Space Maintainers
A small appliance that holds space for an incoming adult tooth after a baby tooth is lost early.
A space maintainer is a small, custom appliance for children who lose a baby tooth earlier than expected. It holds the gap open so the neighboring teeth do not drift into it. That keeps room for the adult tooth to come in where it belongs.
Dr. Pandya fits the maintainer to your child's mouth, usually anchored to a nearby tooth. It stays in place quietly until the adult tooth is ready to erupt, and we monitor it at regular visits. When it is no longer needed, it is easily removed.
When a baby tooth is lost too soon, other teeth can shift and crowd the space, which often leads to alignment problems later. A space maintainer prevents that with a simple, low-cost step. It can save your child from more involved orthodontic work down the road.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about space maintainers.
Not every early tooth loss requires one. Dr. Pandya will look at which tooth was lost and how the surrounding teeth are developing, then recommend a maintainer only if it will genuinely help.
Most children adjust to it within a few days. It is small and designed to be unobtrusive, and we check that it fits comfortably.
Until the adult tooth is ready to come in, which varies by child and tooth. We monitor its progress at regular visits and remove the maintainer at the right time.
Brushing and flossing as usual, plus avoiding sticky or hard candy that could loosen it. We will show your child simple habits to keep it in good shape.
Call us and we will check and refit it. Keeping it secure is important so it can do its job.
Explore More
Related Treatments
Discover other ways we can help you achieve a healthier, brighter smile.
