Space Maintainers
Chantilly, VA
Your child's baby teeth will eventually fall out, but what if one is lost or extracted before its adult replacement is ready to come in? Our team at Treehouse Pediatric Dentistry of Chantilly may recommend a space maintainer to maintain the alignment of your child's smile. We are all about setting the stage for healthy, beautiful smiles that last a lifetime.
The Importance of Maintaining Healthy Baby Teeth
Keeping your child's baby teeth healthy and intact helps promote the proper development of the jawbone and facial muscles. These tiny chompers also play a role in speech development and help with chewing, ensuring your little one gets all the nutrients needed to grow strong and healthy.
One of the most important functions of baby teeth is that they act like placeholders, saving the space the permanent teeth need to come in their correct alignment. Losing a baby tooth prematurely because of decay or trauma can result in the surrounding teeth shifting out of position, leaving your little one with crooked teeth and problems with the bite. This can impact the health and alignment of the adult teeth when it's time for them to erupt.
What Are Space Maintainers?
Space maintainers are removable or fixed oral appliances, usually made of metal or acrylic. They hold open the space left by lost or extracted teeth, ensuring the permanent teeth have all the room they need to come in correctly. Preventing the neighboring teeth from shifting helps preserve the alignment of your child's teeth and dramatically reduces the need for orthodontic treatment later on. A space maintainer will stay in place until it's time for the permanent tooth to come in.
Space maintainers help keep your child’s smile on track by preventing shifting and ensuring proper alignment after early tooth loss.
Do All Teeth Need Space Maintainers?
Not every lost or extracted baby tooth will need a space maintainer. Our pediatric dentist will evaluate your child's needs and recommend the placement of a space maintainer based on several factors, including the following:
- The Location of the Missing Tooth: The front teeth, known as incisors, don't always require space maintainers if they are lost prematurely. The molars or back teeth, on the other hand, are critical to your child's future oral health and tooth alignment, so a space maintainer is highly indicated if one goes missing.
- Your Child's Age: An older child may be weeks away from the permanent tooth erupting, meaning a space maintainer may not be necessary. A younger child, on the other hand, will have a longer wait before it's time for the permanent teeth to come in, making space maintenance critical to prevent complications.
- Individual Dental Development: The rate at which permanent teeth erupt can sometimes vary. If a permanent tooth is expected to come in significantly later than adjacent teeth, we may recommend a space maintainer to safeguard your child's smile.
Healthy Habits for Healthy Smiles
Encourage regular brushing and flossing to keep your child's smile healthy and bright. Avoid hard or sticky foods to prevent damage to the space maintainer. Make sure to schedule your child's twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings to allow us to monitor your child's tooth growth and development and ensure everything stays on track.
Why Choose Treehouse Pediatric Dentistry of Chantilly?
At Treehouse Pediatric Dentistry of Chantilly, we created our practice to be a dental home for families wanting a unique dental care experience for their children. We've considered every detail of our office space with your child in mind, aiming to provide a happy and soothing environment with state-of-the-art, child-focused care.
Led by our board-certified pediatric dentist, our compassionate, kid-friendly team is dedicated to providing our young patients with gentle and personalized care. We emphasize minimally invasive techniques and make dental education a fun, interactive part of every visit to help children learn the importance of good oral hygiene from a very young age. We strive to ensure every visit is a happy and positive experience, one your child will enjoy again and again.
At Treehouse Pediatric Dentistry of Chantilly, we've hand-selected every piece of kid-friendly equipment, material, and technique to provide your child with the highest level of care. We are honored to be a part of your child's dental health journey and look forward to working alongside you to lay the foundation for healthy smiles that last a lifetime.
Space Maintainers Near Me in Chantilly, VA
Is your child missing one or more baby teeth? Our kid-friendly team at Treehouse Pediatric Dentistry of Chantilly is a proponent of prevention rather than treating dental problems after they develop. We may recommend a space maintainer to safeguard your child's smile and reduce the need for orthodontics down the road.
Scheduling your child's appointment has never been easier. Call us at 571-723-4545 or click the link to schedule your appointment today!
Ready for your child's appointment?
At Treehouse Pediatric Dentistry of Chantilly, we're committed to making dental care a fun and stress-free experience, one your child will enjoy again and again! From the moment the first tooth emerges, we’re committed to laying the foundation for a lifetime of healthy, radiant smiles. We invite you to schedule your child’s appointment to discover a new level of pediatric dental care!
