Why Might My Child Need a Space Maintainer? [From a Pediatric Dentist]

When a pediatric dentist recommends a space maintainer, it is likely for good reason. Typically, a space maintainer — otherwise known as a "space retainer" — is only needed if a child patient loses a tooth prematurely or if the child had a tooth extracted because of dental decay.

Space maintainer: The basics

The purpose of a space retainer is to keep a space, which should still be occupied by a baby tooth, open until a permanent tooth erupts and fills the gap. Though many people do not give much credit to baby teeth, these primary teeth are important to the development of the adult teeth, facial muscles and jaw bones, guiding the permanent teeth into position as little teeth fall out. If there is an empty space due to unexpected tooth loss, the permanent teeth may shift out of position, which could lead to alignment issues and the need for costly orthodontic treatment.

If space retention is necessary, a pediatric dentist will take impressions of the young patient's mouth and order a custom-made appliance. These appliances are either metal or acrylic and can either be removable or cemented into the child's mouth.

Space retainers are not always necessary for young children who lose teeth prematurely. A dentist will perform a thorough examination to determine if an oral appliance is necessary or if the teeth will grow into the proper positions on their own.

Types of space retainers a pediatric dentist may use

A pediatric dentist will recommend one of two types of space retainers: removable or fixed. Though there is just one type of removeable retainer, there are four types of fixed maintainers.

Removeable retainers

Removeable retainers are usually made of acrylic and look and function similarly to orthodontic appliances. Depending on the parent's and child's preferences and the nature of the space issue, the maintainer may feature an artificial tooth that fills the space until the adult tooth erupts.

Fixed retainers

Fixed retainers come in one of four types:

• Crown and Loop: The crown and loop maintainer is usually placed on one side of the mouth and features an actual crown that covers the tooth adjacent to the gap. A loop is attached to the crown and rests along the gum line to leave space for the erupting tooth.
• Unilateral: The unilateral retainer is similar to the crown and loop in that it utilizes a loop to hold open a space. However, the unilateral does not feature a crown but simply wraps around the adjacent tooth.
• Lingual: Lingual retainers get cemented to the molar teeth and are typically bilateral in nature, making them an ideal solution for several missing teeth.
• Distal Shoe: A dentist may recommend a distal shoe retainer for first permanent molar teeth that have yet to erupt. These retainers are more complex in nature, as a dentist usually has to insert the end of the metal into the gum line to keep the space from closing. This retainer often requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance.

Conclusion

Space retainers are often necessary when a child loses teeth prematurely due to an accident, decay or a congenital disease. Discuss retainer options with your pediatric dentist.

Request an appointment here: https://www.grandparkwaypediatricdental.com or call Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental at (832) 579-0960 for an appointment in our Richmond office.

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