What is a Space Maintainer?
Dental space maintainers are a device that allows permanent teeth to grow into the space left after baby teeth have been lost. It may not seem like a problem initially, but ignoring a gap can cause costly problems later on.
Premature loss of baby teeth can be caused by many factors, including trauma, congenital defects, and accidents, as well as decay. Your Blue Coral Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics dentist may recommend a type of space preserver depending on the situation of your child.
Are Space Maintainers Necessary?
A baby tooth serves an important function: it holds space for the adult tooth. The empty space can cause adult teeth to become crooked if a baby tooth is lost prematurely. Although the body is generally good at keeping enough space, every case is unique. Contact Blue Coral Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics if your child has lost a tooth early.