Dental Space Maintenance
Posted: Sunday, April 26, 2009
by Mark Mutschler
Great Grins
A space maintainer is used to keep open the space needed for a permanent tooth to come through the skin during eruption. A space maintainer will be left in the mouth until the new tooth can be seen breaking through the gum area.
If a child has a space maintainer, its important he or she avoids eating sticky foods like taffy and gummi bears. In addition, the child will need to avoid hard items like nuts and ice. Sticky and hard foods can easily get wrapped around the wire or can even bend the wire and cause it to break. Children should also avoid poking at the wire with fingers or tongue.
About the Author: Offering pediatric dental services and orthodontics to families throughout the Portland metro area. Dr. Mark Mutschler and his staff will provide information on the practice, orthodontics and pediatric dental care needs.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)HI Mark, welcome to searchwarp. Thank you for this information. Short and sweet. However, you left me wondering what circumstances would encourage this kind of device in a child's mouth. Are there medical circumstances, or is it just for cosmetic reasons?I think this article could go from being good, to being great if you included a little more details. (But this is just my opinion.)Keep sharing. This is the perfect place to share your knowledge! Blessings to you! Teresa
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