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PROBLEMS
FROM PREMATURE LOSS OF PRIMARY TEETH
Some children
lose a baby tooth too soon before (as it naturally happens) a permanent
tooth underneath pushes it out and takes its place. A tooth might be knocked
out accidentally or removed because of dental disease.
In this case
the adjacent teeth may shift into the empty space, and the result is a
lack of space in the jaw for the permanent teeth. So, permanent teeth are
crowded and come in crooked. Teeth in the other jaw may also move up or
down to fill the gap.If left untreated, the condition may require extensive
orthodontic treatment. |
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SPACE
MAINTAINERS
To prevent these
problems dentists use the 'space maintainers', appliances made of metal
or plastic that are custom fit to your child's mouth by the dentist.
Space maintainers
hold open the empty space left by a lost tooth. They steady the remaining
teeth, preventing movement until the permanent tooth takes its natural
position in the jaw. |
Although
baby teeth will be lost by the age of 12, they are important to your child's
present and future dental health because of their role in the normal development
of the jaw bones and muscles. They save space for the permanent teeth and
guide them into position.
