Information on Space Maintainers

  If a baby molar must be removed early (usually because of an abscess) a space maintainer may be required to hold space for the adult tooth underneath. Without a space maintainer the space left from the baby tooth may close as adjacent teeth shift and the new adult tooth may not have enough space to erupt or it may erupt out of alignment. A space maintainer is typically a metal device that is cemented to teeth adjacent to the space.