The effect of different types of space maintainers on minerals of saliva

Abstract

Purpose: The originality of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different types of space maintainers on minerals of saliva. Methods: The study sample was divided equally into two groups; group A: twenty children received fiber reinforced composite space maintainer group B: twenty children received band and loop space maintainers. The samples were collected before the insertion of the space maintainer and 2 weeks after its insertion Results: For group B band and loop space maintainers there was a post restoration statistically significant difference for both Cobalt and Chromium with a mean value of (p≤0.001), (p=0.007).respectively, also Nickel increased post restoration with a mean value of (p=0.168).also silicone decreased with a mean value of(p=0.046)which is statistically significant, for both Sodium and Zinc no statistically significant difference was found with a mean value of (p=0.170), (p=0.721).For group A fiber reinforced resin composite space maintainer there is no statistically significant difference between pre restoration and post restoration for Cobalt, Chromium, Nickel, Silicone, Sodium and Zinc with mean values of, (p=0.081), (p=0.413), (p=0.168), (p=0.431), (p=0.172)and (p=0.699),respectively. Conclusions Although band and loop space maintainer showed minerals biodegradation but this degradation within normal range of minerals content in saliva, Fiber reinforced space maintainer showed less minerals biodegradation than band and loop space maintainer, Fiber reinforced space maintainer can be used successfully as alternative for band and loop space maintainer form mineral biodegradation point of view.