Space Maintainers
At Smile Hub Dental Clinic in Bayside Medical Centre in Sutton we know that primary teeth should remain in children’s mouths until they’re 10-12 years old. These primary teeth help children eat food but also hold the space for the child’s permanent teeth to erupt into. If a baby tooth is lost early it can allow the teeth in front and behind the gap to move into the space creating orthodontic crowding issues. This means there will be no space preserved for the permanent tooth to erupt into. This is result in orthodontic treatment being needed.
Immediate placement of a space maintainer after the removal/extraction of a baby tooth helps prevent movement of teeth on either side into the space. Space maintainers are not always necessary following the extraction of a baby tooth however your dentist in Smile Hub Dental Clinic will advise you if a space maintainer is recommended. Space maintainers can only be placed in patients with excellent oral hygiene.
