Space Maintainers in Children

Children sometimes need space maintainers if they lose a tooth early or have a baby tooth removed due to dental decay. This is a custom-made dental appliance that keeps the space open to allow the permanent tooth to grow into place. It prevents the surrounding teeth from shifting into the open space and causing problems down the road. Space maintainers can be removable or fixed. Removable maintainers are similar to orthodontic devices and are usually made of acrylic. Fixed maintainers can be attached to the surrounding teeth to maintain the space. Not every child who loses a tooth early will need a space maintainer. Consult with your dentist to determine if your child needs this appliance.