Baby teeth help hold space for the permanent teeth growing underneath. When a baby tooth is lost earlier than expected because of a cavity, injury, or another reason, neighboring teeth may begin to shift into the open space.
When appropriate, a space maintainer helps preserve that space while your child grows, giving the developing permanent tooth room to come in. At Little Roots, we’ll evaluate whether your child needs a space maintainer and continue to monitor it as their smile grows and changes.
This page describes clinical care in general terms and is written for parents. It is not advice about your individual child.
