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Bilateral space maintainers: a 7-year retrospective study from private practice.
Todd R Moore1, David B Kennedy
1Eastman Dental Centre, Rochester, New York, United States.
Pediatric Dentistry
|January 26, 2007
Summary
Most bilateral space maintainers successfully served their purpose, with 72% lasting their intended duration. Common failures included cement loss and solder breakage, but many appliances were repaired or remade.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Orthodontics
- Dental Materials
Background:
- Bilateral space maintainers are crucial for preserving arch length in pediatric patients.
- Understanding their long-term performance and failure modes is essential for clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the survival rates and identify common problems associated with bilateral space maintainers over a seven-year period.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 482 bilateral space maintainers placed between 1996 and 2003.
- Analysis of appliance lifetime, failure types (cement loss, solder breakage, etc.), and patient outcomes.
- Assessment of survival times and success rates, including recementation and remaking of appliances.
Main Results:
- Overall success rate was 72% (349 appliances), with 24% (114 appliances) failing.
- The primary failure mode was cement loss (60% of failures), followed by solder breakage (10%).
- Mean survival times were 20 months for lingual arches and 23 months for Nance appliances, with Nance appliances showing higher success rates.
Conclusions:
- The majority of bilateral space maintainers achieve their intended clinical lifespan.
- Cement loss is the most frequent cause of failure, highlighting the importance of proper cementation techniques.
- While failures occur, a significant proportion of appliances can be managed through recementation or remaking, contributing to overall treatment success.