Following the premature loss of a baby tooth, we put in place a dental space maintainer to preserve tooth alignment until the permanent tooth arrives.
Key Points
The premature loss of a baby tooth can make eating and talking difficult.
The premature loss of a baby tooth can affect tooth alignment.
Dental space maintainers preserve tooth alignment until the permanent tooth arrives.
What Are Dental Space Maintainers?
One of the important functions of baby teeth is to maintain spacings for the permanent teeth that will replace them.
Therefore, while the premature loss of a baby tooth can naturally make eating and talking difficult, it can also interfere with tooth alignment. This is why we use dental space maintainers to preserve tooth alignment until the permanent tooth arrives.
There are certain types of dental space maintainers that are designed specifically for back teeth, while others are designed with to also keep aesthetics in mind for front teeth.