When Does a Child Require a Space Maintainer?

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Taking excellent care of your child’s teeth means more than just taking them to the dentist consistently and helping them maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine. If your child loses a tooth earlier than they should or needs to have a milk tooth removed due to decay or injury, they may require space maintainers in Westfield to keep their jaw in proper alignment and leave enough space for their permanent tooth to erupt in the correct position.
At Bumble Kids Pediatric Dentistry, we are happy to provide you with high-quality pediatric dentistry in Noblesville to ensure that your child maintains excellent oral health. Read on to learn about space maintainers and when they are necessary.

The Importance of Baby Teeth

Although it may not seem like it, baby teeth serve multiple purposes. They are vital for the proper development of your child’s jaw bone. Additionally, they act as guides for your child’s permanent teeth to ensure they erupt in the correct positions. If your child loses one of these baby teeth too early, the remaining teeth may shift out of place in an attempt to fill the gap. When this occurs, orthodontic intervention is often necessary. Luckily, with space maintainers near you, this problem can be easily prevented.

What Are Space Maintainers?

Essentially, space maintainers act as a replacement baby tooth to fill the gap and prevent teeth from shifting and causing problems with adult teeth and jaw development. There are two main kinds of space maintainers- fixed and removable.

Removable space maintainers are the best choice if you or your child are worried about aesthetics. These contain a false tooth to eliminate the appearance of a gap. The maintainer will need to be worn most of the time to be effective, so removable maintainers are best for older children who can handle the maintainer responsibly.

Fixed space maintainers are cemented onto your child’s adjacent teeth- similar to a dental bridge. If you have a younger child who requires a space maintainer, it is best to select a fixed maintainer so they cannot fiddle with it.

What Are the Benefits of Space Maintainers?

When it comes to pediatric dentistry in Westfield, space maintainers are one of the easiest treatment options to protect your child’s oral health. Here are some of the biggest benefits of space maintainers:
They protect your child’s oral health. Milk or baby teeth work as placeholders for adult teeth. If your child loses a milk tooth before they are meant to, their remaining teeth may shift to fill the gap, making the permanent teeth underneath erupt at an inappropriate angle. Getting your child a space maintainer is an excellent way to avoid these issues.

Space maintainers prevent the need for orthodontic treatment down the line. If your child’s teeth end up shifting or coming in at the wrong angle, you will likely have to pay a lot for orthodontic treatment when they get older. By being proactive about pediatric dentistry near you and getting your child space maintainers, you can prevent your child from having to undergo orthodontic treatment.

Visit Bumble Kids Pediatric Dentistry

If you are interested in space maintainers and learning more about their benefits, please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated team of dental professionals at Bumble Kids Pediatric Dentistry. We are happy to help your child maintain excellent oral health for a lifetime.