We receive two sets of teeth, which usually erupt during childhood. The primary set erupts around six months, followed by the second set around six or seven years of age. A child’s future permanent tooth position and health may be significantly impacted by the early loss of a primary, or “baby,” tooth. Dentists usually recommend space maintainers for this, but how do they work? Let’s find out!
What are Space Maintainers?
When a baby’s tooth falls out too soon before the permanent tooth can erupt, oral space maintainers are used to keep the space in the child’s mouth intact. These devices are specially designed to fit a child’s mouth and keep the remaining teeth in their right alignment and prevent them from moving and becoming misaligned.
How Do They Work?
In pediatric dentistry, space maintainers serve as essential bridges once a primary tooth is lost too soon. By serving as physical barriers, they stop neighboring teeth from moving or settling into the empty area created. Space maintainers make sure that the permanent tooth growing underneath has enough room to erupt appropriately into its intended place by successfully keeping this space open.
This straightforward but crucial intervention helps to create a healthier and more aligned permanent dentition and may lessen the need for the future by preventing possible issues like crowding impaction and bite misalignments.
Common Causes of Early Baby Tooth Loss
A number of factors may contribute to this early loss of baby tooth, including:
Cavities: Cavities, or early tooth decay, occur when a baby tooth is so badly rotted that it must be removed before it naturally sheds.
Extraction for Orthodontic Reasons: In certain circumstances, a baby tooth may be purposefully extracted early as part of a larger orthodontic strategy, with the remaining teeth being guided by a space maintainer.
Trauma or Injury: When an accident or injury results in the loss of a baby tooth.
When Does a Dentist Recommend Space Maintainers?
When a baby tooth has been lost too soon, and the permanent tooth is not anticipated to emerge for a considerable amount of time, a dentist will usually suggest a space maintainer for the youngster.
To decide if a space maintainer is required, the dentist will evaluate the child’s age, the particular tooth (or teeth) lost, the likelihood that the permanent tooth will erupt, and the remaining teeth in the arch.
Preventing neighboring teeth from moving into the vacant area is the aim since this might result in crowding, misalignment, impaction of the permanent tooth, and possible issues with the bite. Space maintainers are usually advised when rear teeth fall out early because these gaps can fill very fast and significantly affect the eruption of permanent molars and the bite as a whole.
Wrapping Up!
If your child doesn’t receive a space maintainer after losing a baby tooth too soon, the neighboring teeth will move toward the vacant space in their mouth. Given that the baby teeth help maintain the appropriate space for your child’s adult teeth as they develop, this might prove problematic when their adult teeth emerge.
For further queries and consultation, visit our expert dentist, Dr. Dean, at KC Kids Dental. Call (816) 670-3450 to book your appointment.
