WHAT IS SPACE MAINTENANCE?
Space maintenance is necessary if your child loses a baby tooth too soon. Baby teeth usually fall out on their own. However, in certain cases where the baby tooth has to be removed prematurely, the teeth around that space can shift and crowd out the permanent tooth which still needs to erupt. For this reason, space maintenance can be an important part of your child’s orthodontic care.
With space maintenance from Dr. Diana Bozner at Camellia Orthodontics, we can prevent the loss of space and guide the teeth into a healthy position in order to provide a lifetime of beautiful smiles. Contact us now to set up a consultation with our orthodontist in Lafayette or Opelousas.
THE BENEFITS OF SPACE MAINTENANCE.
Ensure Proper Oral Development.
Your child’s baby teeth form the “paths” that adult teeth will take as they emerge. By getting a space maintainer for your child, you’ll help preserve these paths and ensure their adult teeth erupt properly.
Simple, Fast Treatment.
It only takes a couple quick appointments for Dr. Bozner to place a fixed or removable space maintainer, so your child can get back to their normal routine quickly.
Avoid the Need for Early Orthodontics.
If your child’s adult teeth don't come in correctly due to premature loss of their baby teeth, they may need Phase 1 orthodontics or braces in the future. However, space maintenance can reduce or completely eliminate the need for orthodontics.
Comfortable for Long-Term Wear.
Space maintainers are comfortable, and after a few days or weeks, your child will barely even notice their space maintainer. The space maintainers are also designed to allow for good brushing and flossing at home, so home care is simple.
Is a Space Maintainer
Always Necessary?
No! Space maintainers are not always necessary. As you know, baby teeth are supposed to fall out eventually, and most kids start losing their baby teeth around the age of six or seven.
Whether or not this is a problem depends on the development of the permanent tooth underneath the gums. For this reason, it is highly important that you check regularly with your dentist and orthodontist in order to know if and when space maintenance is necessary.
Contact Dr. Bozner and your Camellia Orthodontics team to schedule a consult today!