space maintainer

noun

space main·​tain·​er -mān-ˈtā-nər How to pronounce space maintainer (audio)
: a temporary orthodontic appliance used following the loss or extraction of a tooth (as a milk tooth) to prevent the shifting of adjacent teeth into the resulting space

called also space retainer

Dictionary Entries Near space maintainer

Cite this Entry

“Space maintainer.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/space%20maintainer. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

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