Need for Space Maintainers in a Child

 

A Child might need a space maintainer when their primary teeth are lost or extracted prematurely. A space maintainer is a custom-made dental appliance made of acrylic or metal which can be either removable or fixed.

Early loss of a primary tooth may compromise the eruption of the permanent tooth when there is a reduction in the arch length. Therefore use of space maintainers save this space for the eruption of permanent teeth into their positions.

A space maintainer will also help in the proper development of the permanent teeth, jaw bones as well as facial muscles. Not every child who loses his or her baby tooth requires a space maintainer. So it is important to consult a pedodontist or an orthodontist for deciding the whether the child needs a space maintainer and to design a proper treatment plan.

What are the types of space maintainers?

2 types of space maintainers are used nowadays which are

Fixed space maintainers

Removable space maintainers

 

Fixed Space Maintainers

Fixed space maintainers are fixed by a dental surgeon to the tooth for the correction of malocclusion in a child. It is available in 2 types viz. Bilateral and Unilateral

•  Bilateral fixed space maintainer is a type of fixed space maintainer placed on both sides of the dental arch. It is easy to maintain and unlikely to damage or be lost.

• Unilateral fixed space maintainer is fixed onto one side of the arch. It is  of 3 types and is as follows

•  Band and Loop: it is a favorite choice of the dentist. Indicated in a child who lost his or her first primary molar
• Crown and Loop: it is used when the tooth is endodontically treated or when there is a cavity on the tooth
• Distal Shoe Space maintainer: it is also called distal extension space maintainers. it is used when the second primary molar is lost before the eruption of the first permanent molars

Removable Space Maintainers

Removable space maintainers are used to protecting space created by premature loss of a primary tooth, till the permanent tooth erupts. It is also of 2 types viz bilateral space maintainers and Unilateral space maintainers.

• Bilateral space maintainers are used when the deciduous teeth from both sides of an arch are lost prematurely. The main disadvantage is that there are chances of loss or breakage of the maintainers as they are removable.
  
• Unilateral space maintainers are used when teeth from one side of the arch are only lost.  it is very small in size and hence it is indicated in a very few cases
  

Why consult a dentist ?

• It may take some time for a child to get used space maintainer, irrespective of whether it is a fixed or a removable one. 
• The dentist will explain to the child how to clean the space maintainers and how to maintain good oral hygiene. 
• If a child is wearing a fixed space maintainer he or she should avoid sticky foods like chewing gums and candies and a space maintainer should not be pushed or pressed by the tongue or finger. A dentist can help in explaining the same to the child in an easy manner.
  

When to consult a dentist ?

• The child should regularly visit the pedodontist or orthodontist for monitoring the progress of the space maintainers and he should undergo oral prophylaxis every 6 months to achieve good oral hygiene.

 

Space maintainers are a really necessary thing when the baby's primary tooth is prematurely lost before the eruption of the permanent tooth. It not only corrects this condition but also corrects the unwanted shifting of the tooth in the arch and prevents malocclusion in the oral cavity

 

 Disclaimer: The content in this article in intended solely for information purpose and is not treatment recommendation. Please consult your doctor for all treatment plans.