Space maintainers from a dentist in Anaheim are placeholders for a permanent tooth. As the name suggests, they hold the space open and prevent neighboring teeth from drifting into that opening.
Here are a few tips for parents with children needing these appliances.
- There are fixed and removable maintainers. We would like to suggest a fixed variety for younger children, but removable options are better for older ones. The removable variety is easier to clean, which makes it quicker to maintain your children’s oral hygiene by brushing the surrounding teeth. The removable variety can be taken out when they eat, which is a big bonus for your older boys and girls who understand how to properly manage and place the device.
- Parents must also remember that space maintainers are often part of the larger orthodontic strategy. They can be used as placeholders to guide permanent teeth into position. A space maintainer can even prevent the need for braces or other more invasive options. These appliances can help prevent bite issues. Missing teeth can disrupt the child’s bite and lead to malocclusions. A dentist in Anaheim can use them to maintain the correct bite alignment and spacing.
Parents can choose from various other treatments that do the same work as a space maintainer.
For example, palatal expanders work on the upper jaw and create space for permanent teeth to grow in properly. This is a common treatment for children who suffer from crowded teeth. It expands the pallet, so there’s no need for more invasive treatments later on. Mom and Dad should be aware that these bilateral expanders require a series of adjustments, which can be carried out at home.
These expanders can feel foreign in the child’s mouth at first. However, they usually adjust within just a few days, and parents need to encourage them to practice speaking and eating during that time.
A dentist in Anaheim will walk parents through everything they need to know when their child needs space maintainers to hold a place for a permanent tooth. Contact us if your child has lost a primary tooth through an accident or other issue. Please review our preventative and orthodontic treatments for a few minutes. Our goal is to treat malocclusions and other issues and prevent them from getting worse