What Is A Space Maintainer?
A space maintainer is a device used to maintain space in the mouth in cases where primary teeth have been lost prematurely. It is used to hold the position of teeth until the permanent teeth erupt. The purpose of a space maintainer is to prevent the migration of teeth, allow for normal eruption of the permanent teeth, and prevent the need for orthodontic treatment or oral surgery at a later time. Space maintainers can be either fixed or removable and are used for both children and adults.
A wire loop braced against the adjacent tooth is made custom for every patient to hold to space open. Another type of space maintainers has a set of bands and wires that are fitted into the arch of your child’s mouth.
Although your child may be fully aware of the space maintainer, after a couple of days their mouth should feel completely normal. In order to protect these small appliances, it is important to have your child avoid gum or hard foods, avoid pulling or pushing the appliance with his fingers or tongue and to keep the area clean with brushing and flossing.
It helps to keep the other teeth from drifting and to reserve space for the permanent tooth that will eventually erupt. There are two types of space maintainers, removable and fixed. A removable space maintainer looks like a retainer and is taken out and cleaned daily. A fixed space maintainer is cemented in place and can only be removed and adjusted by a dentist.
Losing Baby Teeth
Primary teeth can be lost too early for a number of reasons, including:
- An infection that causes tooth decay may prompt an extraction.
- Injuries or accidents can knock them out.
- Diseases and other health conditions may lead to early loss.
- Primary teeth may be missing from birth.
Orthodontic care only requires space maintainers if the primary tooth is lost and the permanent tooth is ready to erupt. The space maintainer serves to hold that space open until the permanent tooth erupts.
Kinds of Space Maintainers
Most space maintainers are made from stainless steel, but others are made out of plastic. Other different types include:
- Removable space maintainers
- Fixed Space maintainers, which are cemented onto your child’s teeth
- Partial dentures
Removable Space Maintainers
Removable space maintainers resemble retainers. They have artificial teeth built in to occupy the space that's needed for the permanent teeth to grow into. This kind of space maintainer is only used when the space is obvious. They typically work better with older kids who are more able to follow directions from dentist when caring for the maintainer.
Fixed Space Maintainers
There are many types of fixed space maintainers, one of which is the band-and-loop type that’s made from stainless steel wire. A crown on the tooth beside the space holds it in place.
Another type, called a lingual arch, is used when the back baby teeth are missing on both sides of the bottom jaw. “Lingual” refers to the inside of the tongue next to the teeth. The lingual arch space maintainer stays in place by bands that are wrapped around the teeth on either side of the space they are filling. A wire is then connected to this band to maintain the space on both sides.
Partial Denture
If your child is missing more than one tooth, a partial denture is fitted instead of a space maintainer. So, if your child suffers and injury that knocks out many front teeth, or if he has a disease from birth called ectodermal dysplasia — which can result in missing teeth, your child can wear removable dentures until the permanent teeth grow in.
Functions
1. It helps to maintain the space of the missing teeth, giving the other teeth the space needed to grow in the right direction.
2. It prevents the other teeth from drifting into the space of the missing teeth.
3. It helps to preserve the natural spacing of the teeth, preventing the need for orthodontic treatment in the future.
4. It helps to prevent crowding of the teeth, which can cause issues with biting and chewing.
5. It helps to prevent other teeth from shifting, thus maintaining the integrity of the dental arch.
6. A space maintainer helps to prevent the need for more extensive and expensive dental work in the future.
7. It helps maintain the shape of the face and the natural smile.
8. It helps to reduce the chances of developing gum disease.
9. It helps to retain the natural bite of the teeth.
10. It helps to reduce the risk of speech and eating problems
Following Up with Your Dentist
After your child receives a space maintainer, your dentist may take X-rays to track the progress of the permanent tooth as it gets closer to eruption. The dentist can then tell when your permanent tooth is ready to come in, and he can go ahead and remove the space maintainer.
Payment & Shipping
| Manufacturer |
Topway Dental Lab |
| In-Lab Time | 3-4 Days |
| Quality Control | Stable,QC Check Each Step |
| Customer Service | Professional technical team |
| Shipping | UPS (preferred), DHL or Fedex |
| Materials | Transluency Zirconia |
| Guarantee | Crowns 3-5 Years, Dentures 2 years |
| Advantage | Better materials, better technicians |
| Payment Terms | T/T, Paypal |
| Certification | ISO and FDA and CE |
Problem case has professional customer service team to communicate in time.
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