Space maintainers are an essential tool in pediatric dentistry, designed to preserve the proper spacing in a child’s mouth after the premature loss of a baby tooth. Our practice is committed to ensuring the healthy development of your child’s permanent teeth, and space maintainers play a key role in this process.
Understanding Space Maintainers
Space maintainers are custom-made dental appliances that help keep the space open where a baby tooth has been lost too early. This prevents the adjacent teeth from shifting into the empty space, which could lead to misalignment or crowding of the incoming permanent teeth. They can be removable or fixed, depending on each child’s needs.
The Space Maintainers Process
Fitting a space maintainer involves a few simple steps:
- Taking an impression of your child’s mouth to create a custom-fit appliance.
- Placing the space maintainer in the mouth, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit.
- Educating your child and parents on how to care for the maintainer.
- Regular checkups to monitor the progress and make adjustments as necessary.
Benefits of Space Maintainers
- Prevents misalignment and crowding of permanent teeth.
- Maintains the proper spacing in the mouth for healthy dental development.
- Minimizes the need for orthodontic treatments later in life.
- Custom-fit for each child’s comfort.
- Supports overall oral health and well-being.
Ensure Proper Dental Development With Space Maintainers
Contact Smiling with Love Pediatric Dentistry at 757-296-0570 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Luis Arango. We are dedicated to ensuring your child’s smile develops healthily and beautifully. With space maintainers in Virginia Beach, Virginia, our pediatric dentist can help safeguard your child’s future smile today!