Open AccessMaintenance of space by innovative three-dimensional-printed band and loop space maintainer
Author(s) -
Bhaggyashri A. Pawar
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of the indian society of pedodontics and preventive dentistry/journal of indian society of pedodontics and preventive dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.378
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1998-3905
pISSN - 0970-4388
DOI - 10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_9_19
Subject(s) - software maintainer , loop space , process (computing) , space (punctuation) , dentistry , computer science , loop (graph theory) , set (abstract data type) , dental technology , orthodontics , medicine , mathematics , combinatorics , pure mathematics , programming language , operating system
Preventive orthodontics is an aspect of pediatric dentistry, which requires a unique 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 hold the space until the eruption of permanent teeth. SM manufacturing is a laborious process that requires ample communication with the laboratory to properly 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 two types of SMs and a case report.