Ideal Candidate:

Children do not always need protection for a tooth that is lost early. For example, if you’ve lost one of your four front teeth, you don’t need protection. They are usually needed in the following situations:

• If one of the other teeth is lost due to illness, an accident that causes the tooth to fall out, or excessive caries
• If any of these things happen at a time when the permanent tooth is about to erupt, a dentist may decide that it is not needed
• It should not exert undue force and must allow proper oral hygiene
• Should not interfere with the functional movement of teeth

Results:

Factors Governing the Selection of Appliance:

The following factors must be considered while selecting the appliance:

Patient Cooperation: Depending on the kind of appliance greater or lesser cooperation is required by the patient which must be discussed before getting the treatment.

Appliance Integrity: All types of appliances are prone to breakage but in general removable ones are more susceptible to breakage than fixed appliances.

Maintenance: The length of time and projected maintenance must be considered.

Modifiability: Anticipation of future modifications is also essential.

Cost: The manufacturing cost, dentist’s service charges and the number of visits to the clinic all add to the overall cost.

Types:

The maintainers are manufactured in plastic and steel. The other two classifications involve:

• Removable: They require more care from the child, but they can be made to match the real teeth so that the young one’s smile is still natural and pretty.
• Fixed: These usually have stainless steel wire and are held in place by bands wrapped around adjacent teeth. In children with multiple missing teeth, removable partial dentures may be required instead of normal maintainers.

Procedure:

The procedure for the installation of a  Dental  Space Maintainer  in Georgia can follow the following steps:

1. Band Construction: The first step is the selection of band material and its construction. The dentist checks the band for two contrasting sides: dull and shiny. The dull side goes close to the tooth and the shiny side faces outwards.
2. Loop Fabrication: A loop is made with two dull sides against each other, and these are spot welded to hold them in place.
3. Soldering: The band is fitted properly, and the seam is soldered.
4. Polishing Cementation: In the final step, the band is polished and cemented to the teeth.

Aftercare:

• It is important to visit your dentist regularly so that he knows when to remove the device and can observe the growth of inflamed gum tissue in the appliance and the risk of infection.
• Semi-permanent ones need to be closely monitored so that they can be removed as soon as the permanent tooth is ready for eruption.
• Children with these protectors need to be especially careful to brush their teeth well and keep them healthy.
• In extreme cases, inflamed gum tissue that has grown over the gum shield may need to be surgically removed.

How long do Children have to Wear Them?

In cases where the child does not have permanent teeth that are supposed to grow in the space, the maintainer is left in that space until the child reaches adulthood. 

When the baby reaches late puberty, it can be removed. They are often replaced with adult dental appliances such as bridges or implants.

Book a Free Appointment!

If your child has lost a tooth prematurely a maintainer may be needed. Get in touch with experts of Sydney Royal Clinic. Fill out the consultation form below to book a free appointment.