Operational Distal Shoe Appliance for Harmonious Occlusion: A Case Report

Preserving deciduous teeth till their natural exfoliation is important to maintain arch length in different dentition periods. Premature loss of primary teeth may cause discrepancy in arch length due to drifting of teeth and supraeruption of the opposite teeth, thereby hindering the development of a harmonious, functionally and esthetically acceptable dentition. This article describes the fabrication and clinical application of a modified functional distal shoe appliance used due to pathological obliteration of the primary/deciduous mandibular second molar prior to the eruption of the permanent mandibular first molar. This modified functional intra-alveolar space maintainer appliance not only guides the first permanent molar eruption but also prevents ectopic eruption of the second premolar and supra-eruption of the second maxillary primary molar.

How to cite this article: Mohapatra A, Dutta S, Dutta B, et al. Operational Distal Shoe Appliance for Harmonious Occlusion: A Case Report. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(10):1172-1175.