Clinical evaluation of a new bonded space maintainer.

• Extraction of deciduous teeth no more than two weeks previously. • Absence of periodontal disease or any other pathology. • Absence of abnormal dental conditions such as crossbite, open bite, or deep bite. • Absence of carious lesions on the buccal surfaces of the abutment teeth. • Good oral hygiene. • Ability to attend follow-up appointments as required. Twenty-seven children (16 male and 11 female) between 6 and 12 years of age (mean 8.7) were included in the study. Three of the children had congenitally missing second premolars and were followed until their orthodontic or prosthodontic treatment began. Written and verbal informed consent was obtained from both parents and children, who also received instructions in oral hygiene. A total of 41 EZ Space Maintainers were bonded—12 maxillary and 29 mandibular, 26 in male patients and 15 in female patients. The appliE loss of deciduous molars often causes issues that affect the permanent dentition, beginning with drifting of the first permanent molars and eventually leading to ectopic eruptions, reduced arch length, excessive overbite, dental malpositions, and arch asymmetry.1-4 When extraction of a deciduous molar is necessary, such problems can be prevented by using an effective space maintainer.5 Cemented maintainers are plaque retentive, however, and need to be removed every year for cleaning and cement replacement.6,7 Removable space maintainers make oral hygiene easier, but their clinical success depends on patient cooperation, and the appliances can easily be damaged or lost.7-9 Bonded space maintainers have shown several advantages over cemented and removable versions: they require no impression taking or laboratory work, their effects are completely reversible, and patients do not need to schedule frequent checkup visits or cooperate with appliance wear.9-11 The present study was designed to evaluate clinical results achieved with the direct-bonded EZ Space Maintainer.* This device is constructed from two 1mm stainless steel wire arms, tube segments with an internal diameter of 1.2mm, and two bonding bases that are affixed to the buccal surfaces of the teeth adjacent to the extraction space (Fig. 1). The 6-8mm tube segments are soldered to the posterior arm to accommodate the anterior arm. The appliance is adjusted according to the mesiodistal dimension of the extraction space, then stabilized by squeezing one of the tubes with a plier.