Rehabilitation with Esthetic Functional Fixed Space Maintainer: A Report of Two Cases

Abstract

A bstract Background Early loss of anterior primary teeth occurs mainly due to dental caries and trauma and may cause functional changes and negatively impact children's quality of life and social interaction. Aim and objective This article reports two cases in which pediatric patients with different dental losses were rehabilitated with esthetic functional fixed space maintainers with tube-bar system. Cases description In the first case, a 3-year-old boy with a missing upper central incisor due to dental trauma was rehabilitated with an esthetic functional fixed space maintainer with tube-bar system. In the second case, a 5-year-old boy lost three upper incisors, also due to dental trauma. He was likewise rehabilitated with an esthetic functional fixed space maintainer with tube-bar system. Conclusion The rehabilitation of early losses of anterior primary teeth by fixed esthetic functional space maintainers with tube-bar system proved to be a favorable treatment option regardless of the age of the patient or the number of missing teeth. Clinical significance Early loss of anterior primary teeth may have a major impact on the pediatric patient and is still a challenge in clinical practice. This article presents an effective and inexpensive alternative to this clinical situation. How to cite this article Volpato LER, Crivelli ASB, Oliveira ETRT, et al. Rehabilitation with Esthetic Functional Fixed Space Maintainer: A Report of Two Cases. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(2):315–318.

Longevity of Aesthetic Fixed Space Maintainers in the Anterior Area of the Pediatric Dental Patient

“…Furthermore, fixed space maintainers require less collaboration on the part of the patient, are better accepted and cause less irritation of the oral tissues than removable appliances [14]. Volpato et al [10] declared that aesthetic space maintainers were a favorable treatment option regardless of the age of the patient or the number of missing teeth. Removable space maintainers may result in failure if patients fail to use them, are more susceptible to being lost and can affect the soft tissues [11].…”

“…The design should be simple in order to allow correct hygiene, with adequate band or crown adaptation [9] (Figure 1). Athough they are described as an effective and inexpensive treatement [10], a few studies have detailed possible complications: the development of caries, mucosal hyperplasia secondary to friction with the appliance, impingement of the latter, fractures (teeth, welding), decementing of bands and damage to the anchoring teeth such as root resorption or other root disorders [7,9,10] (Figures 2 and 3). Athough they are described as an effective and inexpensive treatement [10], a few studies have detailed possible complications: the development of caries, mucosal hyperplasia secondary to friction with the appliance, impingement of the latter, fractures (teeth, welding), decementing of bands and damage to the anchoring teeth such as root resorption or other root disorders [7,9,10] (Figures 2 and 3).…”

“…The design should be simple in order to allow correc hygiene, with adequate band or crown adaptation [9] (Figure 1). Athough they are described as an effective and inexpensive treatement [10], a few studies have detailed possible complications: the development of caries, mucosal hyper plasia secondary to friction with the appliance, impingement of the latter, fractures (teeth welding), decementing of bands and damage to the anchoring teeth such as root re sorption or other root disorders [7,9,10] (Figures 2 and 3). In view of the few publications available on the subject, the present study was carried out to evaluate the factors determining possible complications capable of reducing the longevity of aesthetic fixed space maintainers in the anterior area.…”

Guía clínica de elección y uso de mantenedores de espacio fijos en niños menores de 10 años. Revisión de la Literatura

“…Varios artículos llevan un seguimiento del paciente a corto plazo, lo que no permite evaluar la longevidad de los mantenedores, durabilidad de los tratamientos, posibles fracturas y la efectividad en la erupción y acomodamiento de las piezas futuras 12,13,14,15 .…”

“…La evidencia actual no demuestra que los mantenedores de espacio logren un aumento o preservación significativos en la longitud del arco dental, para lo que se requeriría estudios bien diseñados y de alta precisión de la medición para llegar a conclusiones más exactas. (Volpato et al 2021) Reporta dos casos de pacientes pediátricos con distintas ausencias dentales donde se probó los mantenedores con sistema tubo barra (banda, tubo y arco).…”