Children need their teeth for
- Aesthetics
- To chew food properly for the first part of the digestive process.
- To hold space and guide permanent teeth into the proper place
- Development of jaws and occlusion (bite)
Not only do baby or primary teeth help your child to eat and speak, they also hold space for permanent teeth, guiding them into their proper places. Good teeth are vital for appearance and aesthetics. If primary teeth are lost prematurely due to tooth decay, then it is likely that this will allow drifting of back teeth causing space loss for the permanent teeth. Primary molar (back) teeth usually fall out around age 10 – 12 years. So, if primary teeth are lost early, if is often advisable to place a space maintainer.
In addition, serious tooth decay may lead to abscess formation which can cause severe pain and discomfort and may even be life threatening in a small number of cases. This is why it is imperative to prevent tooth decay and treat it promptly if it occurs.