Protect your child’s smile for years to come.

Your child’s smile is a bit like a puzzle. And if you know anything about puzzles, you know that the pieces need to fit together just right for everything to work. So, if your child loses a tooth too early, it becomes a missing puzzle piece that can make the other pieces—aka the remaining teeth nearby—fit together less perfectly.

That’s where orthodontic space maintainers can help. These oral appliances are designed to help all of those puzzle pieces fit together better in the long run. And at the end of the treatment period, your child will have a brilliant smile and a great oral foundation.

Ready to learn more? Let’s get to it!

What are orthodontic space maintainers?

Space maintainers are clever little devices that act as placeholders for your child’s teeth. Think of them as temporary stand-ins for missing baby teeth, making sure the surrounding teeth don’t drift into the empty space. This is super important because it keeps everything aligned and allows the new, permanent tooth to come in just right.

There are two main types of space maintainers: fixed and removable. Fixed maintainers are attached to the surrounding teeth and stay in place, while removable ones can be taken out, much like a retainer. Both types are designed to keep your child’s smile on track, ensuring that when it’s time for the permanent teeth to make their appearance, there’s plenty of room for them to fit perfectly into the puzzle.

How They Work

Simply stated, space maintainers make more room in your child’s mouth either for a new tooth or to be eventually fitted for braces. You’re probably thinking, Ouch! Won’t that hurt? While it is true that some children find orthodontic space maintainers to be a bit uncomfortable at first, the overall process is not meant to be painful. Let’s get a bit more specific on how this all happens. 

Space maintainers work by holding open the gap left by a lost tooth, preventing the surrounding teeth from shifting into that space. This ensures that when the permanent tooth is ready to come in, there’s enough room for it to grow in the right position. The way this happens depends on the type of space maintainer used.

Fixed maintainers are securely attached to the surrounding teeth, acting as a barrier that keeps the space open. In some cases, a removable space maintainer may need manual adjustment. This usually involves a small key that a parent or dentist can use to gently turn a screw, gradually expanding the device to create more space over time.

The amount of time your child will need to wear a space maintainer varies, but the treatment time generally lasts until the permanent tooth begins to pop through the gumline. Throughout the treatment, regular checkups are important to monitor progress and make any necessary adjustments. While it might feel a bit strange at first, most kids quickly get used to their space maintainers and can go about their daily activities without any issues.

Caring for Space Maintainers 

Typically, you care for your child’s space maintainer through their normal oral hygiene routine. However, you may need to check for food particles that can get stuck in the metal components. Your dentist near Prince Frederick, MD, will give you a special tool that can be used to help remove food particles, otherwise floss can be used as well.

Aside from that, all you need to do is make sure your child avoids sticky or hard foods that could damage the space maintainer or cause it to become loose. Foods like caramel, gum, or hard candies should be off limits while the space maintainer is in place. It’s also important to remind your child not to play with or push on the space maintainer with their fingers or tongue, as this can cause it to shift out of position. 

Helpful Tips for Parents 

We know kids can be tricky—and picky—and may not be super happy about a space maintainer being placed in their mouth. Trust us, we’ve been around the block a few times on this one. Here are some tips on how to make the space maintainer process easier for everyone involved.

• Gain your child’s buy-in: Let your child pick out a fun toothbrush or toothpaste as a way to get them excited about their new oral care routine with the space maintainer. Consider the puzzle analogy we used earlier, as this might help them better understand how everything will work and why their space maintainer is so important.
• Talk to your child about the benefits: Use simple language about how the space maintainer is helping to keep their smile perfect, just like they would want it to be.
• Encourage good oral hygiene: Make brushing and flossing fun by turning it into a game or rewarding your child for taking good care of their teeth and space maintainer.
• Monitor the space maintainer for any issues: Keep an eye out for any signs of discomfort or loosening of the device, and reach out to your dentist if something doesn’t seem right.

Talk to your pediatric dentist near Prince Frederick about a space maintainer for your child.

Thinking back to our puzzle analogy from earlier, the goal of that space maintainer really is to help all the pieces of your child’s smile fit together perfectly. And when your child has one of these oral appliances put in, it is a big step in protecting their smile for the future. 

Have questions or want to discuss this orthodontic treatment for your child? Request a consultation with We Make Kids Smile today.