Space Maintainers in Torrance, CA

Preventive purpose: Space maintainers hold open the gap left by an early lost baby tooth so the permanent tooth can erupt properly.

Custom-fit appliances: We offer band-and-loop and bilateral space maintainers, tailored to each child’s specific situation.

Board-certified evaluation: Dr. Brianne Hama, a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, determines whether a space maintainer is the right step.
Long-term focus: Our approach considers your child’s full developmental picture, helping prevent crowding or orthodontic complications later.

“They’re just baby teeth,” is one of the most common things Dr. Bri hears from parents, and one of the most important misconceptions to address. Baby teeth are not just placeholders for a smile. They guide how a child chews, speaks, and develops. Perhaps most critically, they hold the space that permanent teeth need to erupt properly. When a baby tooth is lost too soon, that space can close faster than most parents expect.

At SoCal Pediatric Dentistry in Torrance, Dr. Brianne Hama takes a conservative, preventive approach to every aspect of children’s oral development. Space maintainers are one of the tools she uses to protect that development when a baby tooth is lost before its time. As a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry with residency training at New York University College of Dentistry, Dr. Bri has the background to evaluate each child’s specific situation and determine whether a space maintainer is the right step. Our pediatric dental services are designed around your child’s long-term oral health, not just what is happening right now.

Ready to Schedule Your Child’s Appointment?

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Why Early Tooth Loss Is Worth Taking Seriously

Baby teeth serve an important purpose well beyond their time in the mouth. Some primary molars are present until a child is 11 or 12 years old, acting as natural guides that hold space for the permanent teeth developing beneath them. When a tooth is lost early, due to decay, trauma, or extraction, the surrounding teeth can begin to drift into the open space within a matter of months. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's best practice guidelines on managing the developing dentition, space maintenance following premature tooth loss is an important clinical consideration directly tied to proper alignment and eruption of permanent successors.

When neighboring teeth drift, the permanent tooth that was meant to erupt into that space can emerge crooked, impacted, or crowded against adjacent teeth. In some cases, early tooth loss with no intervention can complicate orthodontic treatment significantly down the road. A space maintainer is a small, custom-fit appliance that holds the gap open, preserving the path the permanent tooth needs to follow.

What a Space Maintainer Looks Like

Fixed space maintainers are cemented onto a neighboring tooth and are not removable by the child. The most common type is a band-and-loop maintainer, which uses a small metal band around an adjacent tooth connected to a wire loop that holds the space open. These are designed to be low-profile and comfortable, and most children adjust to them quickly.

For children missing multiple teeth, bilateral space maintainers may be recommended. These appliances use small metal bands around the back teeth connected by a wire that runs discreetly along the inside of the upper or lower arch to help preserve the space.

What to Expect at the Appointment

Getting a space maintainer is a straightforward process. Dr. Bri will evaluate the area, take any necessary x-rays to assess the development of the permanent tooth below, and determine whether a space maintainer is indicated. If so, impressions or measurements of the area will be taken and the appliance will be custom-made to fit your child’s mouth precisely.

At a follow-up visit, the appliance is placed and Dr. Bri will walk both you and your child through how to care for it. Space maintainers are monitored at regular checkups and removed once the permanent tooth is ready to erupt into position. To understand what routine dental visits look like at our office, our first visit page gives a helpful overview of how we approach care from the beginning.

Why Choose SoCal Pediatric Dentistry

Dr. Bri’s training at NYU College of Dentistry gave her deep experience in the growth and development of children’s teeth, including what happens when primary teeth are lost before they should be. At SoCal Pediatric Dentistry, every recommendation is made with your child’s full developmental picture in mind, not just the immediate visit.

We aim to prevent problems before they start, and space maintenance is a clear example of that philosophy in action. To learn more about Dr. Bri’s background and approach to pediatric dental care, her full bio is available on our website.

Schedule Your Child's Appointment at SoCal Pediatric Dentistry

If your child has lost a baby tooth early, whether from decay, injury, or extraction, it is worth having the area evaluated to determine whether a space maintainer is the right preventive step. Dr. Brianne Hama and the team at SoCal Pediatric Dentistry are here to help your child’s smile develop the way it should.

Contact our office to schedule an appointment and we will take it from there.