Early Baby Tooth Loss and Dental Spacing in Pediatric Dentistry
Does it matter when your child loses a tooth?
The timeline of baby tooth loss is quite important. Tooth loss, along with the eruption of adult teeth, is supposed to happen on a schedule. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. The results can be dire.
Thankfully Tender Care Pediatric Dentistry has a solution: space maintainers.
Common Questions About Pediatric Dentistry and Baby Tooth Loss
Why is maintaining space between teeth so important to the team at Tender Care Pediatric Dentistry?
Why Does It Matter If a Tooth Comes Out Too Early?
According to the pediatric dentistry community, baby tooth loss begins around age six. Sometimes, children end up losing their teeth earlier than they’re supposed to. If the baby teeth come out before the adult teeth are ready to erupt, it leaves a space between the remaining teeth.
Teeth will move to fill a space. If that happens, there’s less room for the adult teeth to come in, leading to crowding and crooked teeth.
The teeth will need to be moved orthodontically to allow space for the adult teeth.
How Can Your Pediatric Dentist Maintain the Space?
Your child’s dental team at Tender Care Pediatric Dentistry can prevent this from happening by using space maintainers. A space maintainer is a plastic or metal circle that fits around a tooth. A small bar extends out from it and touches the next tooth over, thereby maintaining the space between the two teeth.
Teeth can shift quickly, so it’s important for your child to see their dentist often.
Giving Your Child the Gift of a Beautiful, Straight, Healthy Smile
Proper home care can help reduce the risk of dental decay and gum disease. Add to that proper space maintenance and your child will be on the road to achieving a beautiful, straight smile. Not only that, but your Murrysville and Mount Pleasant dentists will ensure the health of your child’s teeth for years to come.
Are you worried that your child’s adult teeth aren’t coming in properly? Contact us right away at 724-542-4818 to schedule an evaluation.
Posted In:
Pediatric Dentist
Baby Tooth Loss
