Space Maintainers Help Keep Teeth When a Baby Tooth is Lost
Normally, a permanent tooth grows right under a primary tooth. As it emerges, the roots of the primary tooth dissolve. This causes the primary tooth to become loose and fall out. The permanent tooth then takes its place. As this process occurs sequentially, teeth grow in healthy and straight.
Sometimes, though, a primary tooth is lost because of a cavity or an accident. If this happens, the permanent tooth is not ready to replace it. The dentist will have to place a space maintainer in the gap in order to keep the teeth straight. If this is not done, the teeth will shift together and appear misaligned. This will also precipitate a loss of space in the dental arch.
A space maintainer prevents this loss of arch space from occurring. A space maintainer is made custom to the child’s mouth, and it is normally cemented into place. However, some dentists will make certain space maintainers removable so children can take them out when necessary.
In most instances, it requires two visits to the Cosmetic Dentistry Center for a space maintainer to be made.
During the first visit, the dentist will conduct a general examination of the teeth in order to make sure that no other problems exist. Because children this age are susceptible to tooth decay, it is essential that we are certain that no developing cavities go undetected and untreated. The alignment of teeth is also checked, and orthodontic bands are carefully placed over them.
Next, the dentist takes an impression of both the bottom and top teeth. This gives the dental laboratory an exact duplicate of the mouth to use in making the space maintainer. The finished product will precisely match both the teeth and the exact contours of the mouth itself.
It can take anywhere from a few days to over a week to finish making a space maintainer. Once it is ready, the child will come back to the dentist and try the device on. If it proves itself to be a successful fit, it is then cemented in place. Again, there may be some times where the device will be custom made to act as a removable device.
Space maintainers must be used until permanent teeth begin coming out from below the gum line. Children with space maintainers must make certain that they avoid gum chewing, candies, and hard foods that can possibly break or damage the device. Chewing on ice is out of the question.
Labels: dental arch, gap in teeth, permanent teeth, primary teeth, space maintainers
posted by Dental Expert at
8:28 PM
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