If your child loses a baby tooth earlier than expected, you may wonder whether it matters since another tooth will eventually take its place. Baby teeth are meant to fall out, but when one is lost before the permanent tooth underneath is ready to erupt, the neighboring teeth can begin to shift into the open space.
A space maintainer is a small dental appliance that can be used to hold that space open for the developing permanent tooth. At Christensen Pediatric Dental, we may recommend a space maintainer when a baby tooth is lost earlier than expected and maintaining that space is important for your child’s developing smile.
Baby Teeth Save Space for Permanent Teeth
Baby teeth do more than help your child chew and speak. Each one also occupies space in the jaw while the permanent teeth are developing beneath the gums.
Normally, a baby tooth stays in place until the permanent tooth underneath is getting ready to erupt. As the permanent tooth develops, the root of the baby tooth gradually dissolves, causing the baby tooth to loosen and eventually fall out. The permanent tooth can then move into the space that has been waiting for it.
Why Losing a Baby Tooth Too Early Can Be a Problem
The situation can be different when a baby tooth is lost much earlier than expected. Early tooth loss can be because of severe tooth decay, infection, or an injury that causes the tooth to come out prematurely. When this occurs while the permanent tooth is still developing, the teeth next to the empty space can begin to shift into that space.
Later, when the permanent tooth is ready to erupt, there may not be enough space for it to come in as it should. This loss of space can contribute to crowded or crooked teeth or problems with how the upper and lower teeth fit together and, in some cases, may affect future orthodontic needs.
A space maintainer can help prevent this unwanted movement by holding the space open until the permanent tooth is ready to come in.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends considering space maintenance when primary teeth are lost prematurely. Whether a child needs one depends on several factors, including which tooth was lost and the development and position of the permanent tooth that will eventually replace it.
What Does a Space Maintainer Do?
A space maintainer is a small dental appliance designed to keep the space left by a missing baby tooth open until the permanent tooth is ready to come in. It does not replace the missing tooth. Instead, it acts as a placeholder that helps prevent neighboring teeth from shifting into the empty space.
Space maintainers can be fixed or removable. One common type is a fixed band-and-loop space maintainer. A small stainless steel band is cemented around a nearby tooth, with a metal loop extending across the open space to help keep it from closing.
Removable space maintainers are made of acrylic and can be taken out for cleaning. They are used less commonly because they need to be worn consistently to maintain the space.
Not every child who loses a baby tooth early will need a space maintainer. Dr. Christensen will evaluate your child’s teeth and dental development to determine whether one is needed and which type is appropriate.
How Old Does a Child Have to Be for a Space Maintainer?
There is no single age when children can or should get a space maintainer.
What matters more is when the baby tooth was lost in relation to your child’s dental development. If a baby tooth is lost shortly before the permanent tooth is ready to come in, a space maintainer may not be necessary. If the permanent tooth still has considerable development ahead of it, maintaining the open space may be more important.
This is why it is a good idea to have your child evaluated if a baby tooth is lost much earlier than expected rather than assuming that another tooth will simply take its place.
How Long Does a Space Maintainer Stay In?
How long a child wears a space maintainer varies. The timing depends largely on your child’s dental development and when the permanent tooth is ready to come into the space.
Some children may need a space maintainer for a relatively short period, while others may wear one longer. During regular dental visits, we can monitor the appliance as well as the permanent tooth developing underneath the gums.
Once the permanent tooth is ready to erupt and the space maintainer has done its job, we can determine when it should be removed.
Caring for Your Child’s Space Maintainer
Good oral hygiene is particularly important while your child has a space maintainer. Your child should continue brushing thoroughly, taking care to clean around the appliance and the teeth supporting it. Younger children may need some help to make sure these areas are cleaned well.
Halloween can require a little extra planning when your child has a space maintainer. Sticky or chewy treats such as caramel, taffy, gummies, and similar candies can pull on the appliance, while hard candy and other hard foods such as nuts can potentially damage it.
But your child does not have to miss out on Halloween treats. Plain chocolate that melts easily is generally a better choice than sticky, chewy, or hard candy. Just remember that chocolate still contains sugar, so moderation and good brushing are important.
For more ideas on choosing Halloween treats and protecting your child’s teeth, read our Boo to Cavities: Halloween Dental Tips for Kids.
Regular dental visits are another important part of caring for a space maintainer. These appointments allow us to check the appliance, examine the surrounding teeth and gums, and monitor the developing permanent tooth.
If your child’s space maintainer becomes loose or damaged, or your child says that it feels different or is bothering them, contact our office rather than waiting until the next scheduled appointment.
Making Room for Your Child’s Permanent Teeth
Losing baby teeth is a normal part of growing up. But when your child loses one much earlier than expected, it is worth having the space evaluated.
Your child will not necessarily need a space maintainer. At Christensen Pediatric Dental, we can look at which tooth was lost, your child’s stage of dental development, and the permanent tooth that will eventually take its place. If maintaining the space is recommended, we will explain how the appliance works, how to care for it, and how we will monitor it as your child grows.
Learn more about our extractions and space maintainers or contact Christensen Pediatric Dental in Ogden to schedule an appointment.
