Losing baby teeth is part of growing up, but what happens when a child loses teeth sooner than they should? Your child’s first teeth do more than allow them to chew food; they’re also placeholders and guides for adult teeth. Early loss of a baby tooth is cause for visiting a pediatric dentist, who may recommend a space maintainer.
Why a Pediatric Dentist Could Recommend a Space Maintainer
One of the more common treatments for premature loss of baby teeth, space maintainers are custom made for your child and can be removable or cemented in his or her mouth. These appliances keep gaps between baby teeth due to a missing tooth open, so the permanent adult tooth can erupt without interference.
Because space maintainers are such an effective solution, they’re often recommended by a pediatric dentist hoping to help parents avoid costly orthodontic work down the road.
Depending on the type of space maintainer your child’s dentist recommends, the process can take one or two visits to complete. After the procedure, you’ll need to make sure your child wears the appliance as directed, if it’s of the removable variety. It does take a few days for most children to get used to space maintainers, and you will need to pay extra attention to their oral hygiene routine to ensure all teeth are being thoroughly cleaned and maintained.
Monitoring is an important part of this process, so it’s important to make sure you’re keeping all appointments with a pediatric dentist to ensure the growth of new teeth is on the right track and following the trajectory set by the space maintainers. Once they begin to erupt, the space maintainer can be removed.
Does Your Child Need a Space Maintainer?
Ultimately, a pediatric dentist is the only one who can answer this question. At Sair Dental Group, we’re dedicated to providing the very best in safe, effective and even enjoyable dentistry to Houston-area kids. We’ll work with you to determine whether your child needs space maintainers, and to establish a care plan designed to set them up for a lifetime of good oral health. If the loss of primary teeth can be attributed to decay, rather than an accident, we can also help to mitigate damage and put things back on the right track.
Call us today to make an appointment. Together, we can build a foundation which encourages healthy choices and strong teeth for your kids.