What is a space maintainer?
When a baby molar is removed prematurely, a space maintainer is often necessary to help ‘hold the space’ for the permanent tooth to come in the mouth. The appliance will prevent the neighboring teeth from drifting or tipping into the empty space. The type of space maintainer made is determined by the number and position of teeth missing as well as the overall condition of your child’s mouth.
Space maintainers hold open the empty space left by a lost tooth. They steady the remaining teeth, preventing movement until the permanent tooth takes its natural position in the jaw. It’s more affordable and easier on your child to keep teeth in normal positions with a space maintainer than to move them back in place with orthodontic treatment.
If a primary tooth is lost before the permanent tooth is ready to erupt in its place, the nearby teeth can tip or shift into the empty space. This may cause bite problems later, or may prevent the permanent tooth from erupting in its place properly. In order to maintain that space open properly till the permanent tooth is ready to erupt, we need to place a space maintainer. Space maintainers may be fixed (cemented to the teeth), or removable. Some may have artificial teeth attached to them to improve esthetic or restore chewing ability in case of multiple missing teeth.
One of the most important reasons for maintaining the primary teeth is that they hold the space open for the permanent teeth that will replace them. If a primary tooth is lost early, the other teeth next to the open space will close off the vacancy. The permanent teeth underneath the gum will be blocked out and this will result in an orthodontic problem. This usually stays in place until the permanent tooth comes in its proper position.
