Space Maintainer
Guiding Your Child’s Adult Teeth to a Healthy Future
Baby teeth, or primary teeth, play a crucial role in your child’s oral health by guiding the growth of permanent adult teeth. When a baby tooth is lost prematurely, it can cause the new adult tooth to erupt incorrectly, leading to misalignment. Such misalignment can impact your child’s oral health as they grow. To prevent these issues, our pediatric orthodontists in Dubai and the Northern Emirates recommend the use of space maintainers.
Why Your Child Might Need a Dental Space Maintainer
Premature loss of baby teeth can occur for several reasons:
- Injury or fall
- Severe tooth decay requiring extraction
- Congenital absence of teeth
- Certain illnesses or health conditions
In these cases, early intervention is crucial. A space maintainer prevents adjacent teeth from shifting into the empty space, ensuring the proper eruption of permanent teeth.
Monitoring and Maintenance of Space Maintainers
Once a dental space maintainer is in place, regular monitoring is essential to ensure its effectiveness. Routine dental check-ups allow our pediatric orthodontists to assess the condition of the maintainer, check for any signs of wear or discomfort, and make necessary adjustments. Additionally, parents play a vital role by encouraging good oral hygiene practices, such as regular brushing and flossing around the maintainer. By maintaining proper care and communication with the dental team, you can help ensure that your child’s dental development remains on track, paving the way for a healthy
smile as they transition to adulthood.
Types of Space Maintainers
To cater to every child’s unique dental needs, we offer various types of space maintainers
Trans Palatal Arch Appliance
This appliance is used when baby molars on both sides are lost, supporting gaps with a strong wire across the palate.
Band and Loop Maintainer
Made of stainless steel wires, this device keeps the space open for the permanent tooth to emerge properly.
Distal Shoe Appliance
Designed for situations where a tooth is lost before the permanent molars emerge, this appliance prevents the space from closing.
Lingual Arch
A bilateral maintainer for missing
back teeth on both sides of the lower jaw,
secured with orthodontic bands.
Procedure for Installing Space Maintainers
Consultation and Extraction
Our pediatric dentist will assess your child’s dental health, using X-rays if necessary. If severe decay is present, the tooth will be numbed and extracted.
Trial Fit
A temporary band and crown are placed adjacent to the gap as a trial fit, ensuring the correct size before final placement.
Contouring and Wire Selection
The maintainer is shaped to match your child’s mouth, and a suitable wire is chosen for stability.
Positioning the Appliance
The band is coated with glass ionomer cement and securely positioned in the mouth.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost varies depending on the type of maintainer needed and your child’s oral condition. Bilateral maintainers, for instance, are priced differently than unilateral ones, and fixed maintainers differ from removable options.
The decision between a fixed or removable maintainer depends on your child’s dental needs and habits. Our pediatric orthodontists will guide you in choosing the most suitable option.
If a permanent tooth doesn’t erupt by the end of your child’s development (ages 16 to 18), the gap can be filled with a dental bridge, implant, or removable partial denture.
Yes, they can be removed. Our pediatric dentist can easily take it off using a dental drill to cut the band surrounding the tooth.
No, not every child requires a space maintainer. If a front tooth is lost early, the space might remain open until the adult tooth erupts. Consult our pediatric dentists to determine if your child needs one.