Space maintainers play a crucial role in your child’s oral development by quite literally “maintaining space” for permanent teeth after premature or unexpected tooth loss. Our Saginaw, MI, pediatric dentist offers custom-fitted space maintainers to ensure a healthy alignment and prevent future dental issues like overcrowding.
Here’s what you need to know about a for your child.
Two Types ofSpace Maintainers
Depending on what’s best for your child at the moment, there are two main : fixed unilateral and fixed bilateral appliances. Our pediatric dentist will need to assess the situation first before determining which type is most appropriate.
Fixed Unilateral Appliances
These are designed to manage the space on one side of the mouth when a single tooth is lost prematurely. Fixed unilateral devices are cemented onto an adjacent tooth, ensuring they remain in place until the permanent tooth is ready to erupt. The most common type of fixed unilateral space maintainer is the band-and-loop device, which consists of a stainless steel crown or “band” attached to the adjacent tooth, connected by a loop that extends across the space created by the missing tooth.
Fixed Bilateral Appliances
These are utilized when there are multiple missing teeth on both sides of the mouth. The lower lingual arch and the transpalatal arch are examples of fixed bilateral space maintainers. The lower lingual arch connects the molars on the lower jaw through a custom-fitted wire, while the transpalatal arch connects the upper molars. Each type is fixed to the molars through bands, making them a stable and effective solution for long-term space maintenance.
How Long Are Space Maintainers Used
The duration for which a space maintainer is used will depend on your child’s oral development and needs. Generally, the appliance remains in place until the permanent tooth begins to erupt. We’ll ask that you come into our Saginaw pediatric dental office so we can keep an eye on the progress of the erupting teeth and to adjust or remove the space maintainer as necessary.
On average, a space maintainer can be in place for several months to a few years, with close supervision by our pediatric dentist to ensure the timely and proper eruption of permanent teeth.
Keep Your Child’s Smile on Track
When our pediatric dentist in Saginaw, MI, implements a space maintainer, it’s a proactive step towards safeguarding your child's dental health and allowing permanent teeth to come in correctly. Call Great Lakes Bay Pediatric Dentistry today at (989) 792-9201 to request an appointmentand we can discuss more!