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Space Maintainers in Houston, TX
At Scuba Dental and Orthodontics, we offer expert space maintainer solutions to keep your child’s smile healthy and properly aligned. Space maintainers are essential dental appliances designed to preserve the space left by lost or extracted primary teeth, ensuring that permanent teeth have a proper place to emerge.
What is a Space Maintainer?
A space maintainer is a dental appliance designed to preserve the space left by a lost or extracted primary (baby) tooth. When a primary tooth is lost prematurely, whether due to decay or trauma, the adjacent teeth may begin to shift into the empty space. This can cause alignment issues and make it difficult for the permanent teeth to come in properly.
A space maintainer serves as a placeholder, keeping the space open to ensure that the permanent teeth can emerge in their correct positions. These appliances are typically made from metal or a combination of metal and plastic and are custom-fitted to your child's mouth. They are a crucial tool in orthodontics to help maintain proper dental alignment and prevent future bite problems. Space maintainers are especially beneficial for children, as they help promote healthy dental development and reduce the need for more extensive orthodontic treatment later on. If you have questions about whether a space maintainer is right for your child, our team at Scuba Dental and Orthodontics is here to provide expert guidance and care.
4 Benefits of
Space Maintainers
Prevents Tooth Shifting
Space maintainers hold the space left by a lost or extracted primary tooth, preventing neighboring teeth from drifting into the gap. This helps maintain proper alignment and avoids complications with tooth positioning.
Supports Proper Dental Development
By preserving the space for permanent teeth to emerge, space maintainers ensure that the new teeth come in correctly, supporting optimal dental development and reducing the likelihood of future alignment issues.
Reduces the Need for Extensive Orthodontic Treatment
By maintaining space and preventing misalignment, space maintainers can minimize the need for more complex and costly orthodontic treatments later on, saving time and money in the long run.
Promotes Comfortable Chewing and Speaking
By keeping the dental arch properly aligned, space maintainers help ensure that children can chew and speak comfortably, supporting overall oral function and health.
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What to Expect During Space Maintainer Visit
At Scuba Dental and Orthodontics, your visit for a space maintainer is designed to be smooth and reassuring. The process begins with a thorough consultation where we assess your child’s dental health and discuss the necessity of a space maintainer. We’ll explain how the appliance works, answer any questions, and determine the best type of space maintainer for your child's needs. Following this, we take precise impressions of your child's teeth to ensure a custom fit. Once the space maintainer is ready, it will be securely placed in your child’s mouth, with adjustments made as needed to ensure comfort and proper function. After the appliance is in place, we provide detailed care instructions and schedule follow-up appointments to monitor its effectiveness and ensure your child’s dental development remains on track. Our goal is to offer a supportive and comfortable experience throughout the entire process.
Space Maintainer FAQs
Got questions about space maintainers? Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions
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