Check-up and Digital Imaging
A six-monthly examination: intraoral check, digital X-ray if needed and a written summary of the day. A record is kept even when nothing is found; the next check-up is compared against it.
DetailsBaby teeth are not only for chewing; they also hold the place for the permanent tooth beneath. The gap left by a baby molar lost early starts to narrow within months — and years later that shows up as crowding and a need for orthodontics.
The process
- Examination and X-ray: seeing where the permanent tooth is
- Taking an impression
- The maintainer is made in the laboratory and fitted
- Check-ups every six months; removed when the permanent tooth starts to come through
When it is not needed
If the permanent tooth is close to erupting, no maintainer is fitted — the X-ray shows that. The decision follows root development on the film, not the child's age.
This page is general information and does not replace a dental examination. Whether the treatment suits you, and the method and duration, are decided only after an intraoral examination and radiographic assessment.
After treatment
There is a settling-in period of a few days; avoid sticky and very hard food. Brush around the maintainer as well. A check-up every six months is essential.
The information on this page is for general guidance and does not replace a dental examination. Treatment decisions are made after an intraoral examination and radiographic assessment.