Space Maintainers in Crowley and Burleson

Sometimes your child may lose their baby tooth early due to an injury, decay, or other medical conditions. While the baby tooth will eventually be replaced by a permanent tooth, the early loss may cause complications for your child. Space maintainers are oral appliances that preserve the space to prevent teeth from shifting.

Space maintainers are not applicable under all circumstances, if you suspect that your child needs a space maintainer, give us a call or read on to learn more about space maintainers.

Is my child a candidate for space maintainers?

As a parent, you worry about the dental health and overall health of your child. Your child may be a candidate for space maintainers if;
• The baby tooth is lost too early and is not a front tooth
• They have an increased risk of dental complications such as malocclusion

Types of space maintainers in Crowley

Space maintainers can be fixed or removable. Children usually require fixed space maintainers to prevent them from accidentally swallowing the removable ones.

Types of fixed space maintainers

Distal shoe – has a wire that runs along the gums to help guide the first permanent molars to erupt properly. This space maintainer requires close monitoring by your dentist.

Band and loop - has a wire made of stainless steel that holds the space open and is attached to a band placed over the tooth immediately adjacent to the space. It is the most common fixed space maintainer.

Lingual arch - is suitable for molars. Bands will be fitted around these molars and will be connected to a metal wire that runs along the four lower permanent incisors. This space maintainer is used for multiple missing teeth on either one side or both sides of the mouth.

When administering space maintainers, our dentists consider the age of your child, when the tooth was lost and when the tooth is expected to erupt. Space maintainers are not necessary when the lost tooth is expected to erupt soon.

To learn more about space maintainers for your child, call us today.