A novel pre-formed distal shoe eruption guidance appliance in chairside management of early loss of primary second molar: a case report

Preservation of the primary teeth until exfoliation is one of the most important aspects of preventive and interceptive dentistry. Premature loss of the second primary molar before the eruption of the permanent first molar may lead to space loss that results in tooth size/arch length discrepancy. Early loss of a second primary molar is a challenge to paediatric dentists if the first permanent molar has not erupted. A space maintainer of the intra-alveolar type assists in controlling the eruption of the permanent first molar in these circumstances. This report describes the case of space maintenance in a 3-year-old girl for whom the primary second molar was extracted owing to a poor prognosis. A pre-formed intra-alveolar space maintainer, which in this case was a Roche's distal shoe type, was given and followed up for 12 months. CPD/Clinical Relevance: This pre-formed distal shoe space maintainer gives the advantage of reduced chairside time, more stability and strength, and is better accepted by the child.