Southside Paediatric Dentistry

Specialist Oral Care for Your Child

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Comprehensive Paediatric Dentistry

Suite 1, Ground Floor 541 Kingsway
Miranda, NSW 2228

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Southside Paediatric Dentistry > WHO WE TREAT > Space Maintainers & Orthodontics

Space maintainers hold positions for adult teeth if your child loses their baby teeth prematurely, helping to make orthodontic treatment easier.

Space Maintainers & Orthodontics | Dentist

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Space Maintainers

As we monitor your child's ever-changing oral development, our dentists are watching for incoming adult teeth and ensuring they have adequate space to erupt in the proper position.

When a primary tooth is extracted or lost prematurely the surrounding teeth can start to tilt and drift into the empty space which can affect the growth of the permanent tooth underneath. If the space is not properly maintained, it can lead to crowding or misalignment of the teeth which may require extensive orthodontic treatment later. While some children may still need orthodontic care, keeping the space open will help reduce the severity of any issues.

A space maintainer is a stainless-steel appliance that is custom fit and cemented to the adjacent tooth in the mouth and is recommended to hold the space if a tooth has been extracted.

The Benefits of Using a Space Maintainer

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Prevents shifting

Space maintainers prevent the tooth shifting that occurs when baby teeth are lost prematurely to hold the space for adult teeth.

Comfortable to wear

Space maintainers are comfortable to wear and don't interfere with your child's normal daily activities.

Can make Orthodontic correction easier

If we can prevent crowding and adult teeth erupt in the correct position, orthodontic treatment time may be reduced or made easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the space maintainer get removed?

We recommend your child has regular dental visits so the eruption of the permanent tooth can be monitored. The space maintainer is then removed once the permanent tooth starts to come in and fills the space left by the missing baby tooth.

What should I do if the space maintainer is dislodged or falls out?

In the rare occurrence the space maintainer comes loose or falls out, please do not try to push it back in as this can bend the spacer out of place. Instead, please contact us to schedule an appointment as soon as possible so it can be secured properly.

Will the placement of the space maintainer hurt?

Space maintainers are designed to be passive appliances, meaning they do not move teeth and should not cause pain or discomfort. With a new space maintainer there may be a slight adjustment period of a few days to a week.

How do I care for a space maintainer?

Caring for a space maintainer involves keeping it clean by brushing twice daily and flossing particularly around the stainless-steel band of the space maintainer. Avoid hard, sticky, chewy foods such as muesli bars, minties and toffees. It is important to schedule regular check-ups to monitor the maintainers condition and make necessary adjustments.

Monitoring Your Child for Orthodontic Treatment

One goal of childhood dental care is correctly aligning your child's teeth and bite. Our paediatric dentists in Miranda monitor your child's dental health to assess whether they will need orthodontic treatment in the future.

Some children can benefit from early orthodontic intervention if their teeth are overly crowded or have pronounced overbites, crossbites, or underbites. Otherwise, most kids start orthodontic treatment around 11 to 13 years of age.

Meet Our Team:

Dr Soni Stephen
Specialist Paediatric Dentist & Director

BDS MDS Paed.Dent (Adel) MRACDS (Paed.Dent) FRACDS FADI FICD

Dr Soni Stephen (President Elect-IAPD) is an experienced and passionate Australian trained specialist Paediatric Dentist who completed his specialist training in 1997 from the University of Adelaide and the Women's and Children's Hospital. He the worked at the Royal Children’s Hospital of Melbourne until 2000 prior to moving to Sydney. Dr Stephen was appointed as Head of Paediatric Dentistry at Sydney Dental Hospital in 2000 a role he held till 2014. He was also a visiting specialist to Sydney Children's and ...