Space Maintainers

Helping Protect Your Child’s Smile After Early Tooth Loss

When a baby tooth is lost too early—whether from injury, decay, or other issues—it can cause long-term problems for your child’s oral health. At Kids Rock Dentistry and Orthodontics in Colorado Springs, our pediatric dentists offer space maintainers to help prevent future dental complications and support proper development.

A space maintainer is a small dental device that keeps the gap open after a baby tooth is lost prematurely. This helps ensure that neighboring teeth don’t shift into the space, allowing the permanent tooth to come in correctly. By maintaining that space, we can help your child avoid more serious orthodontic problems down the road.

What Are Space Maintainers?

Space maintainers are specially designed dental appliances used when a child loses a baby tooth before the permanent tooth is ready to come in. These devices hold the space open so that the adult tooth has enough room to grow in properly.

If a space isn’t preserved, surrounding teeth can begin to shift, leading to crowding, crooked teeth, or bite problems—often requiring braces or other treatments later on.

At Kids Rock Dentistry and Orthodontics, we custom-fit each space maintainer based on your child’s age, the location of the lost tooth, and their unique dental needs. Most are made of stainless steel or other strong, child-friendly materials.

Why Are Space Maintainers Important?

Space maintainers may seem small, but they play a big role in protecting your child’s long-term oral health. Here’s how they help:

✅ Prevent Misalignment and Crowding
Baby teeth act as natural guides for adult teeth. When one falls out too early, nearby teeth can shift into the empty space, causing the permanent tooth to erupt in the wrong place.
✅ Support Proper Bite Development
Early tooth loss can affect how your child’s upper and lower teeth come together (their bite). A space maintainer helps ensure the bite stays properly aligned as their mouth grows.
✅ Encourage Clear Speech
Teeth help with proper pronunciation. If shifting occurs, it can impact speech development. Keeping that space open helps maintain normal speech patterns.
✅ Reduce the Need for Future Treatments
By preventing teeth from shifting, space maintainers can reduce the need for more complex dental or orthodontic procedures later on—saving time and cost.

Types of Space Maintainers

We offer both fixed and removable space maintainers, depending on your child’s needs:

Fixed Space Maintainers

These are securely attached to the surrounding teeth and stay in place until the permanent tooth is ready to erupt.

Band and Loop: The most common type for a single missing tooth. A metal band is placed around a nearby tooth with a loop to hold the space.
Distal Shoe: Used when a back baby tooth (like a molar) is lost early. It guides the first permanent molar into the correct position.
Crown and Loop: A crown covers the neighboring tooth while a loop holds the space—ideal for extra durability.
Bilateral Spacers: Often used for older children who have already had their front adult teeth and first molars come in. These maintain space on both sides of the mouth.

Removable Space Maintainers

These can be taken out and are typically used for front teeth or minor spacing. They’re easier to clean but require responsibility to wear consistently.

Removable Retainers: Made from plastic or acrylic with a wire to hold the space. Often used when one or two front teeth are lost early.

What to Expect During the Space Maintainer Process

Initial Consultation
We’ll examine your child’s mouth and take X-rays to determine whether a space maintainer is needed and which type is best.
Fitting the Device
For fixed maintainers, we take impressions to create a custom fit. For removable ones, we’ll show you and your child how to use and care for the device.
Follow-Up Care
We’ll schedule regular check-ups to ensure the device fits well, is functioning properly, and the permanent tooth is developing as expected.

Caring for Your Child’s Space Maintainer

A space maintainer is easy to manage with a little daily attention:

Keep Up with Brushing and Flossing: It’s important to maintain good oral hygiene around the device to prevent cavities or gum issues.
Avoid Sticky or Hard Foods: Foods like gum, caramel, or hard candies can loosen or damage the space maintainer.
Check for Any Issues: If the device becomes loose or uncomfortable, contact us right away.
Stick to Regular Dental Visits: We’ll monitor your child’s development and make any adjustments if needed.

Protect Your Child’s Smile Early

Early loss of baby teeth doesn’t have to lead to long-term problems. With the help of space maintainers, we can guide your child’s teeth into the right positions and support their healthy growth.

If your child has lost a baby tooth too soon, schedule a consultation with our friendly team at Kids Rock Dentistry and Orthodontics in Colorado Springs. We’re here to help your child grow up with a confident, healthy smile.