Dr. Leslie Jacobs
Adolescent Dentistry
Pediatric
&
appliances
Space maintainers are appliances made of metal that are custom fit to your child's mouth. They are small and unobtrusive in appearance. Most children easily adjust to them after the first few days.
Space Maintainers
Baby teeth fall out eventually on their own!?
Baby teeth are important to your child's present and future dental health. They encourage normal development of the jaw bones and muscles. They save space for the permanent teeth and guide them into position. Remember, some baby teeth are not replaced until a child is 12 to14 years old.
How does a lost baby tooth cause problems for permanent teeth?
If a baby tooth is lost too soon, the teeth beside it drift altering the child's bite. When adjacent teeth shift into the empty space, they create a lack of space in the jaw for the permanent teeth. Therefore, permanent teeth are crowded and come in crooked. If left untreated, the condition may require extensive orthodontic treatment.
HOW DOES A SPACE MAINTAINER HELP?
Space maintainers hold open the empty space left by a lost tooth. They steady the remaining teeth, preventing movement until the permanent tooth takes its natural position in the jaw. It is more affordable and easier on your child to keep teeth in normal positions with a space maintainer than to move them back in place with orthodontic treatment. Space maintainers may prevent the need for orthodontic treatment.
Rapid Palatal Expander
The roof of the mouth is called a palate. The palatal expander is a dental appliance used to widen the roof of the mouth. It expands the palate to make room for crowded teeth in the upper jaw.
Why all the fuss?
Care of Appliance
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This appliance is held in place by bands cemented onto the teeth. Therefore, if the bands or wire attachment become loose, please call the office for an appointment on the next business day.
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There may be some slight discomfort with the newly cemented bands on the teeth. However, this should disappear as soon as the tongue and teeth have a chance to adjust to the presence of the appliance.
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Please avoid sticky foods such as tootsie rolls, taffy, caramels, or chewing gum as well as hard candy and ice. These may loosen the cement under the bands.
