“Had a good experience at this dental clinic. The staff was friendly and helpful, and the dentist explained the treatment clearly. The clinic was clean and the overall experience was comfortable. Would recommend this clinic for dental care.”
Space maintainers
Space Maintainers in Kondapur, Hyderabad
A space maintainer in Kondapur is a small custom appliance that holds the gap open when a baby tooth is lost early. It keeps the neighbouring teeth from drifting in, so the adult tooth underneath has room to come through.
Elite Dental Clinic is a dental clinic in Kondapur, Hyderabad. This page is medically reviewed by Dr. Revathi Indukuri, a dentist at the clinic, and children's care is provided with the clinic's pediatric dentist. It explains how a space maintainer for kids in Kondapur works, when it is needed, the risks and what to expect.
- Fitting
- Often one visit
- Needle
- Usually not needed
- Worn for
- Until the adult tooth comes
- Open
- Every day
Open every day from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. If you have pain or swelling, call or send a WhatsApp message before you come so your visit can be planned.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Revathi Indukuri, BDS, MDS (Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics). Last reviewed . About the reviewer
Quick answer
A space maintainer is a small metal or acrylic appliance that holds the gap open after a baby tooth is lost too early, so the adult tooth can come through in its place. At Elite Dental Clinic in Hyderabad, it is made to fit your child and checked at regular visits.
01 Overview
What is a space maintainer and when is it needed?
Baby teeth hold the space for the adult teeth that will follow them. If a baby tooth is lost early, from decay, infection or an injury, the teeth beside it can tilt or drift into the gap. The adult tooth may then have no room, and it can come in crooked or stay trapped under the gum.1
A space maintainer is a small appliance, made to fit your child's mouth, that keeps the space open until the adult tooth is ready to come through. It does not move teeth. It only stops them from moving into the gap.
It is considered most often when a baby molar is lost, because the molars guide the adult teeth into place. If the baby tooth is lost close to the time the adult tooth is due, no appliance may be needed. Where a baby tooth can be saved, treatment such as a filling or a root canal for children is better than removal.
Not every lost baby tooth needs a space maintainer. The dentist looks at which tooth is missing, how old your child is, how much space is left and whether the adult tooth is on its way, using an X-ray, and then decides.
In short, a space maintainer holds the gap so the adult tooth has room to come in straight.
When premature tooth loss happens, a pediatric dentistry check decides whether a space maintainer is needed.
02 Candidacy
Does my child need a space maintainer in Kondapur?
The dentist decides after an examination and an X-ray. The two lists below describe the general pattern.
When one is often advised
- A baby molar was lost or removed well before the adult tooth is due
- The adult tooth underneath is still far from coming through
- The neighbouring teeth have started to lean into the gap
- The child's jaw is small, so space is already tight
When it may not be needed
- The adult tooth is about to come through, so the gap will fill by itself
- A front baby tooth was lost, where drifting is less of a problem
- There is already plenty of space and the child will have braces later
- The gap has already closed, where a different plan is needed
The tooth lost and the timing of the adult tooth decide whether one is needed.
03 Options
Which type of space maintainer will my child need in Kondapur?
There are a few types. The dentist chooses by which tooth is missing and which teeth are available to hold it.
Band and loop for one lost baby molar
A metal band is cemented on the tooth next to the gap, and a wire loop crosses the space and rests against the tooth on the other side. It is the common choice when one baby molar is lost and a neighbouring tooth is healthy enough to hold it.2
One visit to fit
Distal shoe for a lost second baby molar
When the second baby molar is lost before the first adult molar has come through, a distal shoe extends under the gum to guide that adult molar into place. It is used less often and needs close follow-up.2
Close monitoring
Lingual holding arch for several teeth
A wire arch behind the lower front teeth, attached to bands on the back molars, keeps space on both sides of the jaw. It is used when more than one tooth is lost or when the lower jaw is crowded.2
Both sides
If the front teeth are crowded as well, the orthodontist may suggest braces for kids later, and the space maintainer helps keep the room.
| Compared on | Band and loop | Lingual holding arch |
|---|---|---|
| Teeth covered | One side, one lost tooth | Both sides of the lower jaw |
| Fitted on | One molar next to the gap | Back molars on both sides |
| Used when | One baby molar is lost | Several teeth lost, or crowding |
| Removable by the child | No, fixed in place | No, fixed in place |
The tooth lost decides the design, and fixed types cannot be taken out by the child.
04 Procedure
How is a space maintainer made and fitted, step by step?
It is made to fit your child's mouth and is often fitted in one or two visits. The steps below are what usually happens.
The appliance is made on a model of your child's teeth and then cemented in place.
Examining the gap and checking the adult tooth
The dentist looks at the gap, takes an X-ray to see where the adult tooth is and how far it is from coming through, and decides if an appliance is needed. A damaged tooth may be treated first.
Choosing a band and loop or another design
The type is chosen by the tooth lost. Teeth next to the gap are checked to be sure they are strong enough to carry the appliance.
Taking an impression of the teeth
An impression or a digital scan is taken of the teeth, and the appliance is made on it. If a molar is being removed, the impression can be taken the same day.
Trying in and cementing the appliance
The band is tried on the tooth, checked for fit, then cemented with a dental cement. Numbing is seldom needed. The dentist checks that the wire does not touch the gum or the opposing teeth.
Checking the space maintainer at every visit
Your child comes back every few months. The dentist checks that the appliance is firm, the teeth are clean and the adult tooth is coming, and removes it when no longer needed.
05 Cost
What decides the cost of a space maintainer in Kondapur, Hyderabad?
Treatment is planned for one person, not sold as a product, so the cost follows your evaluation.
Every child's gap is different, so Elite Dental Clinic does not quote a cost before an examination. You receive a written plan that lists each stage before any treatment starts.
What the evaluation looks at
- The tooth lost and the type of space maintainer needed
- How many teeth are involved
- Whether a lab makes the appliance
- Whether a tooth must be treated or removed first
What you decide with the dentist
- The number of review visits needed until the adult tooth comes
- Whether the appliance has to be replaced if it loosens
- Whether braces are planned later
Your child's age and how soon the adult tooth is due matter too, because they decide how long the appliance is needed.
The cost follows the plan, and the plan follows the evaluation.
06 Aftercare
How do we look after a space maintainer?
A space maintainer is simple to live with. The steps below help it last until the adult tooth arrives.
The first few days
The tooth and gum may feel a little tender and the appliance unfamiliar. Soft food helps. Most children stop noticing it within a few days.
Cleaning around the appliance
Brush the teeth and the appliance twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. A parent should help until the child can do it well. Food can catch on the wire, so rinse after meals.
Foods to avoid
Avoid sticky sweets, toffees and chewing gum, and hard foods that can bend the wire or loosen the band. Do not let the child pull or push on it with the tongue or fingers.
Regular check-ups
The dentist checks the appliance every few months. A loose or broken one should be seen soon, because the space can close within a few weeks.
When to call us
Call the clinic soon if the space maintainer comes off or breaks, because the space can start to close. Keep the appliance and bring it with you. If the gum is red and swollen or your child has pain, call the same day. If swelling spreads to the face or neck, or there is trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Clean, check and bring it in at once if it comes loose.
07 Limits
When is a space maintainer not the right choice?
The dentist may suggest a different plan in these situations:
- The adult tooth is about to come through, so the gap will fill by itself.
- The space has already closed, which may need an orthodontic plan instead of a maintainer.
- The tooth next to the gap is decayed or weak and cannot carry the appliance.
- The baby tooth can be saved with a filling or root canal instead of being removed.
- The child's oral hygiene is not good enough yet, so decay around the appliance is likely.
For preventing decay while the appliance is in, see fluoride treatment and pit and fissure sealants. If a baby tooth is being lost, see tooth extraction.
Risks and complications
The risks include decay or gum irritation around the band if cleaning is poor, a band or wire that loosens or breaks, and a space that closes anyway if the appliance fails or is not checked.
A space maintainer holds the space but cannot make an adult tooth come through if it is misplaced or missing. The X-ray tells the dentist if this is likely.
A review of methods of space maintenance found that no one design is clearly better than the others and that the choice depends on the tooth and the child.2 No one can promise the adult tooth will come in straight.
A space maintainer helps hold the gap, and regular checks keep it working.
08 Your visit
What happens at my child's first space maintainer appointment in Kondapur?
At the first visit the dentist looks at the gap, takes an X-ray if needed and explains whether a space maintainer is useful. You are told the type and how long it is likely to be needed. You receive a written plan that lists each stage before any treatment starts.
Bring any earlier X-rays and tell the dentist if the tooth was lost recently or some time ago, and about your child's health and allergies. You are welcome to stay with your child.
The team speaks English, Telugu and Hindi. You are under no obligation to go ahead with treatment.
The first visit is for looking and explaining, and you decide what comes next.
09 Why this clinic
Why choose Elite Dental Clinic for a space maintainer in Kondapur?
Medical reviewer of this page
Dr. Revathi Indukuri
BDS, MDS (Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics)
BDS, Sree Sai Dental College Research Institute, 2009
MDS, Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Andhra Pradesh, 2016
When a baby molar is lost early, the neighbouring teeth slowly lean into the gap, and the adult tooth that was meant to come there may have no room. A small space maintainer asks little of the child in comfort and can save a lot of crowding later. Whether one is needed depends on the tooth, the age and how soon the adult tooth is due.
Dr. Revathi Indukuri
Dr. Revathi Indukuri reviewed this page as a dentist at the clinic. The clinic's team board lists a pediatric dentist, who looks after children's teeth, and orthodontists, who plan later tooth movement if it is needed.
A pediatric dentist on the team
The team board lists a pediatric dentist, so children's teeth are treated by someone who works with children.
Saving the baby tooth first
Where a baby tooth can be saved, the dentist tells you so before removal is chosen.
A written plan before treatment
You receive a written plan before any treatment starts, so you know what is being done.
Checked until the adult tooth comes
The appliance is reviewed at regular visits until the adult tooth comes in, and then taken off.
A pediatric dentist, saving the tooth first and a written plan are what this clinic stands behind.
10 Reviews
Patient reviews of Elite Dental Clinic in Kondapur
Recent patient reviews of Elite Dental Clinic
“Very excellent service provided and dr Revathi mam was very kind and done too professional service..towards patient.. I am very happy that I got to know about elite dental clinic”
“Very good treatment and I had an excellent experience at this dental hospital.”
11 Visit us
Dentist in Kondapur, Hyderabad: location, hours and access
Elite Dental Clinic
2nd floor, Artham's Arcade, above Vijaya Diagnostics
Kondapur, Raghavendra Colony, Gachibowli
Hyderabad, Telangana 500084
070320 78789
Kondapur, Raghavendra Colony, Gachibowli
Hyderabad, Telangana 500084
070320 78789
| Monday to Sunday | 9:00 am to 9:00 pm |
|---|
The clinic is on the second floor of Artham's Arcade, above Vijaya Diagnostics, in Raghavendra Colony.
Parents looking for a space maintainer for kids in Kondapur will find the clinic above Vijaya Diagnostics in Artham's Arcade, Raghavendra Colony. A band and loop space maintainer Kondapur dentists fit is made to the child's own teeth. Languages spoken: English, Telugu and Hindi. More about the clinic: dentist in Kondapur.
The clinic is on the second floor above Vijaya Diagnostics and is open every day from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.
12 Travelling patients
Space maintainers in Hyderabad for families from other cities and countries
If your child loses a baby tooth early while you are visiting or have moved to Hyderabad, connect with the clinic on WhatsApp or by phone, and the team will help find a time. A space maintainer can often be fitted within one or two visits.
Because the appliance needs checking every few months until the adult tooth arrives, ask the team how to arrange follow-up with a dentist at home.
Ask for a copy of your child's X-rays and notes before you leave. The clinic is open every day from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, and the team speaks English, Hindi and Telugu.
Plan the follow-up before you travel, and take the records home.
13 Questions
Space maintainer questions from parents in Kondapur
What is a space maintainer?
It is a small appliance, usually a metal band with a wire loop, made to fit your child's mouth. It keeps the gap open when a baby tooth is lost early, so the neighbouring teeth do not drift in and the adult tooth has room to come through.
Does my child need a space maintainer if a baby tooth falls out?
Not usually, if the tooth is lost at the normal age and the adult tooth is ready to come. It is mainly needed when a baby tooth, especially a molar, is lost well before the adult tooth is due. The dentist decides after an examination and an X-ray.
Is a space maintainer painful?
It is not painful to wear, although the teeth may feel a little tender and the appliance unfamiliar for a few days. Numbing is seldom needed to fit it. If a tooth has to be removed, that is done with a local anaesthetic.
How long does a child wear a space maintainer?
Until the adult tooth is ready to come through, which can be months or a few years. The dentist checks it every few months with an X-ray where needed and removes it when it is no longer needed.
What if the space maintainer comes off?
Call the clinic soon and bring the appliance with you. The space can start to close within a few weeks, so a loose appliance should be refitted promptly. Do not try to bend or glue it yourself.
Can my child eat normally with it?
Yes, with a few changes. Avoid sticky sweets, toffees and chewing gum and hard foods that can bend the wire or loosen the band. Brush the appliance with the teeth twice a day, and rinse after meals.
How is the cost of a space maintainer decided?
The cost is given after the examination and X-ray. The tooth lost, the type of appliance, how many teeth are involved, any treatment needed first and the number of review visits all change it. You receive a written plan before treatment starts.
What happens if we do not use one?
Nearby teeth may drift into the gap, and the adult tooth may come in crooked or stay trapped under the gum. This does not happen every time. The dentist can tell you how likely it is for your child, and braces later may be needed if space is lost.
14 Second opinion
Did your child lose a baby tooth early?
Do not wait if a baby molar has come out early, because the space can start to close within weeks. Call or send a WhatsApp message to book a visit, and the dentist will check the gap and tell you whether a space maintainer is needed. You are under no obligation to go ahead with treatment.
15 Related
Treatments often considered alongside a space maintainer
Root canal for children
Saves a baby tooth so a space maintainer may not be needed.
Braces for kids
For crowding that remains after the adult teeth come in.
Tooth extraction
When a baby tooth cannot be saved.
Sources
- Baby teeth (Mouth Healthy), American Dental Association
- Methods of space maintenance for premature loss of a primary molar: a review, European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry, 2018
- Braces (Mouth Healthy), American Dental Association
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for an examination, and results vary between patients.