At your consultation, Dr. Naomi will decide if a space maintainer is necessary and beneficial for your child. First, Dr. Naomi will examine your child’s empty tooth socket, dental arches, gum health, and surrounding teeth to get the full picture of your child’s dental needs.
Dr. Naomi will then take a series of x-rays to view the development of the underlying teeth and project the eruption. If the adult teeth are about to erupt, space maintenance may not be necessary. If they still have years to develop, space maintenance will be recommended for your child.
After gathering data and deciding on the best treatment for your child, Dr. Naomi will securely place the space maintainer onto two adjacent teeth. Once your child’s dental appliance is securely fixed, Dr. Naomi will check for proper fit to ensure maximum comfort.
Schedule a follow-up appointment in Southborough with Dr. Naomi every 4-8 weeks to monitor progress. Eventually, the space maintainer will be removed as the adult teeth begin to develop and erupt.
Space maintenance helps preserve the proper tooth spacing in your child’s mouth after tooth loss. This can create ample space for incoming adult teeth, which helps your child avoid oral development issues down the line. If tooth loss is ignored and a space maintenance treatment is delayed, costly orthodontic care or oral surgery may be necessary. The goal is to recognize and treat the issue as early as possible, so your child’s teeth and jaw can properly grow and maintain space for incoming adult teeth.
Space maintainers aren’t the right treatment for every child facing tooth loss. If you have an older child whose permanent tooth is about to erupt, a space maintainer may not be necessary. However, space maintainers are almost always recommended for younger children, as they are still a few years away from getting their permanent teeth. If you’re unsure whether your child is the right candidate for a space maintainer, give our office a call so we can schedule a consultation as soon as possible.
Space maintainers do not cause any pain. Your child may feel some minor discomfort for a few days after the appliance is placed, which is normal. Once they adjust to how it feels, your child will likely forget that the space maintainer is even there.
It is crucial to make sure your child is brushing and flossing daily to prevent cavities from forming around the space maintainer. Encourage your child to avoid chewing gum, sticky candy, and hard foods. In addition, remind your little one to refrain from pulling or tugging on the space maintainer with their fingers, tongue, or other objects. If your child’s space maintainer loosens or breaks, contact our office immediately to schedule an appointment.
