Hello, this is Dr. Jeongwon Youn from Yonsei JW Dental Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, Korea.
When children lose their first baby tooth, they often leave it under their pillow for the tooth fairy, who exchanges it for a coin. In Korea, however, we grew up reading fairy tales that said if you throw your tooth onto the roof, a magpie will come and take it away! 😊
I still remember when my son lost his first baby tooth. He carefully wrote a note to the tooth fairy asking for money, placed it next to his tooth, and fell asleep. One time, I even printed out an “official tooth fairy report” I found on Google to leave for him—but he eventually found the image file on my computer and realized the truth! 😅
Anyway, back to the topic!
When children come in for orthodontic consultations due to crowding or “double teeth,” we often find that baby teeth were either lost too early—causing the neighboring teeth to drift into the empty space—or that extraction was delayed, preventing permanent teeth from erupting properly.
If baby teeth are lost too early due to decay or trauma and the space is left empty, adjacent teeth may tilt into the gap, leaving insufficient room for the permanent teeth to come in. This can lead to crowding and a greater need for orthodontic treatment later.
To prevent this, a space maintainer is used to preserve the space until the permanent tooth erupts in its proper position.
🦷 Common Types of Space Maintainers
- Band & Loop Appliance – A metal band is fitted around a molar, and a loop of wire is attached to hold space where a tooth was lost. It prevents surrounding teeth from tipping into the gap. Once the permanent tooth’s root is two-thirds formed and begins to erupt, the device is removed.
- Distal Shoe Appliance – Used when a baby molar is lost before the first permanent molar has erupted. It guides the molar into proper alignment.
- Nance Holding Arch – Used when several upper baby teeth are missing. A resin button rests against the palate to prevent molars from drifting forward.
- Lingual Arch – Used on the lower arch to hold space when multiple baby teeth are missing.
Now, let me tell you about my son again.
Because his baby teeth were coming out later than usual, I took a panoramic X-ray during a routine check-up. It showed that his upper right canine and first premolar were not aligned properly. The premolar was tilted backward, blocking the canine from erupting.
Even though his baby molar’s root was not yet resorbed, I decided to extract it early to help create space for the permanent tooth to come in.
Since the space couldn’t be maintained using a Band & Loop, we made a removable appliance that he wore only at night to keep the space open.
After about six months, his follow-up X-ray showed a much-improved eruption angle. He continued wearing the appliance for nearly a year, until the tooth finally erupted through the gums.
His most recent panoramic image shows the canine now erupting in a much healthier position.
When space maintainers like the Band & Loop, Distal Shoe, Nance, or Lingual Arch are not used after premature tooth loss, permanent teeth may erupt in the wrong position or become impacted. The common “vampire tooth” appearance—where canines erupt high or out of line—is often caused by early loss of the baby canine and lack of space. In these cases, interceptive orthodontic treatment is needed to create space for the permanent teeth.
Here’s an example:
A patient had crowding in the upper canine area, a crossbite on one side, and a second premolar that was trapped and unable to erupt. Instead of waiting until adulthood (which might have required extraction-based orthodontics), we used a special removable appliance called a Sagittal Appliance to gently move the front teeth forward and molars backward, creating room for proper eruption.
This appliance includes push springs to move the incisors forward and distal screws to expand the space for the premolars—one of the most complex and precise devices to make!
In a similar textbook case, a patient who wore a sagittal appliance had dramatic results: both impacted canines erupted naturally, and the crossbite was corrected—avoiding the need for extraction orthodontics later.
🪥 In summary:
Early orthodontic care plays a crucial role in guiding proper dental development. Timely extraction of baby teeth and the use of space maintainers can prevent complex orthodontic problems later in life.
Regular dental checkups are essential to identify these issues early and ensure your child’s teeth grow in the right direction.
Stay tuned for our next post, where I’ll talk about growth modification treatments for underbites and overbites in children!
At Yonsei JW Dental Clinic, our orthodontic treatment fees are inclusive of all essential costs such as diagnostic and monthly treatment fees (excluding only the retainer fee), so you don’t need to worry about unexpected additional expenses.
Since our clinic also provides general dental care, all procedures necessary for orthodontic treatment—such as tooth extractions or cavity treatments—can be completed conveniently in one place.
To ease the financial burden of paying a large sum at once, we also offer a flexible installment payment plan, making treatment more affordable and accessible.
Our Chief Orthodontist, Dr. Jeongwon Youn, has specialized exclusively in orthodontics for over 16 years, treating a wide range of complex cases. With extensive clinical experience, she provides effective and precise care for various orthodontic conditions, including malocclusion, protrusion, and underbite.
When you visit Yonsei JW Dental Clinic, you can receive a free preliminary oral check-up to accurately assess your current condition and discuss your treatment options. During your consultation, we’ll also explain the different types of orthodontic appliances available to help you make an informed decision.
Our clinic is fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology for orthodontic care, including the iTero Lumina 3D intraoral scanner, growth plate analysis, and Morpheus facial scanner for before-and-after simulation—allowing for more precise and systematic treatment planning.
If you’re considering orthodontic treatment for crowded teeth, protruding mouth, malocclusion, or underbite, you’ve probably already gathered a lot of information online. Still, seeing the various appliances in person and hearing a detailed explanation will greatly help you choose the right option for your needs.
During your consultation, you’ll be able to compare different systems such as Clarity, Clippy-C, and Invisalign directly and learn about their respective advantages.
Please feel free to contact us or visit the clinic for a friendly, no-pressure consultation.
Yonsei JW Dental Clinic is conveniently located near Samseong Station, Hangnyeoul Station, Daechi Station, and Hanti Station, making it easily accessible from Seoul anywhere.
Book Online Today for Consultation!
WhatsApp: https://wa.me/8225012879
📍 Yonsei JW Dental Clinic is located at 3F, 541 Dogok-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea. (06189)
📅 Contact us directly via WhatsApp, Instagram DM, calling for a consultation or appointment. (02-501-2879)
WhatsAPP: https://wa.me/8225012879
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