As your child starts to lose their baby teeth, you may be anxiously awaiting the arrival of their adult teeth. But what happens if the permanent teeth are delayed or missing, or if a baby tooth is lost too early? In these cases, your dentist or orthodontist may recommend a dental space maintainer. These appliances play an important role in preserving the space for your child's teeth to ensure that their bite and smile remains properly aligned.
Maintaining the proper space for adult teeth is important for long-term oral health. If a baby tooth is lost prematurely or there is severe tooth crowding, it can lead to serious orthodontic problems in the future. At Godley Family Orthodontics, Dr. Danielle Godley and her team use modern technology and space maintenance techniques to help guide your child’s dental development. By understanding how space maintainers work, parents can make informed decisions about their child’s dental care and prevent complex treatments later.
In this article, we’ll explore the importance of dental space maintainers and the different types of space maintainers. Whether you're in Zionsville, Carmel, Indianapolis, Whitestown, or Westfield communities, this guide will provide you with the insights necessary to help your child’s smile stay healthy and aligned.
What is a Dental Space Maintainer?
A dental space maintainer is a custom orthodontic appliance used to prevent unwanted tooth movement and preserve space between teeth. They are often used when a child loses a baby tooth too soon. Primary teeth (baby teeth) serve as placeholders for the permanent teeth (adult teeth) that will eventually emerge. If a baby tooth falls out too early, it disrupts the natural eruption pattern of the adult teeth. When this happens, the surrounding teeth often shift into the open space, causing misalignment and dental crowding. This misalignment can make it more difficult for the permanent teeth to come in correctly. It can also require more extensive orthodontic treatment in the future. A space maintainer ensures that the gap or space is preserved, allowing the adult teeth to develop and come in properly. This simple yet effective dental appliance can save your child from needing more complicated treatments in the future.
5 Types of Space Maintainers
There are several types of space maintainers, each designed to address different needs based on the location and number of missing teeth. Here’s a breakdown of the five main types:
Nance Space Maintainer This is a “bilateral” space maintainer, meaning it extends to both sides of the mouth. A Nance is anchored by bands placed a permanent back tooth on each side of the mouth, and a wire that extends across the roof of the mouth and connects the two. A small circular piece of acrylic covers the middle portion or center part of the wire to hold it comfortably in place against the palate. This appliance helps prevent the neighboring teeth from shifting into any available space. It is sometimes used is misaligned bites to help the way back teeth fit together.
Band and Loop Space Maintainers When a primary molar is lost too soon, pediatric dentists and orthodontists often use a band and loop space maintainer. This appliance consists of a band on one tooth with a wire that extends across the gap and rests on a neighboring tooth. This holds the teeth in place and keeps the space open for the permanent tooth that will eventually come in.
Lingual Space Maintainers A lingual space maintainer, often called a lingual holding arch, is attached to a permanent back molar on each side of the mouth, making it a “bilateral” space maintainer. A wire extends along the back sides of teeth, connecting one side to the other. This prevents teeth from shifting and preserves space. This appliance is sometimes used in misaligned bites to help the way back teeth fit together.
Distal Shoe Space Maintainers This appliance is used to prevent permanent first molars from shifting forward when a primary molar is lost too early. It is placed under the gum line to keep the space open and guide the proper eruption of the permanent tooth when it’s ready.
Removable Space Maintainers Removable space maintainers are similar to retainers and are often made of acrylic. They may include artificial teeth to fill gaps and can be particularly useful in visible areas of the mouth. These appliances can be removed for cleaning and eating, but they require careful management to avoid loss or damage. These are typically used for older children, teens, and adults.
How Orthodontists Use Space Maintainers for Pediatric Patients
Orthodontic space maintainers are common tools that help keep your child’s dental development on track, especially when a baby tooth is lost too early. These helpful devices act to help ensure that the space remains open for the adult teeth to come in properly. By doing so, space maintainers help prevent issues like misalignment or crowding, which can occur when the surrounding teeth move into the gap.
When a child loses a primary (baby) tooth before it’s time, the nearby teeth can shift into the empty space. This can make it difficult for the permanent teeth to emerge in the correct position. Dentists and Orthodontists use space maintainers to keep the space open until the adult tooth is ready to come in, making sure everything stays aligned and your child’s smile and bite stay healthy.
Using space maintainers can prevent bigger problems down the road, which could require more complex treatments. These appliances are a simple and effective way to safeguard your child’s dental future. If you’re unsure whether your child could benefit from a space maintainer, it’s a good idea to talk to a pediatric orthodontist. They can help determine the best course of action to ensure your child’s smile develops smoothly and correctly.
Here’s how orthodontists typically use space maintainers for children:
Preventing teeth from shifting When a baby tooth falls out prematurely, whether due to decay, injury, or other reasons, there’s a risk that the surrounding teeth will drift into the open space. This shifting can interfere with the eruption of permanent teeth, leading to crowding, misalignment or even impacted teeth. Space maintainers are designed to preserve this space, allowing the permanent teeth to develop and come in properly when the time is right.
Supporting bite alignment Space maintainers are sometimes used by orthodontists to gain a mild amount of bite correction and to prevent bite misalignment. This is because these appliances hold space for permanent teeth, and prevent back teeth from shifting while normal growth and development occurs. Depending on the bite, this can help prevent more complex misalignments.
Retaining (holding) expansion of the jaw A space maintainer may be recommended for your child after a palatal expander is used. It can help preserve space creation and bite correction by holding teeth in place and preventing shifting or relapse.
How Orthodontists Use Space Maintainers for Adult Patients
While space maintainers are typically associated with children, they can also play a significant role in adult orthodontics. Whether used to prevent shifting after tooth loss, support temporary spaces, or assist with orthodontic treatment, space maintainers help preserve the alignment of adult teeth and support future dental restorations. They can be particularly helpful in cases where a tooth is lost prematurely or needs to be extracted.
If you are an adult patient who will be experiencing tooth loss or undergoing orthodontic treatment, consult with your orthodontist to see if a space maintainer might be the right option to protect your smile and bite.
Here’s how orthodontists use space maintainers for adults:
Preventing shifting after tooth loss When an adult loses a tooth due to trauma, decay, or other reasons, the surrounding teeth can quickly begin to shift into the empty space. This can cause alignment issues, bite problems, or even affect the overall stability and health of the remaining teeth. A space maintainer helps prevent these potential problems by keeping the space open and available for future tooth replacement, such as an implant, bridge, or partial denture.
Supporting temporary gaps before permanent restorations For adults who are in the process of getting dental implants or bridges, a space maintainer may be used to hold the space perfect while waiting for the permanent restoration.
Facilitating orthodontic treatment In some cases, adults undergoing orthodontic treatment may benefit from a space maintainer to preserve space for specific teeth, or anchor teeth that should not be moved. By utilizing these appliances when needed, orthodontists can more effectively plan the sequence of treatments and help ensure successful results.
How Space Maintainers are Placed
If you or your child needs a dental space maintainer, the process is very straightforward. The first step is a visit to the dentist or orthodontist, who will assess whether a space maintainer is necessary.
Traditionally to create a custom space maintainer, the orthodontist needed a putty impression of your child’s teeth. This involves a soft, moldable material used to create a mold of your child’s teeth. This mold is then sent to a lab to make the appliance. In modern dental and orthodontic offices like Godley Family Orthodontics, digital scans are used instead. These scans create a 3D image of your child’s teeth, without the use of putty, which is then used to design and create the space maintainer with great accuracy.
Once the space maintainer is made, the orthodontist will fit or place it in your child’s mouth. If it's a fixed space maintainer, the device is attached or bonded to the teeth using bands. This is a quick, comfortable procedure that doesn’t usually require anesthesia. If it’s a removable space maintainer, the orthodontist will make sure it fits accurately and explain how to care for it. After placement, follow-up visits are scheduled to make sure the space maintainer is working properly and that your child’s teeth are staying in the right position.
Frequently Asked Questions About Space Maintainers
If a space maintainer has been recommended for you or your child, you probably have some questions. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about dental and orthodontic space maintainers:
How long does a space maintainer stay in place? The duration depends on the needs of the person but often ranges from 8 to 18 months. For children, space maintainers are usually in place until the permanent tooth emerges, which can take several months to a few years depending on when the baby tooth was lost. Adults may need a space maintainer temporarily, often until a restoration like an implant is placed.
Are space maintainers comfortable? Yes, space maintainers are custom designed to ensure a good fit and minimize discomfort. However, like any orthodontic appliance, it may take some time to adjust to having the appliance.
Can a space maintainer be removed? Most space maintainers are fixed or bonded in place, meaning they cannot be removed by the patient. However, removable space maintainers are similar to a removable retainer and can be taken out for cleaning and eating.
What happens if a space maintainer comes loose or breaks? If your space maintainer becomes loose or breaks, contact your orthodontist to have it evaluated. It's important to have it repaired or replaced as soon as possible to avoid irritation and shifting of teeth.
Caring for Space Maintainers
To ensure the success and effectiveness of space maintainers, it’s important to take proper care of them. Here are some tips for maintaining your child’s orthodontic appliances:
Keep the appliance clean: Proper oral hygiene is essential when wearing a space maintainer. Brushing is encouraged around all areas of the appliance. Flossing regularly helps prevent plaque buildup. Water flossers can be a helpful tool. If it's a removable space maintainer, be sure to clean all areas of it regularly and store it safely when it is not in the mouth.
Avoid sticky or hard foods: These can damage the appliance and cause it to become loose.
Regular checkups: Dr. Godley will need to monitor your child’s progress regularly to ensure the appliance is working correctly and adjust it as necessary.
By following these simple steps, you can help ensure that your child’s space maintainer functions effectively and supports healthy tooth development.
Conclusion
Space maintainers can be a valuable tool for both children and adults. They are commonly used by dentists and orthodontists to help maintain proper tooth and bite alignment. These appliances, whether fixed or removable, are designed to preserve space for eruption of permanent teeth or for the placement of dental restorations. By preventing shifting or misalignment, space maintainers can help avoid more complex treatments down the road. Whether you're caring for a child's smile or managing your own dental health, space maintainers offer a simple yet effective solution for maintaining long-term oral health and supporting proper dental development.
At Godley Family Orthodontics, Dr. Danielle Godley and her team are committed to providing solutions that help children grow and develop optimally. Whether it’s preventing crowding or creating space for new teeth to emerge, our team uses modern techniques and digital technology. If you’re concerned about your child’s dental development, schedule a consultation with our orthodontist today. With a location easily accessible to residents around Zionsville, IN and Indianapolis, IN we’re here to provide expert care and keep your child’s smile on the right track.
Whether you want to learn more about the benefits of orthodontic care or have questions about the process, you can reach our orthodontic team by calling (317) 913-2828 or sending us a message through our Contact Us page to connect with our friendly staff. You can also book a complimentary orthodontic consultation online. Our office, located at 12036 N Michigan Rd, Suite 110, Zionsville, IN proudly serves the communities of Zionsville, Carmel, Indianapolis, Westfield, and Whitestown. If you are looking for one of the best orthodontists in Indiana, don’t hesitate to visit our office! We invite you to keep up with our blog resources to get answers to commonly asked questions about orthodontics and maintaining a perfect smile.
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