What are space maintainers?
Dental space maintainers are devices used to keep teeth from moving out of position after removing braces. They may be removable or fixed appliances made of metal or plastic. At Humber Valley Dental, we find that placing these appliances can help protect the alignment of the smile as it progresses into the late childhood and early teen years. Bolton, Ontario, patients considering these preventative appliances can connect with Drs. Geeta Gautham, David Ma, and Ammar Taimish to learn more.
What is a space maintainer, and when is it considered?
Dental space maintainers are used when a baby tooth is lost prematurely (before it is ready to fall out on its own). This can happen if the tooth is knocked out, extracted (pulled), or develops a large cavity. When this occurs, there is a possible chance that the adjacent teeth will shift into the space. This can cause problems with adult teeth that are waiting to come in. Space maintainers help prevent these problems by holding the space until the permanent tooth erupts. During an evaluation, our team at Humber Valley Dental can perform an assessment and make a recommendation in situations where patients benefit from them.
What types of space maintainers are available?
There are two varieties of dental space maintainers available at Humber Valley Dental: removable and fixed. Removable space maintainers look like a retainer and can be taken out by the child or parent. Fixed space maintainers are bonded to the teeth and can only be removed by one of our dentists when appropriate.
Do I need a space maintainer?
The decision of which type of space maintainer to use will be made by the dentists during a child’s evaluation and based on their individual needs.
Schedule a consultation visit today!
Space maintainers are an essential part of keeping your child’s teeth healthy. Please speak to our dental team if you have any questions about space maintainers. Drs. Geeta Gautham, David Ma, and Ammar Taimish of Bolton, ON, are conveniently located at 25 Queen Street North and can be reached for an appointment by calling (289) 536-4498.