Space Maintainers

If your child loses a baby tooth earlier than expected or needs it removed due to other complications, they will require a Space Maintainer. These keep the space secure for when the adult tooth does erupt from the gum line. If your child needs a space maintainer, contact Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces right away. We have various offices in the Phoenix, AZ, area that can accommodate your needs.

It’s important to understand why exactly your child requires a space maintainer before having it done. The baby teeth are important for the healthy development of the mouth. The baby tooth is what guides its adult counterpart into place. When it’s missing, other teeth will try to accommodate for the gap. Teeth that move or partially obstruct the gum prevent the adult tooth from erupting normally. The space maintainer prevents all of that from happening.

There are two types of space maintainers available: removable and fixed. Your Phoenix, AZ, dentist will recommend which is best for your child. Removable maintainers are often made of acrylic and are very similar to orthodontic apparatuses. Fixed maintainers come in four separate kinds: unilateral, crown and loop, lingual, and distal shoe.

The unilateral and crown and loop space maintainers work similarly. These are placed on one side of the mouth to keep the space open. A crown and loop consist of an actual crown placed on an adjacent tooth. The loop attaches to the crown and extends over the space, protecting it from other teeth. The unilateral wraps around the perimeter of the nearby tooth and use a metal loop to keep the space clear.

The distal shoe is a more advanced space maintainer, commonly used with molars. The end of the maintainer is inserted into the gum line.

The lingual space maintainer connects the molars to the front tire with a wire.

Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces top-tier pediatric dental services. We have three separate offices located in the Phoenix, AZ, area. Visit https://www.kidzconnextion.com/ to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment. Call 623-232-0749 for our N. 75th Ave. office, 480-666-5984 for N. 24th St., and 480-405-4714 for E. Baseline Rd.

Space Maintainers

Your child may need a space maintainer if he or she loses a baby tooth prematurely before the permanent tooth is ready to erupt. If a primary tooth is lost too early, adult teeth can erupt into the empty space instead of where they should be. When more adult teeth are ready to fill the mouth, there may not be enough room for them because of the lost space. To prevent this from happening, our doctors at Kidz Connextion will recommend a space maintainer to hold open the space left by the missing tooth.

The goal of space maintainers is to prevent movement of adjacent permanent “first molars” (also called six-year molars), and loss of space for (permanent) bicuspids and permanent canines. If the permanent first molars are not held in their proper position, they can drift forward and prevent the bicuspid teeth from being able to move into the mouth on a normal path. Baby teeth are important to the development of the teeth, jaw bones and muscles to help guide permanent teeth into position when the baby teeth are lost. If space is not maintained, then teeth can shift into the open space and orthodontic treatment may be required.

If you are searching for a pediatric dentist, look no further and give us a call. To learn more about our pediatric services here at the office visit www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in Phoenix AZ, call 623-223-1001.

Why Your Child May Need a Space Maintainer

A space maintainer is an appliance that is custom-made by our doctors at Kidz Connextion in acrylic or metal material. It can be either removable or cemented in a child’s mouth. Its purpose is to keep the space open to allow the permanent tooth to erupt and come into place. Baby teeth are important to the development of the teeth, jaw bones and muscles and help to guide permanent teeth into position when baby teeth are lost.

Children may need space maintainers if they lose a tooth early or have a baby (primary) tooth extracted due to dental decay. If both of these issues are the case, it is important to know the benefits of using a space maintainer and how it can help support your child’s dental health. If the open space is not maintained, then teeth can shift into the open space and orthodontic treatment may be required. Once the space maintainer is made by the doctor, it may take the child a few days to get accustomed to wearing the appliance whether it is removable or fixed.

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. To learn more about our pediatric services here at the office visit www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in Phoenix AZ, call 623-223-1001.