As a parent, you want to do everything you can to protect your child’s smile. If your child loses baby teeth earlier than expected, your pediatric dentist may recommend space maintainers to preserve space for the eruption of permanent teeth. But many parents ask, “Does my child need space maintainers? What happens if they don’t get one?” If you have similar questions, this blog will help answer those questions to help you make an informed decision for your child’s oral health.
What are Space Maintainers?
First, let’s understand what a space maintainer does. It is a small dental device that keeps the space open for a permanent tooth if a baby tooth is lost prematurely.
Typically, baby teeth fall out in a gradual pattern, which gives enough time for the proper eruption of permanent teeth. However, if your child has tooth decay or an oral injury, their baby tooth may fall out earlier than expected.
As a result, the gap left by the baby tooth may shrink over time, which can block the path of its permanent counterpart. For this reason, pediatric dentists recommend space maintainers to keep the gap open so that the permanent teeth can emerge in their correct position when it is the right time.
Does My Child Need Space Maintainers?
There are certain cases in which space maintainers become necessary to maintain the bite and alignment of your child’s teeth. They include:
- If a baby tooth is lost too early due to decay or dental injury
- When one or more baby teeth are extracted because of severe decay
- If a child does not develop a baby tooth due to a developmental condition
- In cases where multiple baby teeth are missing
Your pediatric dentist will carefully evaluate your child’s teeth and dental development to determine if they need space maintainers.
What Happens If My Child Doesn’t Get Space Maintainers?
In case your child loses a primary or baby tooth early on, and it is left unaddressed, it can increase the risk of various issues, which include:
- Blockage or impaction of the underlying permanent tooth
- Misaligned permanent teeth
- Irregular changes in bite
- Crowded teeth
These problems may not seem noticeable at first, but they can worsen as your child’s remaining permanent teeth erupt. Before they experience any misalignment or bite changes, it is better to consult a pediatric dentist early on to learn if your child needs space maintainers.
Caring for Space Maintainers
Here are some helpful guidelines to help keep your child’s space maintainers clean and avoid any complications:
- Daily brushing and flossing is a must. While brushing, pay special attention to the area around the space maintainer.
- Avoid sticky and hard foods, such as bubblegum, caramel candies, etc., as they can damage or dislodge the space maintainer.
- Instruct your child not to tug or play with the space maintainer with their fingers or tongue.
- Keep up with your child’s routine dental checkups to ensure that the appliance is working correctly.
Final Words
Space maintainers are a simple, painless way to protect the space for your child’s permanent teeth after premature loss of one or more baby teeth. If you are concerned about your child’s oral health and wondering whether they need space maintainers, consult our pediatric dentist, Dr. Neil Dean, at KC Kids Dental today. Contact us today at (816) 670-3450 to book an appointment!
