Space Maintainers
Space maintainers help “hold space” for permanent teeth.
If your child has prematurely lost a tooth, we may recommend a space-maintainer which is a combination of bands and wires designed to hold the remaining teeth in their correct position.
Gentle care for you
Are space maintainers always necessary?
Baby teeth are the most organic way to maintain space for the much larger permanent teeth.
However, when they are lost early (due to decay, for example), we often need to place space maintainers to hold that space for the permanent successor teeth, and to keep neighboring teeth from invading the space.
They can be fixed or removable, depending on the age of the patient and the location of the space maintenance problem.
Commonly used fixed-space maintainers include the holding lingual arch, the trans-palatal bar, the distal shoe, and the band and loop.
Caring for your space maintainer
The space maintainer may feel unusual at first. But after a few days, your child probably will forget about it.
A removable space maintainer with replacement teeth can affect speech until your child gets used to it.
It’s important for your child to brush regularly to keep the gum tissue healthy. A child with a fixed space maintainer needs to avoid hard or sticky foods and chewy candy and gum.
They can loosen the band or get caught in the wire arm. If the space maintainer comes loose, there is a risk of swallowing or inhaling it into the lung.
Finally, your child shouldn’t push on the maintainer with his or her tongue or fingers. That could bend or loosen it.
Follow up
The child’s dentist will take X-rays regularly to follow the progress of the incoming permanent.
When the tooth is ready to erupt, the maintainer is removed.
If a permanent tooth is missing, the space maintainer will be used until your child’s growth is completed (age 16 to 18).
Then a dentist will place a bridge, implant or removable partial denture in the space.
If your child has lost some baby teeth or there were some that never grew in at all, don’t procrastinate. Contact us or schedule an appointment online.
Tender Care Dental
Tender Care Dental
Tender Care Dental
Tender Care Dental
Tender Care Dental
Tender Care Dental
Meet Our Doctors
Dr Gitonga Ndirangu graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from the University of Nairobi in 2013. He is currently pursuing his Postgraduate Degree in Periodontology & Implant Dentistry.
Dr. Meera Shah graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from Moi University in 2014. She specializes in routine dentistry, endodontics, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry.
Dr. Frankline Kidula graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from the University of Nairobi in 2012. He is currently pursuing his Postgraduate Degree in orthodontics.
Dr. Johnson Mwangi graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery ( BDS) from the University of Nairobi in 1991. An MBA (Stratgic Management) in 2006 and a post graduate diploma in Oral Implantology from the University of Pretoria and New York University.
Emergency Cases
Please feel welcome to contact our friendly reception staff with any general or medical enquiry call us.