If a child loses a baby tooth too early, it can pose a problem in how the adult teeth arrive. To counter this problem, a space maintainer can be added that “holds the space” so the new tooth can come in correctly.
The baby teeth serve as a guide for the permanent teeth, and when lost too early, can lead to misaligned teeth. Adding a space maintainer can allow the new tooth to enter the gums where it should, and avoid the future need for braces or other correctional treatment.