The spacer for the teeth is a protective device that prevents the child's teeth from moving towards the space left by the teeth that fell prematurely, which protects him from orthodontic problems later on.
Teeth spacing in children is an essential issue that parents should pay attention to, especially for children who have lost their teeth due to decay, injury, or premature extraction. A teeth spacer is a necessary solution to these problems.
When a temporary tooth is lost early, space retainers help maintain enough space until the child's permanent teeth erupt properly and in the correct position.
But how does a space maintainer help correct teeth spacing in children? What are the potential risks and benefits associated with this treatment? We will learn the answers through the article.
What is a dental space maintainer?
The term teeth space maintainer is called for small devices made for children when their temporary deciduous teeth fall out early, and it is not time for their permanent teeth to erupt. In it when the time comes.
Your baby's baby teeth take on some big chores. They help get proper nutrition through biting and chewing, talking correctly, and guiding the permanent teeth underneath them into place as they grow.
If your child has lost a tooth due to injury, infection, or because extraction is necessary, most of the space between the teeth may be lost, causing movement problems or problems Tooth crowding Or its crookedness, because the teeth on both sides of the extraction site will begin to move into the void, so there is no place left for the permanent tooth.
A preventive dental space maintainer prevents this and maintains the space between the teeth.
Monitoring the condition of your child's mouth during the mixed dentition stage, when the deciduous and permanent teeth are still present, is very important in anticipation of any misalignment and occlusion problems.
What does a dental space maintainer look like?
A custom distance keeping device is made and applied from acrylic or metal, some types of which are similar to the following devices orthodonticsOn some of them, rubber bands or metal springs are placed, and there are some that are fixed or come in the form of removable devices.
The dentist will recommend the most appropriate type of retainer for your child. Suppose the missing teeth are located in the front of the mouth. In that case, he can use a medical spacer device with artificial teeth to fill in the gaps and improve the child’s appearance and pronunciation. Discuss the options with your doctor.
Types of space maintainers
Dental spacers are divided into three categories:
Unilateral fixed space maintainer
It maintains distances within only one side of the mouth, which the doctor installs in it. Standard hardware includes the collar-and-loop spacer and the gasket spacer, which are glued on to stay in place.
Bilateral sided fixed space maintainer
The second category of spacekeepers includes static binary devices, the binary spacekeeper type used in cases selective extracting milky on both sides of the jaw.
Removable space maintainer
It is a device for maintaining distances after the extraction of the milk tooth. It is characterized by the fact that it comes with attached artificial teeth. This type of movable retainer is placed for beautification, mainly when the front teeth are extracted, in addition to preserving pronunciation.
If the missing tooth was permanent or milky, and its permanent place did not emerge, it can be replaced later with a Dental implant surgery.
When is the placement of a space maintainer necessary?
Children may need a dental space maintainer for several reasons, including:
1. Early loss of temporary teeth
might happen Dental caries The child wears it easily, which sometimes leads to the need to extract the teeth. Caries forms more on the deciduous molars because the enamel is more fragile than the permanent teeth.
If a tooth must be lost due to severe decay, a spacer will be placed to prevent misalignment or crowding as the permanent teeth develop.
2. Dental injuries
During the early stages of childhood, injuries to the front teeth in the upper and lower jaws in children are prevalent, so the child's front teeth, which include the incisors and canines, are often lost prematurely.
If your child loses a back tooth prematurely due to trauma, the retainer helps prevent misalignment and crowding as the permanent teeth grow in.
What is the chronology of the eruption of teeth in children?
- The baby's primary teeth should begin to appear at six months to one year
- Around 3 years of age, your child should have the majority of deciduous teeth
- Around the age of 6, your child's teeth should start falling out, and this can continue until around the age of 12
Teeth tend to fall out in the order they grow. If your child's teeth start to fall out early, consult your dentist to discuss the possible need for a spacer. If you're looking for a professional to evaluate your child, you can Contact the Bimaristan Center To guide you to the most skilled doctors.
Taking care of dental space maintainer
- Avoid sticky candies, fruit snacks, toffee and chewing gum
- Dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing
- Periodic visits to the dental clinic every 6 months or more, as instructed by the doctor
- Help your child avoid pushing the device with fingers or tongue
And always remember to check with the dentist if your child's teeth start to fall out early. If your child needs a spacer and it is not installed, it is more likely that he will need orthodontic treatment when all his permanent teeth erupt later.
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