CARNEIRO, R. G.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/3293186331815427; CARNEIRO, Rafael Gomes.
Abstract:
Traumatic injuries to deciduous teeth are among the main causes of visits to pediatric dentists.
The early loss of deciduous teeth can have a negative impact on the quality of life of children,
depending on its severity and its sequelae. Several types of space maintainers and space
regainers can be used, the indication varies according to the lost tooth, the child's age and the
dental arch characteristics. The aim of this study was to perform a literature review on the early
loss of deciduous teeth and the main orthodontic procedures to maintain space in the dental
arch. The main causes of early deciduous tooth loss are dental caries, dental trauma and
premature root resorption. The article consisted of a survey of cases of early deciduous tooth
loss and the use of space maintainers. This article consisted of a survey of cases of early loss of
deciduous teeth and the use of space maintainers in orthodontics, published in the Google
Scholar, SciElo, PubMed, Medline and LILACS scientific article databases, using the terms
"Space Maintainer in Orthodontics", "Pediatric Dentistry", "Tooth, Deciduous". As inclusion
criteria, articles were selected in Portuguese and English, with relevance to the proposed theme,
covering the period from 2010 to 2023. The main causes of early deciduous tooth loss are
dental caries, dental trauma, and premature root resorption, while the main space maintainers
are crown-piece, band-piece, lingual arch, palatal button, and bihelix. A greater tendency for
early tooth loss was observed in males, with ages ranging from 3 to 9 years, and the main
etiological factor was dental caries. The molar teeth were the most affected, with the loop-band
space maintainer being the most used. It is essential that dental surgeons perform an early
diagnosis of space problems in the deciduous and mixed dentition, knowing how to identify the
factors that cause early tooth loss and their treatment options.
