Interceptive Orthodontics Question And Answers

Interceptive Orthodontics

Write a short note on space regainers.
Answer. It is a device used to regain the space lost by tipping movement of a tooth into extracted space.

It should be used at an early age before the eruption of second molar.

Types of Space Regainer

• Removable Space Regainer
  • Removable appliance with finger spring
  • Removable lingual arch
  • Split saddle regainer
  • Knee spring.
  • Spacer regaining with expansion screws

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• Fixed Space Regainer
  • Gerber space regainers
  • Lingual arch
  • Lip bumper
  • Open coil space regainer
  • Headgears.
  • Fixed intra-arch appliances.

Commonly used space regainers are Gerber space regainer, Jackscrew, Cantilever spring.

Indications

• It is done when deciduous maxillary or mandibular second molar lost prematurely.
• In cases with ectopic eruption of permanent fist molar.
• In cases with early loss of deciduous mandibular canine since space closure occur because of drifting of incisors.

Space Regaining in Maxillary Arch

• In maxilla it is easy as compared to mandible.
• If space loss occurs due to mesial tipping removable appliances are used.
• If space loss is more than 3 mm fixed appliances are used.

Space Regaining in Mandibular Arch

• Removable appliances are less useful in regaining space in mandible.
• Lip bumper is used.

Description of Space Regainer

Gerber Space Regainer

• It is a fixed space regainer.
• It can be fabricated directly in mouth or in laboratory.
• Orthodontic band is selected for abutment tooth and is fitted.
• This space regainer consists of a U-shaped hollow tube and a U-shaped rod that enters the tube.
• The tube is soldered on the mesial aspect of the 1st permanent molar to be moved distally.
• The U-shaped rod is fitd into the tube in such a way that the base of U-rod contacts the tooth mesial to the edentulous area.
• With coil spring: If appliance is used as spring loaded spring regainer, open coil spring should be placed between tube and tube slope. Length of coil spring should be 1 to 2 mm more than its existing length. This leads to activation of spring.
• Without spring: The wire U section is fitted in tube, appliance placed and wire section is extended to contact the tooth mesial to edentulous area. Assembly should be removed and is welded or soldered at this area. Add occlusal rests to reduce cantilever effect.

Space Regainer using the Jackscrews

It consists of split acrylic plate along with the Jackscrew in relation with edentulous space and this is retained by the use of Adam’s clasp.

Space Regainer using Cantilever Spring

Here distalization of molars is done by using the removable appliance which incorporate the simple finger spring.