One of the many functions of baby teeth is to hold space for the adult teeth that will eventually push them through. When baby teeth are lost prematurely, the permanent teeth that are coming in on either side can actually drift into the space that was reserved for another tooth. This can cause teeth to erupt out of position or to be blocked entirely, and it may result in crowded or crooked teeth.
There are both fixed and removable space maintainers. A fixed space maintainer is cemented onto the adjacent teeth and saves room for teeth that haven’t grown in yet.
There are four types of fixed space maintainers:
The space maintainer is then used to make room for a future bridge or dental implant.
Removable maintainers are used when the tooth is growing in or almost ready to grow in. They are sometimes made to look like an artificial tooth and are placed between teeth to save room.
Both permanent and removable space maintainers are custom-made to fit into your child’s mouth. Space maintainers are worn until X-rays reveal that the tooth underneath is ready to erupt naturally. It is very important that anyone wearing a space maintainer keeps up good oral hygiene at home and has regular professional dental cleanings.
Contact Us
We encourage you to call us at (209) 924-4089. For directions to the office, please click the map below. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to get in touch.
Ripon Dental
1222 W Colony Rd, Suite 140, Ripon, CA 95366 US
Proudly Serving: Ripon, Manteca, Salida, Modesto, Riverbank, Del Rio and other surrounding communities.
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