My son needs a back tooth removed. It’s a baby tooth, but my dentist wants to add a space maintainer in. That will significantly add to the cost and I don’t see the point. I mean, it’s a back tooth, there’s nothing else there. What’s the issue?
Marianne D. – New Jersey
Marianne,
I know it doesn’t sound like it makees sense, but your dentist is right. You didn’t mention how old your son was, but with it being baby teeth, I’m guessing not too old. It could be many years before his adult molars come in. In the meantime, his baby teeth could shift into that space.
What that will do, is cause crowding when his adult teeth come in. Crowding leads to braces, which will end up costing way more than a space maintainer.
I wish your pediatric dentist would have explained this to you. It’s important for parents to understand the reasoning behind procedures. You need all the information in order to make a decision.
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