Protecting Your Child’s Smile
Space maintainers play a crucial role when a child loses a baby tooth prematurely due to trauma or decay. If a tooth is lost too soon, the surrounding teeth may shift to fill the gap, which can lead to significant spacing and alignment issues when the adult teeth begin to emerge. Space maintainers help preserve the correct positioning of teeth, ensuring proper alignment as your child’s permanent teeth come in.
There are two main types of space maintainers:
- Fixed Space Maintainers: These are the most commonly used and come in various forms such as “band and loop,” “crown and loop,” or “distal shoe” spacers. Typically made of metal, fixed space maintainers are durable and effective. In some cases, an enamel tooth can be placed in the space to maintain the appearance of your child’s smile.
- Removable Space Maintainers: Less commonly used, removable maintainers function similarly to orthodontic retainers. They have special plastic parts designed to occupy the space left by the missing tooth.
By using space maintainers, we can help ensure your child’s teeth develop properly, avoiding potential complications and promoting a healthy, well-aligned smile.
Contact us or call our office at (703) 455-9683 for more information on Space Maintainers and other Preventive Dental Care services.