Clinical Evaluation of 3-D Printed Partial Denture Space Maintainer

Clinical Evaluation of 3-D Printed Partial Denture Space Maintainer and Its Impact on Children's Oral Health Status: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Crossover Study

Primary dentition is the most suitable space maintainer for permanent teeth. However, as infants often lose their primary teeth too soon, using a space maintainer is the most efficient, long-lasting, and economical way to prevent malocclusions and function impairment in the future. Regarding personalized appliances, space maintainers in digital pediatric dentistry have made significant progress. Digital technology decreases the manual manufacturing stages that take a long time and increases the reliability and durability of digital fabrication procedures.

Inclusion Criteria:

• apparently, healthy cooperative children having recent premature loss of lower primary molars
• the permanent successors of the lost primary molars were not expected to erupt within 6 months
• Angle's class 1 occlusion with normal primary molar relation
• Presence of teeth on the mesial and distal side of the edentulous area
• Absence of para-functional habits or abnormal occlusion conditions such as crossbite, open bite, or deep bite.
• Radiographically, presence of permanent successors.
• parents and children were accepting the new treatment modality.

Exclusion Criteria:

• children exhibited poor oral hygiene, para-functional oral habits, severe crowding, space loss, and abnormal occlusion
• Extraction of primary molars exceeding three months.
• Radiographically, absence of permanent successor.
• uncooperative children