Why space matters
If a baby tooth is lost early because of decay or injury, nearby teeth can drift into the gap. The adult tooth may then come in crooked or get blocked. A space maintainer holds the spot open until the permanent tooth arrives.
Types of space maintainers
a metal band on a neighboring tooth with a loop that spans the gap
a wire behind the lower front teeth that holds space on both sides
guides a first permanent molar that has not come in yet
Caring for a space maintainer
Avoid sticky candy and gum, don't push on the wire with fingers or tongue, and brush around the bands carefully. Your dentist will check it at each visit and remove it once the adult tooth is coming in.
Where we provide space maintainers
littleGRINS pediatric dentists provide space maintainers under sedation at EMU Health in Glendale / Ridgewood, Queens, South Brooklyn Health in Coney Island, Brooklyn, Queens Surgical Center in Flushing, Queens, and Advanced Surgery Center in Pearl River, Rockland County. Families come to us from across New York City and Rockland County.
Medically reviewed by the littleGRINS pediatric dental team. This page is general information and does not replace an exam.