As your children’s teeth start to come through and develop, you may find that there are issues with their spacing and alignment. Children are often very self-conscious about their appearance, and if they don’t feel confident about their smile, it can have a huge impact on how they feel about themselves. The good news is that dental treatment for children has continued to advance over the years, with the option to get a space maintainer now more readily available than ever before. Keep reading as we share everything parents need to know about dental space maintainers for kids and the reasons your kid might need a space maintainer.
Why Your Child Might Need a Space Maintainer
There are many reasons why your child might need a space maintainer when getting dental treatment for children in Manchester. One of the most common reasons for this type of treatment is premature tooth loss. Some children lose their primary or milk teeth earlier than others, due to reasons such as dental decay or trauma. When a tooth is lost too early, a space maintainer for kids can help to avoid alignment issues when the permanent tooth starts to appear.
One of the most common reasons that a child dentist near me may suggest you use a space maintainer is to prevent misalignment. Your primary teeth act as a placeholder for your adult teeth, but when they are lost too soon, the space needs to be saved for the permanent teeth. A space maintainer helps to preserve this space and allow your permanent teeth to erupt correctly, avoiding long-term challenges with your teeth and expensive or painful treatments in the future.
Healthy development is another reason to consider a space maintainer for your child. You don’t want your child to struggle with overcrowding or crooked teeth when they grow up, and this is one tool that may help to avoid braces in the future. You’ll also find that the various types of space maintainers support proper chewing and speaking with children, ensuring they develop clear speech patterns and can chew their food effectively each day.
Types of Space Maintainers
There are various types of space maintainers for kids, all of which suit different situations depending on the number and location of lost teeth. Fixed space maintainers are cemented into place by a dentist and are not removable by the child. They are usually used when a primary tooth is lost at the back of the mouth. Band-and-wire maintainers are a type of fixed space maintainer that is used for a single lost tooth, whereas a crown-and-band maintainer can offer more stability for weaker teeth. A fixed partial denture or fixed bridge is a more complex option that can be used when multiple teeth are lost.
Removable space maintainers are designed so that the child or parent can take them out as needed. They aren’t used as much by a kids dentist near me but they can be used in some situations. A Hawley appliance is a removable retainer which holds open a space and is ideal for a lost front tooth or multiple lost teeth. Partial dentures are similar to fixed partial dentures but they can be removed and will still replace the loss of multiple primary teeth.
Some more challenging situations require additional work and specialised space maintainers. A distal shoe is used when a primary molar is lost and the permanent tooth is still developing beneath the gums. It helps to extend the space to guide the eruption and is used well in advance of the tooth coming out in most cases. A lingual arch is used when a child loses multiple primary molars and consists of a wire that spans the dental arch and is attached to bands on the primary molars which are present. This helps to prevent drifting and maintain good overall dental alignment.
Your child’s dentist will work with you to assess their unique situation and ensure that you find the right fit for their current dental concerns. It’s important to take action now to avoid issues in the future with their teeth alignment, which could cause long-term teeth problems or impact their self-confidence.
Does your child have concerns about missing teeth or gaps in their mouth? Our team will be here to support you with this common challenge and work to find a solution that fits your child’s unique needs. We take a personalised approach to dental treatment and will work with you to find a dental space maintainer that will help to set your child up for success in the future as their adult teeth come through. Contact us today to book an appointment with our team or to discuss any questions you have about dental space maintainers and the benefits they can offer to your child.
Read the next article: TMJ Disorder