Space Maintainers

What Are Space Maintainers?

A space maintainer is a dental device used to hold open the space left by a prematurely lost baby tooth. This prevents the neighboring teeth from shifting into the empty spot and ensures there’s enough room for the permanent tooth to come in properly.

🧒 Mostly used for children who lose baby teeth early due to injury, decay, or extraction.

Space maintainers are dental devices used primarily in children to preserve the space left by a prematurely lost baby tooth until the permanent tooth erupts. Their main purpose is to prevent the surrounding teeth from shifting into the empty space, which can lead to misalignment, crowding, or bite problems. Space maintainers help ensure proper development of the jaw and alignment of adult teeth, reducing the need for extensive orthodontic treatment later. They can be removable or fixed depending on the child’s age and dental needs.