PRECISION IN ERUPTION, PROTECTION IN SPACE – ERUPTION GUIDANCE APPLIANCE

Dr. Tanvi Gupta*, Dr. Chaitra T. R., Dr. Seema Chaudhary, Dr. Naveen Manuja and Dr. Ashish Amit Sinha

ABSTRACT

Background: Maintaining space in the developing dentition is essential and plays a key role in determining the future dental needs of pediatric patients. The early loss of primary second molars can lead to a notable discrepancy between available arch space and tooth size. When this primary molar is lost prematurely, the first permanent molar may shift and erupt too far forward. To prevent this, the distal shoe space maintainer is a widely accepted treatment option. Case summary: A 5-year-old male patient reported with grossly decayed tooth w.r.t 75. Diagnosis was made as chronic irreversible pulpitis w.r.t 75 and treatment was planned extraction of 75, followed by distal shoe space maintainer. Conclusion: A dentist has to constantly evaluate the dental space requirements during the transition from primary to permanent dentition in a growing child. The space loss can lead to problems such as crowding, ectopic eruption and impaction. The clinician can design an appropriate appliance for maintaining the space for premature loss of deciduous second molar. The ultimate goal is to develop a perfect and healthy occlusion in permanent dentition.

Keywords: Case report, distal shoe, space maintainer.