Removable and fixed space maintainers are custom-made dental appliances used to maintain space for permanent teeth when a milk tooth is lost prematurely. Space maintainers prevent the movement of adjacent teeth into the empty space. Removable space maintainers are made of acrylic and can be removed by the patient, while fixed space maintainers have wire components and cannot be removed. It is important to properly clean removable space maintainers when not in the mouth and visit the dentist regularly to ensure fixed space maintainers remain clean until the permanent tooth erupts.

1. SPACE MAINTAINERS
A milk tooth usually stays in the mouth till it’s time for its permanent successor to erupt. If a child’s tooth
has come out too soon, either due to some injury or due to cavities, it becomes important to maintain that
space such that the permanent tooth may erupt without problems. This maintenance of space is done by an
appliance known as the space maintainer.
Space maintainers prevent the movement of the teeth adjacent to the extraction socket. These appliances
are custom made by the dentist for each child and are fabricated either with acrylic or with metal wires.
These are small and unobtrusive and the child easily adjusts to it.
TYPES:
 Removable – Removable space maintainers are similar to orthodontic appliances and are usually made
of acrylic. In some cases, an artificial tooth may be used to fill a space that must remain open for the
unerupted tooth. These can be removed by the patient
 Fixed – These cannot be removed by the patient and have wire components.

2. CARING FOR THE SPACE MAINTAINER
The space maintainer may feel unusual at first. But after a few days, the child probably will forget about
it.
A removable space maintainer with replacement teeth can affect speech until your child gets used to it.
If it is removable, the space maintainer should be removed and thoroughly cleaned and stored in water
when not worn.
For fixed space maintainers, visit your dentist at regular intervals and ensure that food doesn’t
accumulate.
REMOVAL OF SPACE MAINTAINER
The dentist will suggest removing the space maintainer, once the permanent tooth, for which space is
being maintained starts erupting.
ITS Dental College has specialized dentists who can diagnose the need for a space maintainer and have
the expertise to fabricate these custom space maintainers for your little one!