Space maintainers are functional appliances, either fixed or removable, that need to be placed to minimize the need for complex treatments that may arise in the future.
Milk teeth are followed by permanent teeth for space maintainers. Decay, trauma, or other reasons can cause milk teeth to be lost earlier than their normal shedding time, creating a gap at the back. The teeth adjacent to the lost tooth shift towards this gap. As a result, there is no space left at the back for the permanent tooth that will replace the milk tooth. As the child grows, problems such as crowding, misalignment, tooth tipping, speech disorders, impaction of permanent teeth, and aesthetic issues may arise due to lack of space. Space maintainers are functional appliances, either fixed or removable, that should be applied to minimize the need for complex treatments that may arise in the future.
Several factors influence the decision to place a space maintainer, such as the eruption time of permanent teeth, the amount of root formation, pathology along the eruption path, the thickness of bone over the permanent tooth, the age at which the milk tooth was lost, and the amount of crowding in the child. If there is less than 6 months until the eruption of the permanent tooth and there is sufficient space for the tooth to erupt, or if the permanent molars are tightly in contact like a key-lock mechanism, a space maintainer may not be necessary. However, in cases where the primary molars, also known as the 6-year molars, are lost early before the eruption of the permanent molars, a space maintainer is necessary to preserve the space for the permanent premolars. Depending on the age of loss and the timing of space maintainer placement, usage can range from 6 months to 3-4 years.
Removable space maintainers are appliances that can be used for multiple tooth losses, providing chewing function and aesthetics with a removable appliance. Their success depends on the patient's compliance and willingness to undergo treatment. They are easy to clean and maintain. When the patient removes the appliance for rest, it should be placed in water and cleaned occasionally.
Fixed space maintainers are appliances that support the gap using adjacent teeth in early tooth loss, are non-removable, and are adhered to the tooth, only being placed and removed by a dentist. They may be preferred if the patient has compliance issues or acrylic allergies.
Space maintainers are not harmful but rather beneficial and safe appliances when used correctly and at the right time for children. For more information on the effectiveness of space maintainers and more, you can consult our expert team at Cafe Diş.
Note: The above information is for informational purposes only and cannot replace diagnosis and treatment.
