Baby teeth save the space and also guide a child’s permanent teeth into place when it is time for them to erupt. If your child loses a baby tooth prematurely, the permanent tooth loses both its space saver and its guide. Therefore, it may erupt into the wrong position. If the adjacent baby teeth shift or lean into the space left open by the premature tooth loss, it can begin a mouthful of crooked teeth. If your child is experiencing premature tooth loss, do they need a space maintainer?
Primary Teeth (Baby Teeth)
A child’s primary teeth usually do not begin falling out until they are about five or six years of age, and it could be as late as seven years of age. However, if they begin falling out before that, a space maintainer may be required to save the space for their permanent teeth. Some reasons for primary teeth to fall out early include:
- An accident
- Extraction due to severe decay
- Extraction due to Infection
- A tooth may be missing at birth
- Certain diseases
- Bottle mouth
Space Maintainers
Space maintainers can be made of stainless steel and/or plastic. They can be fixed or removable. Fixed maintainers are bonded onto the teeth adjacent to the space left by the missing tooth, and are often used on young children who may play with the removable maintainer. Space maintainers prevent the baby teeth from blocking the space and the permanent teeth from erupting crooked.
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