Sometimes situations arise that require a tooth to be extracted earlier than what was intended. When this happens, it is our job as your trusted child’s dentist to preserve the space for the permanent tooth. Space maintainers are frequently used in pediatric dentistry to allow permanent teeth the time and space they require to grow without resulting in the surrounding teeth from shifting.
Treatment:
If extraction is the only option for the primary or baby tooth, Downtown Sleep Dentistry believes placing a space maintainer to prevent shifting or future misalignment is the best option for your child’s oral health. By doing so, we can help prevent the need for orthodontic care because the permanent tooth is given the opportunity to erupt straight into place.
Why extract a baby tooth?
At Downtown Sleep Dentistry, our kid-focused dentists along with parents choose to extract a baby tooth for different reasons; childhood caries, severe decay, stopping the infection from spreading, impacted tooth or even trauma can lead to a primary tooth being prematurely removed.
Fixed Space Maintainers
The most common type of space maintainer is a fixed, unilateral band and loop appliance. This is fitted and cemented onto an adjacent tooth to act as a placeholder for the adult tooth. Our Downtown Sleep Dentistry dentists make these fixed space maintainers chairside for your child! This is very important for both your child and yourself as we don’t require a second appointment to complete this treatment. Plus because our office in Hamilton offers sedation dentistry, we can create and apply this to your child’s teeth while they are sedated and comfortable.
Space loss is a real concern in kid’s dentistry and we want to do everything we can to prevent it from happening! To learn more about space maintainers and how they can benefit your child’s oral health and physical appearance, call our office to schedule an appointment.
