Comfortable, Effective, Inexpensive Kid’s Preventative Care with Space Maintainers Specialist in California

Once a child loses a tooth before their permanent teeth start developing, it can cause considerable future problems. With no tooth in position, the rest of the teeth can move to fill the space, obstructing the new teeth from coming through. Among the many dental healthcare services offered by Jihee Chun, DDS, and her team at Dental Kidz Club, space maintainers are orthodontic devices that prevent misalignment of teeth in kids caused by missing teeth. To schedule a consultation for your kid’s space maintainers in Brea, Ontario, Riverside, Corona, Perris, and Covina, California, call the office of Dental Kidz Club or book online today.

What Are Space Maintainers?

If your child’s tooth comes out before a permanent tooth grows to replace it, your specialist at Dental Kidz Club utilizes a space maintainer. A space maintainer is an orthodontic device used to prevent the remaining teeth from pushing into the gap left by the extracted tooth.

 Maintaining this gap is vital as the permanent tooth requires some space to develop once it is ready. A kid might require a space maintainer for various reasons, including tooth loss because of trauma or injury or early tooth extraction because of overcrowding or tooth decay.

How Do Space Maintainers Function?

Space maintainers support the teeth on either side of the gap left by the removed tooth. The teeth can tilt or drift without it, resulting in an overcrowded jaw that means the permanent teeth become crooked. In such a case, your kid will require extensive orthodontic treatment once he/she gets older.

Space maintainers are either removable or fixed. A fixed space maintainer is directly attached to the teeth on either side of the gap and can be extracted only by your dentist. On the other hand, removable space maintainers look like a retainer and might have an attached false tooth.

 Removable space maintainers suit older children best, whereas fixed space maintainers are generally used for younger children so that they cannot be accidentally pulled out.

What Are the Various Types of Space Maintainers?

         Fixed space maintainers are customized and fitted into your kid’s mouth. There are various types of space maintainers available, including:

·   Lingual Holding Arch

         A lingual holding arch is a horseshoe-shaped device, which keeps space for the lower back teeth on either side of the dental arch.

·   Distal Shoe Appliance

         This appliance has a metal ‘shoe’, which fits over the neighboring molar, and has a wire extension that prevents teeth on either side of the space from closing in.

·   Band-and-Loop

         A band-and-loop device is a metal wire held in position with orthodontic bands that allow room for the permanent tooth to grow. It’s perfect when a child loses one or more molars in a single dental arch.

·   Transpalatal Arch

         A transpalatal arch fits onto the upper dental arch and keeps the space for the back molars.

That said, Dr. Chun and her team at Dental Kidz Club offer comprehensive children’s preventative care. Space maintainers are a cost-friendly, effective, and comfortable way of maintaining aligned teeth. If your kid requires one, call the nearest Dental Kidz Club office or use the online booking tool to request a consultation to discuss your options.