Space maintainers are appliances used to maintain space or regain minor amounts of space lost after premature loss of primary teeth. They are classified as fixed or removable, and include band and loop appliances, lingual arches, distal shoes, and removable partial dentures. Key considerations for use of space maintainers include the time elapsed since tooth loss, dental age of the patient, and amount of bone covering unerupted permanent teeth. Space maintainers are intended to guide eruption of permanent teeth into proper positions and prevent undesirable shifting of teeth.

1. SPACE MAINTAINERS