Space Maintainers for Children in Mumbai

Space Maintainers

Early loss of milk teeth might seem like something harmless at first since the permanent ones are supposed to grow in eventually. However, milk teeth play an important role. They maintain the space for future teeth and guide them into place. Leaving an early gap can cause adjacent teeth to shift gradually into this space, reducing the space for the permanent one to grow in.

At Bombay Dental Specialities, we conduct a comprehensive examination of your child’s teeth and overall development to make sure our advice to use a space maintainer would be simple, comfortable, and beneficial for your kid’s oral health in the long term.

At first, we will conduct a thorough dental examination to understand the reason behind lost teeth and determine the amount of space that has to be maintained. In case additional information is needed, we will take X-rays of your kid’s missing tooth, its surroundings, and the permanent tooth growing under the gum.

Further on, we will make an impression or a scan of your child’s teeth. It will allow us to create a unique dental appliance that fits your child’s mouth perfectly. A space maintainer has to be snugly fitted to work effectively.

Next, the appliance will be installed and its fit will be checked. In case minor modifications are necessary, we will make them so that you can bite comfortably. We will instruct you about cleaning around the appliance and foods to avoid.

During the review appointments, we will make sure everything goes well. Once it is time for the permanent tooth to erupt, we will safely and appropriately remove the appliance.

A space maintainer will ensure that the gap caused by early loss of a baby tooth stays open, giving the permanent tooth a chance to erupt in the correct place.

It also prevents other teeth from shifting into the available place. Thus, it may decrease the risk of crowding, bite, or other problems in the future. Some kids even get protected from orthodontic treatment thanks to early space protection.

A space maintainer also helps in maintaining normal chewing, biting and dental development of your kid in the crucial period of childhood. Most importantly, we prescribe the appliance only when we believe that it will be beneficial for your child’s dental development in the long term. This way, your kid gets the treatment that is appropriate and comfortable for him.

Is a space maintainer necessary for every missing baby tooth?

No, a space maintainer is recommended only after examining which tooth was lost, the child’s age, the space left, and the position of the permanent tooth.

Are space maintainers comfortable for children?

Yes, space maintainers are made individually and fitted perfectly. We also check and modify their fit if it is necessary.

How long will my child have to use a space maintainer?

For every child differently. Usually, we maintain it until the tooth is ready to erupt.

Can my child eat normally with a space maintainer?

Usually, yes. However, we always advise you to avoid sticky, chewy, and hard foods that may damage the appliance.