Building-up a Smile in a 5-Year-Old Child: A Case Report

Evaluation of anterior fixed appliances on maxillary arch growth in preschool children

This study aimed to evaluate a new modified fixed appliance for rehabilitation of premature loss of anterior teeth in preschool children versus a modified Nance appliance on maxillary arch growth with parental satisfaction. The study was conducted as a clinical trial and it was carried out at Pediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Tanta University. Forty preschool children from both genders aged from 3-5 years were included in the study. The selected children were divided into two groups; Group I: Twenty children received a modified fixed bridge. Group II: Twenty received a modified Nance appliance. Evaluation of both appliances on maxillary growth was carried out at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Finally, parental satisfaction was also recorded. It was revealed that, there was continuous maxillary growth in both groups at different follow up periods with no sexual dimorphism, and parental satisfaction was significantly higher in group I than group II. A modified fixed bridge was better than Nance appliance regarding parental satisfaction and it doesn't interfere with maxillary growth.

Longevity of Aesthetic Fixed Space Maintainers in the Anterior Area of the Pediatric Dental Patient

Space maintenance for children at very early ages in primary molars or posterior sectors is widely used and the scientific evidence is clear as to its indications. In the anterior sectors there are doubts as to whether there is a loss of space and its use is usually accompanied by aesthetic, phonatory requirements or the completion of certain habits. In this type of aesthetic anterior maintainer, there are many medium and long-term complications that can occur.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the factors determining possible complications capable of reducing the longevity of aesthetic fixed space maintainers placed due to premature loss of temporary upper anterior teeth.

METHODS

Data were collected on 100 patients of 1-5 years of age requiring fixed space maintainer placement in the upper anterior area due to caries or traumatisms.

RESULTS

Complications were recorded in the form of resin tooth fracture (in 41% of the cases), welding fracture (16%), detachments (28%), gingivitis (26%) and root resorptions (8%). Space maintainer placement in younger children (12-24 months of age) was associated with a significantly greater incidence of root resorptions (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Within the limits of the present study, it is concluded that fixed space maintainers would be a good treatment option in patients with prematurely missing anterior teeth, though the use of temporary first molars as abutments could imply a greater risk of failure, with a lesser incidence of root resorptions. Periodic checks and adequate measures of hygiene are essential.

Anterior Tooth Replacement of Avulsed Deciduous Tooth: Resin-Reinforced Fiber With Natural Tooth Pontic

Sudden tooth loss can be a traumatic experience that affects a child psychologically and hampers social skills in today's world, in which appearances seem to matter from a young age. The child becomes afraid to smile freely. Besides appearances, missing anterior teeth can hamper clarity in speech. Many approaches have been described in the past, such as the use of a removable partial denture, functional Nance appliance, Groper's appliance, and resin-reinforced fiber composite/acrylic pontic. We report the case of a child who lost a deciduous tooth as a result of trauma. The restoration was performed using fiber-reinforced resin and a natural avulsed tooth as pontic, which restored esthetics and function.

A Modified Removable Space Maintainer for Compromised Dentition of Children: A Case Series

Despite the attempt in prevention, premature loss of primary teeth remains to be a frequent problem in pediatric dentistry, resulting in disturbance of arch integrity and unfavorably affecting the alignment of permanent successors. Space maintainers (SMs) are distinctive appliances used for maintaining space created due to premature loss of primary teeth. But at times the dentition of children is so compromised that it prevents the use of a conventional SM. Introduced in this article is an innovative modified removable functional SM that offers several benefits over the traditional appliance. It is a straightforward and rapid method to fabricate but also omits band adaptation in uncooperative children and helps restore the functional harmony.

Esthetic Rehabilitation in Early Childhood Caries: A Case Report

Premature loss or severely destruction of upper primary anterior teeth by early childhood caries (ECC) is a challenge for the pediatric dentist. In the anterior region, esthetics is an important concern along with function and space management. Tooth rehabilitation in this region becomes fundamental. The purpose of this report was to present a case of a 4-year-old child with the early loss of both central upper incisors and caries lesions on both upper lateral incisors. Both 51 and 61 were extracted due to ECC. The patient was rehabilitated with a fixed esthetic space maintainer and the vital lateral upper incisors, destroyed by ECC, restored with direct composite resin veneers. The final result reestablished local, systemic, psychological, aesthetic, and social problems of the child.