Introduction Premature loss of primary teeth due to caries or trauma can cause space discrepancies leading to malocclusion and other dental issues. Space maintainers are essential for preserving the arch space until the eruption of the permanent teeth. This case report presents an innovative modification of an existing space maintainer to address clinical challenges, improve patient outcomes, and reduce costs.

Case Report An 8-year-old female presented with a broken lingual arch space maintainer impinging on the lingual mucosa. Clinical examination revealed nonrestorable teeth 84 and 75 that required extraction. Radiographs showed tooth 34 erupting soon and tooth 45 delayed. Owing to financial constraints, the existing appliance was modified by lingually cutting and adapting the wire to the distal surface of the canine. The appliance was cemented using Type I Glass Ionomer Cement in a single visit. After 6 months, tooth 35 erupted normally, without impaction.

Conclusion This case demonstrates the effectiveness of modifying existing space maintainers to provide cost-effective patient-centric solutions in pediatric dentistry.

Data supporting the findings of this study are available upon request from the corresponding author.

No copyrighted material was used to create this case report. All content was original or used with proper authorization, and no permissions for reproduction were required.

The father (legal guardian) of the patient provided consent for the publication of this case report, and the patient provided assent.

Article published online:
03 October 2024

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