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Kids usually start losing their baby teeth around the age of 6, starting with the front teeth. The molars are the last baby teeth to fall out, typically around the age of 12!
Teeth shifting can occur even with baby teeth. When a tooth is lost, the nearby teeth tend to move toward the empty socket to “fill” the gap. This can cause oral development issues and bite problems.
The baby teeth form the “paths” that your child’s adult teeth will follow as they begin to develop and emerge. This means that if your child loses a baby tooth prematurely and the teeth shift, this can impair the proper eruption of the adult tooth. With a space maintainer, you avoid this issue.
Because the teeth will erupt properly and your child’s baby teeth won’t shift, this reduces the risk of oral development problems that may otherwise require treatment with orthodontics like braces.
In some cases, Dr. Julia or Dr. Chun may recommend a biopsy of a particular piece of tissue to check for the presence of cancer. This process is fast and pain-free for your child.
Not at all! Space maintainers are made of smooth plastic or metal, so they won’t irritate your child’s mouth. They do not place excessive pressure on the teeth, either. They just sit in the gap in your child’s smile and prevent the nearby teeth from moving.
Space maintainer placement doesn’t hurt, either. It’s completely non-invasive. Cypress and Katy pediatric dentist Dr. Julia or Dr. Chun will simply choose a properly-sized space maintainer and attach it to your child’s teeth using dental cement. The entire process takes just a few minutes, and our child-friendly team will make sure your child feels safe and comfortable throughout their treatment.
However, your child may not be used to the new piece of plastic or metal in their mouth. They may rub their tongue or cheeks against it, which could cause some irritation over time. This is not harmful, but to prevent pain, you should discourage your child from rubbing or playing with their space maintainer.
Space maintainers are necessary whenever your child loses a baby tooth early. This is because baby teeth form the “paths” that adult teeth take when they emerge. If your child loses a baby tooth early, the nearby teeth may move to try to fill up the gap, and the adult teeth may not erupt properly.
So if your child loses a baby tooth and the adult tooth isn’t expected to grow in for a while, Dr. Julia or Dr. Chun will recommend a space maintainer. However, space maintainers may not always be needed. If your child loses a tooth and the adult tooth is close to erupting on its own, your child likely won’t need a space maintainer.
However, you need to trust a dentist to make this diagnosis. If your child loses a baby tooth early in Cypress or Katy, schedule a consultation with Cavity Patrol Pediatric Dentistry right away. You can trust our pediatric dental team to help you make the right decision for your little one’s oral health.
At your child’s initial consultation, Dr. Julia or Dr. Chun will take impressions of your child’s teeth. They will send these to an outside dental lab, where a custom-fitted space maintainer will be built. This process may take a week or two.
Once your child’s space maintainer arrives at our office, Dr. Julia or Dr. Chun will check the fit to make sure everything is perfect. Then, they will use dental cement to permanently attach the space maintainer to your child’s teeth. That’s it!
The removal process is simple, too. Once your child’s permanent tooth begins to erupt, you’ll come back to Cavity Patrol Pediatric Dentistry. They’ll use special tools to loosen the space maintainer and remove it from the tooth. This also takes just a few minutes, and causes no pain or discomfort.
If you’re worried that your child may be nervous or may not cooperate with our dental team, we’ve got you covered. We offer sedation dentistry in Cypress and Katy, TX. With laughing gas, your child can feel totally safe and comfortable throughout their treatment.
Space maintainers work by filling up the gap where your child’s missing tooth used to be. They are usually made of plastic or metal. One side of the space maintainer is wrapped around one of your child’s teeth to hold it in place, and the other side rests on top of the gap in your child’s smile and presses against the opposite tooth.
By placing a small amount of pressure and blocking the adjacent teeth from moving, a space maintainer allows the underlying adult tooth to develop properly. Maintaining the proper gap between your child’s remaining teeth minimizes the risk of future complications as their mouth develops.
Your child will need to keep a space maintainer until their permanent tooth begins to erupt in the area below the space maintainer. During your child’s six-month preventive visits to Cavity Patrol Pediatric Dentistry in Cypress or Katy, Dr. Julia or Dr. Chun will check on the progress of the underlying tooth.
If it’s about to emerge or has already begun to come out, the space maintainer will be removed. The emerging adult tooth will come out in the proper position and will keep the adjacent teeth from shifting, so there’s no more need for a space maintainer.
It is crucial to make sure your child is brushing and flossing daily to prevent cavities from forming around the space maintainer. Encourage your child to avoid chewing gum, sticky candy, and hard foods. In addition, remind your little one to refrain from pulling or tugging on the space maintainer with their fingers, tongue, or other objects. If your child’s space maintainer loosens or breaks, contact our office immediately to schedule an appointment.
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