Space Maintainers

Our pediatric dental team will monitor your child’s oral development, including the eruption and positions of their teeth. This helps ensure that space maintainers can be provided if your child loses their teeth earlier than expected.

What Is A Space Maintainer?

Space maintainers are a type of small appliance used to preserve space for the permanent tooth to erupt. There are several types of space maintainers available, including both fixed and removable options, and our pediatric dentists will carefully evaluate your child’s teeth to determine which type of maintainer is right for their needs.

When Are Space Maintainers Recommended?

Space maintainers are recommended when baby teeth come out early. Primary teeth may be lost early for a number of reasons, including:

• Severe tooth decay or infection
• Injury or accidents
• Diseases or other conditions
• If the teeth are missing at birth

Your child’s baby teeth play a key role in their growth, development and health. Baby teeth allow your child to chew and eat, as well as serving as guides so that the permanent teeth will erupt in their proper positions. When baby teeth are lost early, the permanent tooth no longer has a guide and may “drift” or erupt in the wrong position. Space maintainers reserve this space, preventing the neighboring teeth from shifting and ensuring that the permanent teeth come out in the right places.