Although baby teeth are expected to fall out, a youngster may lose a tooth before his or her adult teeth are ready to emerge. While it may not appear to be a major issue at the time, if it is not properly maintained, it might cause other issues. Space maintainers are devices that your Victoria dentist can install in your child’s mouth to ensure that their adult teeth grow in properly. If your child has lost a tooth too soon, you should make an appointment with his or her pediatric dentist in Victoria. They can check your child’s mouth and tooth structure and determine if a space maintainer is required.
- Maintains the correct position of adjacent teeth – The most crucial purpose for using space maintainers is to keep your child’s teeth in proper alignment. Your neighbouring teeth will naturally migrate towards the now-empty socket when you lose a tooth. If this occurs before your child’s permanent teeth have fully developed, it can disrupt your child’s oral development. Space maintainers keep your teeth in place and prevent them from shifting.
- Encourages Proper Permanent Teeth Eruption – The “pathways” that your child’s permanent teeth will follow when they erupt are created by their baby teeth. The permanent tooth may not erupt properly as they grow and mature if they lose a tooth. However, by preventing teeth from shifting after tooth loss, a space maintainer helps preserve your child’s mouth and facilitates appropriate eruption of permanent teeth.
- Reduces the need for orthodontic treatment and braces – A space maintainer can help you save tens of thousands of dollars on orthodontic treatment. This is because assisting your child’s permanent teeth to correctly grow into his or her mouth can help to avoid orthodontic complications. The permanent teeth may erupt wrongly and become crooked if the gap where your child’s lost tooth used to be is not preserved, necessitating braces and other orthodontic procedures. You may keep your child’s mouth healthy and prevent costly orthodontic treatment by having a space maintainer implanted as soon as a baby tooth is lost prematurely.
- There is No Pain – The space maintainer for your child will not cause any discomfort. For the first few days after it is implanted, it may be a little unpleasant. This is because, like a retainer, your child will have to get used to how it feels, and it may apply some pressure on the teeth while it settles into the appropriate position. However, there is no discomfort, and the space maintainer will not cause any discomfort. Once your youngster has become accustomed to it, they will likely forget it exists!
Premature tooth loss in children can lead to a range of oral health problems. You can keep your child’s mouth healthy, prevent orthodontic treatments, and stimulate optimal oral growth with space maintainers from Moss Dental. Call us at 778-406-1176 to book an appointment.
