ADVANCES IN SPACE MAINTAINERS

Caries is one of the primary causes for loss of teeth in children. That apart, trauma, infection and crowding are other factors. Space maintenance due to lost teeth especially molars is necessary till the eruption of the permanents. Space maintainers are appliances used to maintain space created by the lost teeth. Due to delay in treatments just after extraction or early loss of space it becomes difficult for permanent successor to occupy the space. To prevent such a situation, space maintainers are used to preserve arch integrity so as to allow a normal eruption of the successor. There are many space maintainers that have been introduced in Pediatric dentistry. This chapter will deal with the advancements in this aspect of Pediatric Dentistry. Some of the examples can be digital space maintainers, dental-chairside space maintainers and the like.