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Space Maintainers in Hazlet, NJ
Most people don’t realize how important baby teeth are. After all, they fall out after a while anyway, right? But while they lie in the mouth, they are holding the position for the permanent teeth to eventually come in and also help guide them to erupt properly. Normally, children start losing their baby teeth when they are around six years old. However, situations can arise when the teeth are lost prematurely. In those cases, if the permanent teeth are not close to being ready to erupt, your dentist at All Smiles Dental Care may recommend the use of a space maintainer for your child in Hazlet, NJ.
What is a Space Maintainer?
A space maintainer is a dental appliance made of metal, plastic, or both and can be either fixed in the mouth or removable. Its job is exactly how it sounds – it keeps, or maintains, a particular space in the mouth. A child will wear the space maintainer to hold the space for the permanent tooth or teeth to come in later on and to help them develop the best bite possible.
Types of Space Maintainers
There are two types of space maintainers that your dentist may use.
- Fixed: cemented onto neighboring teeth. There are a couple of designs for fixed space maintainers. In each case, a wire will extend from the part of the appliance that is attached to the nearby teeth over the space where the tooth has been lost. It will reach just to the point where it touches the next remaining tooth, preventing the teeth from changing position and keeping the space open. Fixed appliances are preferred for younger children because they are more difficult for them to fidget with or break.
- Removable: resemble a retainer that is worn at the end of orthodontic treatment. If the lost tooth is very visible in the mouth, the space maintainer may have a false tooth in it. Older children can usually be expected to handle and care for a removable appliance as recommended.
If your child should be affected with premature tooth loss, either due to an injury, tooth decay, or another reason, our team at All Smiles Dental Care will be able to provide quality space maintainers in Hazlet, NJ.
