Space maintainers are orthodontic appliances used when a baby tooth has been lost prematurely to hold space for the unerupted permanent tooth and prevent movement of the remaining teeth until the permanent tooth takes its natural position in the jaw.

If a baby tooth is lost early, the teeth on either side may tilt or drift into the empty space resulting in lack of space in the jaw for the eruption of permanent teeth. Extensive orthodontic treatment may be required from failure to hold space resulting in crowding or crooked teeth.

Space maintainers are appliances made of stainless steel that are custom fit to a child’s mouth. Most children easily adjust to them after the first few days. Whilst a space maintainer is in place care should be taken to avoid sticky chewy food as this can loosen/distort the spacers and disintegrate the glue used to hold the spacer. The spacer has to be kept clean with good brushing. Regular dental visits are needed to monitor the space maintainer. The space maintainer can be removed when the permanent tooth closes to eruption.