Kids spacers

As your child ages, they may need a tooth spacer to treat dental issues such as overcrowding or to prepare for braces. A tooth spacer for children is a temporary dental device that creates separation between teeth. These devices are painless and will help your child maintain a comfortable bite.

Baby teeth are essential for more than just chewing — they act as a guide for adult teeth. If a tooth falls out too early, either naturally or due to tooth decay or injury, the surrounding teeth may shift into the space, leaving no room for the adult tooth. A tooth space maintainer for kids will prevent future dental issues such as overcrowding, bite issues or impacted teeth.

An orthodontist may also implement spacers before applying braces to help maintain space for the metal brackets. These spacers are often placed a few days before bracket installation and will fall out on their own once the correct amount of space forms.

When your child receives space maintainers at Nicolas Orthodontics, you can be confident they are in the capable hands of our dental experts. After we place a spacer in your child’s mouth, they may feel some soreness, but this will quickly fade over time. It’s important to teach your child not to pick at their spacer or rub their tongue or cheek against it as that may cause irritation or make it fall out.

The first is a fixed spacer that stays in the mouth all the time. These spacers are ideal for younger children because they are easy to care for, and children are less likely to damage or lose them. If your child is receiving spacers for braces, your orthodontist will use a fixed spacer.

The second type is a removable spacer your child may take out of their mouth for eating, sleeping or cleaning their teeth. Many orthodontists will give this type of spacer to older children if they can care for them without damaging or losing them.

The amount of time a spacer remains in your child’s mouth will depend on how much space is best according to your orthodontist. Often, your orthodontist will remove the spacer when the adult tooth begins to emerge. A space maintainer may also stay in the mouth until the adult tooth pushes it out.

When it comes to your child’s dental care, you want the very best. At Nicolas Orthodontics, we strive to treat our patients like family and provide the best possible service to address their needs. We understand our patients are our most precious asset and are ready to help make their smiles shine even brighter.