If your child lost a baby tooth earlier than expected, the empty space it leaves behind matters. A space maintainer is a small, custom appliance that holds that spot open so the adult tooth underneath has room to come in where it should.
A simple, proactive step now can help your child avoid crowding, stuck adult teeth, and far more complicated orthodontics down the road.
Maybe it was a cavity, an accident on the trampoline, or a tooth that simply came out years before it should have. Whatever the reason, you are left looking at a gap and wondering if it is a problem.
Here is what many parents are never told: baby teeth do an important job holding space for the adult teeth forming underneath. When one is lost too early, the neighboring teeth can start to drift into the empty spot.
If that space closes up, the adult tooth can get blocked, come in crooked, or become stuck in the gum, which often means braces or oral surgery later. A space maintainer is designed to prevent that from happening.
A space maintainer is a small, custom-made dental appliance that fits comfortably in your child’s mouth and holds open the space left by a baby tooth that came out too soon.
Think of it as a placeholder. It gently keeps the neighboring teeth from sliding into the gap, so when the adult tooth is ready, there is a clear path for it to come in straight.
Most are fixed quietly onto the tooth next to the space and stay put until the adult tooth is on its way. Once the new tooth is ready to erupt, we simply remove the maintainer. Kids adjust to them quickly, and most forget it is even there.
An example of a band-and-loop space maintainer on a dental model. Your child’s appliance is custom-made for their mouth.
The right one depends on which tooth was lost and where. At your consult we recommend the simplest option that will do the job.
The most common type. A small band fits around one tooth and a smooth loop holds the space for a single missing tooth. Simple, sturdy, and comfortable.
Used in the upper jaw when a back baby tooth is lost early. A thin wire crosses the roof of the mouth to a small acrylic button that rests against the palate, holding the upper molars in place so they do not drift forward.
The lower-jaw option for holding several spaces at once. A thin wire runs along the tongue side of the lower teeth, connecting bands on the back molars. Comfortable and out of sight.
Total Care Kids was founded by Dr. Michelle Jorgensen on a whole-child philosophy. Our associate doctors provide your child’s care.
Getting a space maintainer is simple and comfortable. Here is how it usually goes.
Every child is different. Your care team will walk you through what is right for your child.
Cost varies depending on the type of maintainer and what your child needs, so we review the exact cost with you at the consult, before anything is made. There are no surprises.
It helps to keep the number in perspective. A space maintainer is a small, one-time investment. Losing the space is far more expensive to fix, often meaning braces or surgery to bring in a stuck adult tooth.
In most cases, holding the space now is the simpler and more affordable path.
We look at your child’s whole mouth, not just the one gap. How they breathe, how their jaw is developing, and how their adult teeth are coming in all factor into the plan.
We are honest about when a space maintainer is needed and when it is not. If your child does not need one, we will tell you. And when metal is the right tool for the job, we will explain exactly why, so you can feel confident in the choice.
They look at the entire health of your body, not just your dental health. Each visit is so thorough. The staff is very professional and friendly. My kids LOVE going to the dentist!
We were so well taken care of! Margot and Dr Jones were so cute and silly with my boy, and clear, kind, and informative with me.
Always impressed with this company and culture. They are very friendly and personable. Exceptionally kind to my toddler and made going to the dentist comfortable and easy.
Not always. They are recommended when a baby tooth is lost early enough that the space could close before the adult tooth comes in. We evaluate each child and only recommend one when it will genuinely help protect the space.
No. Placement is gentle and painless, and most kids feel a little pressure at most. Children usually adjust within a day or two and quickly forget it is there.
It is dental-grade stainless steel, the same family of material used in quality cookware and surgical tools. It contains no mercury and is not amalgam. It does a temporary job and is removed once the adult tooth is ready.
Until the adult tooth underneath is ready to come in, which can be months or a few years depending on your child’s age and which tooth was lost. We monitor it at regular visits.
Normal brushing, gentle flossing around it, and avoiding sticky or hard candy that could loosen it. We give you simple care tips at placement, and we check it at each visit.
It depends on the type and your child’s needs. We review the exact cost with you at the consult before anything is made. In most cases it is far less than the orthodontic treatment needed if the space is lost.
To schedule your child’s space maintainer consult, call us at (801) 754-6533, or request a call back using the form on this page.
If you call during non-office hours, leave a message and we will return your call on the next business day.
Total Care Kids
224 S 1100 E, American Fork, UT 84003
Serving American Fork, Lehi, Highland, and Utah County
“The doctors at Total Care Kids, along with their AMAZING staff, make a visit to the dentist something you never dread! They explain everything going on inside your child’s mouth, and how dental health affects overall health. Thank you TCK!”
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