Evaluation of clinical success of a new type fixed space maintainer

Clinical usage of the new type of space maintainers were begun with the improvements of the adhesive systems in the past years. The new type of these space maintainers was called direct bonded space maintainers. Impression process and laboratory work are not required. The system is totally reversible and does not require multiple visits and on-going patient cooperation.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usability, success, survival time and the effect on the oral hygiene of a new type of standardized direct bonded space maintainer that named Ez Space Maintainer and also monitor its effect on oral hygiene. In total 27 children (11 girls and 16 boys) aged between 6 and 12 (mean 8, 7±1, 6) were included in the study. Enamel of the buccal surfaces of the teeth was etched with a %35 phosphoric acid gel for 60 seconds for both primary and permanent teeth. The totals of 41 appliances were bonded according to the product instructions to the buccal surfaces of teeth, using Transbond XT light cure resin adhesive system by one operator. Appliances were monitored for 20 months. A total of 41 space maintainers were applied either to the maxillary or mandibular arch and divided into four groups according to which tooth or teeth missing (A, B, C, D). At the end of the 20 months 41 space maintainers were evaluated between groups for survival time, failure rate and space maintaining according to age, gender and which jaw applied. The effects of the appliance on the oral hygiene also evaluated.There was no statistically difference between groups for success and survival time (p>0.05). Only age, gender and which jaw applied found no significant effect on survival time (p>0.05). Age group over 8 represented less survival time than age group under 8 (p<0.05). Gender and which jaw applied found no effect on success rate (p>0.05) but age group over 8 found more successful than age group under 8 (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between extraction space length at the beginning and the end of study (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between groups for the effect on the oral hygiene (p>0.05). This study represented that clinical success and mean survival time of Ez Space Maintainer is similar to conventional space maintainers.