Dental Space Maintenance for Early Tooth Loss

What Are Space Maintainers Used For?

In some cases, children can lose their teeth too early from early childhood tooth decay. If this happens, the teeth on either side of the gap can shift and block the arrival of the permanent tooth. A space maintainer can be used to hold that space open for the new permanent tooth. 

Depending on the number of teeth your child is missing or the space that needs to be controlled, different space maintenance options will be suggested. 

If your child has lost a primary tooth early, it’s best to make an appointment to see if space maintenance is needed.