosens, an appointment should be made to recement it immediately.
  4. Please pay close attention to brushing, and flossing around the teeth where the spacer is cemented.

There are various types of space maintainers, and in some cases more than one technique may be tried. With the proper treatment and home care, together we can maintain your child’s dental health. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask one of the doctors or our capable assistants.