Space Maintainers in Torrance, CA

If your child loses a baby tooth too early, a space maintainer from Dr. Michael Park will help maintain the proper spacing between their teeth. This helps protect their oral development as their adult teeth continue to develop and emerge. Contact us now to schedule a consultation in Torrance, CA, and get the expert pediatric dental care your child needs.

What Is A Space Maintainer?

There are a few different types of space maintainers, but fixed metal space maintainers are usually the best for most kids. This type of space maintainer uses two bands that wrap around your child’s healthy teeth. Two metal wires connect these bands, holding your child’s teeth in place and maintaining the gap in their smile.

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How Do Space Maintainers Work?

Replaces the missing tooth

While baby teeth are meant to fall out naturally, some kids may lose them early, and this can cause issues with oral development. A space maintainer works by filling up the space where your child has lost a baby tooth prematurely.

Prevents teeth shifting

When your child loses a tooth too early, the nearby teeth may start to shift toward the empty space in their smile. This can interfere with the development of adult teeth, and cause misalignments in their smile, too.

Allows adult tooth eruption

With a space maintainer in place, the proper gap is maintained in your child’s smile, which means that their future adult tooth can erupt without issues and take the place of their missing baby tooth.

The Space Maintainer Process

Initial fitting

First, you’ll come and see Dr. Park to have your child diagnosed and fitted for their space maintainer. If Dr. Park believes a space maintainer is necessary, he will take measurements and impressions of your child’s teeth, which will be used by a dental lab to build their space maintainer.

Placing the space maintainer

After their initial fitting, your child’s space maintainer will be made by our partner dental lab, then sent back to Sky Pediatric Dentistry. You’ll come back for a follow-up, and Dr. Park will place your child’s space maintainer. This is a very simple procedure that only takes a few minutes, and is completely non-invasive.

Space maintainer removal

As your child grows up and continues to come to Sky Pediatric Dentistry for checkups, we’ll keep an eye on your child’s oral development. Then, when their adult tooth is ready to erupt, Dr. Park will remove their space maintainer to ensure that it emerges properly.

Did you know?

The first baby teeth start to fall out around the age of 6, and the last baby teeth fall out around the ages of 12-14.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Check out these frequently asked questions, or call us to speak with our team.

When Are Space Maintainers Necessary?

Baby teeth are meant to fall out naturally as your child’s adult teeth grow in. Because of this, space maintainers are only necessary if your child has lost one or more of their baby teeth prematurely. For example, if your child has an infected baby tooth that must be pulled, or they slip and fall and knock out a tooth early, they may need a space maintainer.

Not sure if a space maintainer is necessary for your child? The best way to find out is with a consultation at a pediatric dental office in Torrance, CA, such as Sky Pediatric Dentistry. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Park and get the care your little one needs to keep their smile healthy.

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Space Maintainers in Torrance, CA

What Is A Space Maintainer?