Early Loss of Primary Teeth

Question 1

What is the importance of the primary dentition?

Answer 1

speech, chewing, appearance and the prevention of bad habits but also in the guidance and eruption of permanent teeth.

Question 2

What are the reasons for loss of primary teeth? (4)

Answer 2

• Premature loss of primary teeth
• Proximal carious lesions
• Trauma
• Orthodontics reasons. (Crowding, Malalignment,…)

Question 3

What are the consequences of losing primary teeth?

Answer 3

• Mesial migration of teeth
• Malocclusion in permanent dentition
• Crowding
• Impaction of permanent teeth
• Supraeruption of opposing teeth
• Changing/redirecting the path of eruption * Loss of the arch length
• Decreasing arch-perimeter

Question 4

The best way to avoid consequences of losing primary teeth is to preserve the primary teeth in the arch till their normal time of exfoliation is attained.

Answer 4

Primary teeth serve as best space maintainers for permanent denition

Question 5

If premature extraction or loss of tooth is unavoidable (for any reason)the safest option to maintain arch space is by placing a _________ __________

Answer 5

“Space Maintainer” - maintaining the extraction space for settlement of the successor permanent tooth.

Question 6

Space maintenance is appropriate only when:

Answer 6

• All unerupted teeth are at the normal stage of development. * Adequate space is available.
• All unerupted teeth are present.
  Maintaining the space makes sense if everything is normal

Question 7

If a permanent successor will erupt within 6 months, a space maintainer is
A. Necessary
B. Unnecessary

Answer 7

Unnecessary

Question 8

If more than one-half to two-thirds (1/2 to 2/3) of its root has formed, SM is
A. Necessary
B. Unnecessary

Answer 8

Unnecessary

Question 9

We expect to see the tooth in the mouth when __ of the root is developed.

Answer 9

3/4

Question 10

In some situations space maintenance alone is inadequate or inappropriate, and the other treatment approaches will be needed. For examples - (5)

Answer 10

• Space loss. (not enough space for the permanent tooth)
• Missing permanent tooth.
• Severe skeletal discrepancy. * Severe crowding.
• Severe spacing.

Question 11

SM types are :

Answer 11

Fixed - uni or bilateral
Removable - uni or bilateral

Question 12

Four common fixed appliances generally used to maintain space in the primary dentition are:

Answer 12

• Band & Loop. (Crown & Loop)
• Lower Lingual Holding Arch. (LLHA) * Nance (the best, golden rules for bilateral max)
• Distal Shoe

Question 13

Before eruption of the permanent incisors, if a single primary molar has been
lost bilaterally, what space maintainer is recommended??

Answer 13

A pair of band and loops - because the permanent incisor tooth buds are lingual to the
primary incisors and often erupt lingually, bilateral band and loops enable the permanent incisors to erupt without interference from a lingual wire.

Question 14

If the space maintainer is not used on the premature loss of deciduous second molar, the permanent first molar may tip or move ______

Answer 14

mesially

Question 15

what is the difference btw a space regainer and a space maintainer?

Answer 15

Space regainer is spring loaded.

Question 16

When is a space regainer used?

Answer 16

This appliance is used to regain space when the first molar has already begun to drift into the space left by the primary molar.