At Sri Sai Dental Clinic, Coimbatore, our team of expert pediatric dentists, led by Dr. P. Vidhiyasagar MDS and Dr. R. Suganya, is committed to safeguarding your child’s dental health and ensuring proper development. One of the key preventive treatments we offer is the use of space maintainers, designed to hold space for permanent teeth in children who lose their baby teeth prematurely.
What Are Space Maintainers?
Space maintainers are custom-made dental appliances that are used to preserve the space left by prematurely lost baby teeth. When a child loses a baby tooth before the permanent tooth is ready to erupt, adjacent teeth can drift into the empty space, potentially causing misalignment and crowding issues as permanent teeth emerge. Space maintainers are designed to prevent this shifting, ensuring that permanent teeth have adequate space to grow in the correct position.
Types of Space Maintainers
At Sri Sai Dental Clinic, we offer a variety of space maintainers, tailored to your child’s specific needs:
- Fixed Space Maintainers: These are cemented in place and remain in the mouth until the permanent tooth erupts. Fixed maintainers include:
- Band and Loop Maintainers: Commonly used to hold space for a single tooth. A metal band is placed around a nearby tooth, with a loop extending into the space where the tooth is missing.
- Lingual Arch: Often used when multiple baby teeth are lost in the lower jaw. This appliance features a wire that rests on the inside of the teeth to prevent them from shifting.
- Removable Space Maintainers: These are similar to orthodontic appliances and can be taken out for cleaning or eating. They are used in specific cases where patient cooperation and oral hygiene are excellent.
Advanced Technology in Space Maintainer Fabrication
At Sri Sai Dental Clinic, we employ the latest technology to ensure that each space maintainer is custom-designed for optimal comfort and functionality:
- Digital Impressions: We use digital scanning technology to capture precise impressions of your child’s teeth, eliminating the need for traditional molds. This ensures a more accurate fit and a faster turnaround time for the creation of the space maintainer.
- 3D Printed Models: Our clinic also utilizes 3D printing technology to fabricate precise models of the dental arch, which are used to design and construct the space maintainers. This innovative approach enhances the accuracy and effectiveness of the device, ensuring long-term success in holding the space.
- Biocompatible Materials: We use high-quality, biocompatible materials that are safe, durable, and comfortable for your child. These materials are designed to withstand normal chewing forces and provide long-lasting results.
The Benefits of Space Maintainers
Space maintainers play a critical role in maintaining your child’s dental alignment and overall oral health:
- Prevents Misalignment: By holding the space for permanent teeth, space maintainers prevent the shifting of surrounding teeth, reducing the need for future orthodontic treatment.
- Supports Normal Growth: Ensuring that permanent teeth have enough room to grow naturally helps support your child’s overall facial development.
- Non-Invasive Solution: Space maintainers offer a simple, non-invasive way to protect your child’s dental health after premature tooth loss.
When Are Space Maintainers Necessary?
Space maintainers are typically recommended for children who:
- Lose Baby Teeth Prematurely: Whether due to trauma, decay, or early extraction, space maintainers are crucial when baby teeth are lost before their time.
- Have Delayed Eruption of Permanent Teeth: In cases where a permanent tooth is taking longer than normal to erupt, a space maintainer ensures that adjacent teeth do not move into the gap.