Innovative Clinical Technique of Space Maintenance using Customised Functional Space Maintainer: A Case Series
ZR07-ZR10
Correspondence
Dr. Voleti Sri Srujana Aravinda,
Postgraduate, Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Anil Neerukonda
Institute of Dental Sciences, Bheemili, Visakhapatnam-531163, Andhra Pradesh, India.
E-mail: srujanaaravinda1@gmail.com
Space maintenance is of particular importance following the premature loss of deciduous molars to prevent development of malocclusion. The usage of fixed space maintainers is more common in clinical practice. Traditionally fixed unilateral space maintainers were advocated following the premature loss of primary molars but they have certain clinical disadvantages such as loss of arch length, improper eruption of permanent successors and primarily the loss of function of mastication which cannot be achieved with the available fixed unilateral space maintainers. The paper is about three cases with an interesting design of fixed functional space maintainers which might overcome the disadvantages in the existing strategies in space maintainers and space maintenance and restore the primary function of mastication. To incorporate functionality into the conventional space maintainers a stainless-steel crown or an acrylic tooth of customised adequate dimension is incorporated into the traditional design.