Pediatric Dental Space Maintainers in Statesville, NC

Losing a baby tooth early, whether due to injury, decay, or extraction, might not seem like a big deal since adult teeth will eventually replace it. However, this early loss can impact the development of your child’s smile and lead to problems like impacted teeth, misalignment, malocclusion, and crowding, when their adult teeth begin to emerge.

At Happy Teeth Pediatric Dentistry, we understand the importance of early intervention in maintaining your child’s oral health. We offer pediatric dental space maintainers in Statesville, NC, as part of our early orthodontic treatment to preserve your child’s smile. Our space maintainers will fill the gap left by your child’s premature tooth loss, guiding the permanent tooth into its correct position and promoting healthy oral development.

What are Dental Space Maintainers?

When a child loses a baby tooth too early, the neighboring teeth may shift into the empty space left by the lost primary tooth. When this happens, it can cause dental alignment problems when the adult tooth erupts. To avoid this, our pediatric dentists in Statesville, NC, Dr. Tucker, Dr. Kalaskey, and Dr. Parikh, may recommend a space maintainer (also known as a spacer). This custom-made orthodontic appliance is designed to keep the space left by a lost baby tooth open, ensuring that your child’s permanent tooth erupts into its correct position.

If your child is wearing a space maintainer, both of you must work together to maintain excellent oral hygiene and keep the device clean and in good condition. To protect the spacer, avoid sticky foods and chewing gum. You should also remind your child not to play with the space maintainer using their tongue to avoid dislodging it. Brushing and flossing are essential (we’ll show you and your child the best way to do this).

We understand that your child might feel a little uneasy or upset about their spacers. Remember, it’s only temporary. Reassure your child that they’re not different and there’s nothing to worry about. Let them know that the space maintainer will help them have a beautiful, healthy smile in the future.

Why Does My Child Need a Tooth Extraction?

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Prevent Tooth Misalignment

By maintaining the space left by a prematurely lost baby tooth, space maintainers help prevent neighboring teeth from shifting and crowding. This can help avoid tooth alignment issues, reducing your child’s need for future orthodontic treatment like Invisalign or braces.

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Boost Your Child’s Self-Esteem

A healthy and properly aligned smile can enhance a child’s self-confidence and self-esteem. By promoting the correct alignment of your child’s adult teeth, our space maintainers can make it easier for them to speak, and chew properly while giving them a smile they’ll be proud to show off.

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Avoid the Need for Dental Extraction

Without a spacer, your child’s adult teeth may not have enough room to grow properly. This can lead to impacted or ectopically erupting teeth, which may require dental extraction to correct the issue and ensure healthy oral development. Early orthodontic intervention with spacers can help avoid the need for extraction and other procedures, preserving your child’s smile.

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Gentle and Caring Approach with Personalized Treatment Plans

Using a gentle and kid-friendly approach, our experienced pediatric dentists will make your child feel relaxed and at ease during their visit. We will carefully assess your child’s age, oral health habits, missing tooth location, and severity of the space loss to recommend the most appropriate space maintainer to ensure optimal oral health.

Pediatric dental space maintainers from trusted dentists for kids in Statesville, NC.

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Preserve Your Child's Smile with Pediatric Space Maintainers in Statesville, NC

Don’t let a missing tooth compromise your child’s future smile. Schedule an appointment today with Happy Teeth Pediatric Dentistry to protect your child’s smile with our pediatric dental space maintainers in Statesville, NC. During your visit, our dental superheroes will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that addresses your child’s unique needs and ensures a healthy, beautiful smile for years to come.

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