Introduction: Development of the dentition is a complex process. Any disturbances during this process can initiate space problems. To prevent the dental arch deficiency after untimely loss of primary teeth, a space maintainer is employed. Prefabricated space maintainers were introduced in 1935 but they were popularized only recently. The current article discusses a case report with 2 year follow up using one such prefabricated distal shoe space maintainer. It follows the CARE guidelines developed to write case reports.
Case Description: A 4 year old child reported with pain in the lower right back tooth region. Clinical examination revealed a grossly carious right mandibular primary second molar. After assessing the case, an extraction of the tooth followed by a prefabricated distal shoe space maintainer was decided as the treatment of choice. As per the steps described by the manufacturer, the prefabricated distal shoe space maintainer was cemented post-radiographic confirmation. The first permanent molar was seen erupting in the oral cavity in its physiologic position after about 2 years post placement of the space maintainer. The same space maintainer was then modified and used as a reverse band and loop space maintainer.
Conclusion: Pre-fabricated space maintainers can be a novel alternative to the conventional fixed space maintainers used in pediatric dentistry.
Distal shoe, Reverse band and loop, Space maintenance.