Simplify your practice with 3D printed space maintainer

Abstract

Preventive orthodontics is an aspect of pediatric dentistry, which requires exclusive set of skills and understanding to aid the patient’s treatment and properly align teeth. The safest way to prevent future malocclusions from tooth loss is to place a space maintainer (SM), which is advocated to embrace the space until the eruption of succedaneous permanent teeth. SM manufacturing is a painstaking process that requires plentiful communication with the laboratory to suitably complete and provide the patient with optimal results. Band and loop SM is mostly indicated for the premature loss of single primary molar, but this appliance has a number of limitations. Digital technology has resulted in decreasing human errors by automating the dental model fabricating process with three‑dimensional printing. The current paper provides an insight of the use of this new technology in pediatric dentistry for manufacturing of new type of SMs and a case report