Orthodontics & Space Maintainers
Space Maintainers
When a baby tooth is lost early, a space maintainer is often required to prevent space loss and future orthodontic problems. Without a space maintainer, the adjacent teeth often shift or tilt into the empty space, causing the adult tooth to erupt misaligned, crooked, or preventing it from erupting at all! Space maintainers are unobtrusive small metal or acrylic appliances that are custom fit to your child’s mouth to hold open the empty space created by the tooth loss.
Phase I (interceptive) orthodontics
The earlier we catch problems with your child’s bite and jaw development, the simpler and quicker they are to correct. Early stage orthodontics is not always necessary, although may be recommended to:
- Make room for the permanent teeth to erupt when there is overcrowding
- Correct ectopic or abnormal eruption of permanent teeth
- Correct crossbites that may lead to asymmetrical growth, breathing and sleeping issues, bruxism, and uneven tooth wear
A vast majority of early orthodontics can be completed with the use of comfortable acrylic appliances and retainers, and is often completed in fewer than six months. If you have any questions about our orthodontic care, don’t hesitate to contact us! If the orthodontics required is more involved or intensive, we work very closely with several local orthodontic offices and would be happy to provide you with a referral.
