How long is a removable dental space maintainer effective?

A dental space maintainer should remain effective until the permanent tooth is ready to erupt and fill the empty space. Your child’s dentist will track the permanent tooth with regular x-rays to determine when the space maintainer should be removed. In cases where there is no permanent tooth waiting to erupt, a dental implant or bridge can replace the space maintainer when the child is finished growing, which is generally around age 16 to 18.