A   fixed or removable orthodontic appliance for preserving the space created by the premature loss of one or more teeth. It can be unilateral or bilateral.

Space maintainers are appliance made of metal or plastic that is custom fit to your child’s mouth.

 Primary teeth can be lost early for several reasons.

1. Accident or knocked out in a fall
2. Extraction because tooth cavity
3. missing at birth
4. some disease or condition can lead to every tooth loss.

Each one also acts as a guide for the permanent tooth that replaces it if deciduous tooth is lost early; the permanent tooth loses its guide. It can drift or erupt incorrectly into the mouth adjacent teeth can move into space. This means the permanent tooth can’t come in so space maintainers may be used.