Pediatric Dental Appliances
Though many parents think of “teenagers” when presented with the term “dental appliances,” the use of such appliances in young children is very common. Some dental appliances may be recommended for preventative purposes, while others may be recommended for treatment purposes.
What types of pediatric dental appliance are most common?
There are many types of pediatric dental appliances – each one fulfilling a different dental function. The major categories of pediatric dental appliance are described below:
Mouth Guards
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and American Dental Association (ADA) recommend that children wear mouth guards when engaging in any potentially injurious activity, including sporting and recreational endeavors. The dentist can craft a customized mouth guard for the child, or a thermoplastic “boil-and-bite” mouth guard can be purchased at a sporting goods store.
Space Maintainers
Sometimes, primary (baby) teeth are lost prematurely due to trauma or decay. Adjacent teeth tend to shift to fill the space, causing spacing and alignment problems for permanent (adult) teeth. Space maintainers or “spacers” are inserted as placeholders until the permanent teeth are ready to erupt.
Expansion Appliances
An overbite, where the upper front teeth protrude over the lower front teeth, can be corrected with an expansion appliance, as can a crossbite. The expansion appliance is used to stretch and widen the arch, providing enough space for the teeth to be realigned in a straight manner. Expansion appliances are custom-made, and can be affixed to the inside or the outside of the teeth.
Bionator
If the pediatric dentist suspects that the child’s jaws are not growing in proportion to one another, a bionator device may be recommended. In general, the bionator positions the lower jaw forward, helping the teeth to erupt and align properly. This dental appliance is successful in reducing extensive orthodontic treatments later on, and helps to promote natural-looking alignment.
If you have questions or concerns about dental appliances, please contact your dentist.
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