SpaceMaintainersinNortheastCalgary
When a child loses a baby tooth prematurely — whether due to decay, injury, or extraction — the surrounding teeth may shift into the empty space, potentially causing crowding or alignment problems for incoming permanent teeth. At Martindale Smiles, we use custom space maintainers to hold the space open until the permanent tooth is ready to erupt, helping ensure your child's teeth develop correctly and reducing the potential need for orthodontic treatment later.
What Are Space Maintainers?
Space maintainers are small dental appliances made of metal or acrylic that are custom-fitted to your child's mouth. They can be fixed (cemented to adjacent teeth) or removable, depending on the location and the child's age. The maintainer holds the space left by a missing baby tooth, preventing neighboring teeth from drifting into the gap and guiding the permanent tooth into its proper position.
Types of Space Maintainers
There are several types of space maintainers including band and loop (the most common, attached to one tooth), crown and loop (when the adjacent tooth needs a crown), distal shoe (for teeth that have not yet erupted), and lingual holding arch (for multiple missing teeth on the lower jaw). Our dentist will recommend the most appropriate type based on your child's specific needs.
What to Expect
- 1Examination and X-rays to assess the situation
- 2Impressions or scans for custom fabrication
- 3Fitting and adjustment of the space maintainer
- 4Instructions on care and maintenance
- 5Regular monitoring until the permanent tooth erupts
