Spacers

If a child loses their baby teeth early or has to get them removed due to decay, the gap created as a result could cause the newly growing permanent teeth to move out of place. This could cause tooth crowding once the other teeth in the mouth begin to erupt. At Center One Dental in Canonsburg, PA, we recommend the use of space maintainers to avoid this problem.

A space maintainer is a custom device made of acrylic or metal which keeps the space caused by lost teeth open. This allows the permanent teeth to move into the right place. Space maintainers prevent the teeth from shifting into the open space caused by missing teeth, thereby eliminating the need for orthodontic and other dental treatments later.

Space maintainers are either fixed or removable. Removable space maintainers are usually made using acrylic and are similar to orthodontic appliances. An artificial tooth may be placed to fill the space where the new tooth will erupt.

Fixed space maintainers come in four different kinds:

• Unilateral : This type is connected to a metal loop and wraps around the side of a tooth.
• Crown and Loop : This type consists of a crown to cover the tooth and is attached to a loop to make sure there is space for the erupting tooth.
• Distal Shoe: This type is generally used for unerupted first molars. A distal shoe maintainer has the end of the metal inserted into the gum line to keep the open space from closing up.
• Lingual : This space maintainer is bilateral and may be cemented to the molars and is connected by a wire to the inside of the lower front teeth. Lingual maintainers are used for more than one missing teeth.

To find out whether your children need space maintainers, schedule an appointment at the Center One Dental in Canonsburg, PA.