Why Space Maintainers Are Important for Your Child’s Smile at ABC Kids Dental in Reseda!

Learn why space maintainers are crucial for your child’s smile. ABC Kids Dental in Reseda provides expert care to ensure your child’s dental health and proper tooth alignment.

Dental Care Jul 2, 2025 0 54 Add to Reading List

Why Space Maintainers Are Important for Your Child’s Smile at ABC Kids Dental in Reseda!

At ABC Kids Dental, we understand that maintaining your child’s oral health is essential for their overall well-being and self-confidence. As your child's teeth develop, it's important to ensure that each tooth stays in place and grows as it should. One of the best ways to do this is by using space maintainers, an essential dental tool that can keep your child's smile healthy and aligned.

Located at 18235 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335, ABC Kids Dental offers top-notch pediatric dental care in Reseda. In this blog, we will explore why space maintainers are crucial for your child's dental health and how they can ensure a lifetime of beautiful, well-aligned teeth.

What Are Space Maintainers?

Space maintainers are dental devices used to hold open the space left by a missing primary (baby) tooth until the permanent (adult) tooth is ready to come in. Losing a baby tooth too early can lead to a host of dental problems, including misalignment, crowding, and difficulty in chewing or speaking. A space maintainer helps preserve the natural alignment of teeth and prevents neighboring teeth from shifting into the open space.

These devices are typically made from stainless steel or plastic and are custom-fit to your child's mouth. The dentist will create the device based on your child’s specific needs and ensure it fits comfortably while maintaining the proper alignment of teeth.

Why Are Space Maintainers Important for Your Child’s Smile?

Space maintainers play an integral role in preserving the health of your child’s developing teeth. They help to maintain the natural structure and ensure the teeth come in correctly. Below are some of the reasons why space maintainers are important:

1. Preventing Tooth Misalignment

When a child loses a baby tooth prematurely, the surrounding teeth can shift into the empty space. This can result in crowding or misalignment of the permanent teeth, which may require braces or other corrective treatments later on. Space maintainers act as placeholders, preventing neighboring teeth from moving into the space and allowing the permanent tooth to emerge in its proper position.

2. Guiding Proper Tooth Eruption

Space maintainers are designed to guide the eruption of permanent teeth. By keeping the space open, they ensure that the permanent tooth comes through at the right time and in the right position. Without space maintainers, there’s a risk that the permanent tooth may emerge crooked or impacted, requiring orthodontic treatment later.

3. Reducing the Need for Braces

A well-placed space maintainer helps ensure that the permanent teeth come in straight and properly aligned. This reduces the need for future orthodontic treatments like braces. Preventing misalignment early in life can save your child time, money, and potential discomfort down the road.

4. Maintaining Normal Function of Teeth and Jaw

When a tooth is lost prematurely, the surrounding teeth may shift into the space, affecting your child’s bite and the overall function of their teeth and jaw. This can lead to difficulty in chewing, speaking, and even discomfort. A space maintainer helps maintain the normal function of the teeth and jaw, ensuring that your child can eat, speak, and smile comfortably.

5. Preserving Your Child's Confidence

A well-aligned set of teeth boosts self-esteem and confidence. If your child’s teeth are misaligned due to premature tooth loss, they may become self-conscious about their smile. Space maintainers keep the teeth in alignment, helping your child feel confident as their smile develops.

How Are Space Maintainers Used?

At ABC Kids Dental, the process of applying space maintainers is simple, quick, and comfortable for your child. Here’s how it works:

Consultation and Examination: The dentist will first examine your child’s mouth to determine if a space maintainer is necessary. If your child has lost a baby tooth prematurely, the dentist will assess the space and surrounding teeth to decide the best course of action.
Customization: After determining the need for a space maintainer, the dentist will take impressions of your child’s teeth. These impressions will be used to create a custom space maintainer that fits your child’s mouth perfectly.
Fitting the Space Maintainer: Once the space maintainer is ready, your child will return to the office for the fitting. The dentist will place the device in your child’s mouth and make any necessary adjustments to ensure it fits comfortably.
Follow-Up Visits: After the space maintainer is placed, follow-up visits are scheduled to check the progress. The dentist will ensure that the space maintainer is functioning properly and that the permanent teeth are erupting as expected.

Types of Space Maintainers

There are different types of space maintainers, and your dentist will choose the one that best fits your child’s needs. The main types include:

Fixed Space Maintainers: These devices are bonded to the teeth and cannot be removed. They are typically used when the child has lost a back tooth (molars), where the teeth need to be held in place for a long period.
Removable Space Maintainers: These can be taken out and cleaned by the child. They are most commonly used for children who have lost front teeth or if the child is old enough to manage a removable appliance.
Unilateral vs. Bilateral Space Maintainers: If your child has lost a tooth on only one side, a unilateral space maintainer is used. If multiple teeth are lost, a bilateral space maintainer may be necessary to hold the space on both sides of the mouth.

When Should Your Child Get a Space Maintainer?

Space maintainers are usually recommended when a child loses a tooth prematurely. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including:

Tooth Decay: Severe decay may require extraction of a baby tooth.
Injury: An accident may cause a child to lose a tooth earlier than expected.
Abnormal Tooth Loss: Some children may lose their baby teeth earlier than the usual age.

If your child has lost a tooth prematurely, it’s important to consult with a pediatric dentistry to determine if a space maintainer is necessary.

Maintaining Oral Health with Space Maintainers

After your child’s space maintainer is placed, it’s important to follow some basic oral hygiene practices:

Brushing: Make sure your child continues to brush their teeth twice a day, being careful around the space maintainer to prevent plaque buildup.
Flossing: Flossing is essential to remove food particles and plaque around the space maintainer.
Regular Dental Check-ups: Ensure that your child visits ABC Kids Dental regularly for check-ups and cleanings to monitor the effectiveness of the space maintainer.

Why Choose ABC Kids Dental in Reseda?

At ABC Kids Dental, we specialize in providing expert care for your child’s oral health. Our pediatric dentists are experienced in managing all aspects of children’s dental care, including the use of space maintainers. We understand that dental visits can be intimidating for children, so we create a welcoming, friendly, and comforting environment that helps put your child at ease.

If your child has lost a baby tooth prematurely, we are here to provide the best solution with space maintainers. Our compassionate team will walk you through every step of the process and ensure your child’s dental health is on track.