الفهرس 
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Abstract
The primary teeth play a vital role for children not only in terms of speech, mastication, and esthetics but also as a natural space maintainer thus preserving dental arch perimeter and prevent pernicious oral habits. However, premature loss of the primary teeth is a common occurrence in children so that the most secured way to prevent future malocclusions and impairment of function is to use a space maintainer.
Several types, designs and techniques of space maintainers are available. Fixed space maintainers are most frequently used type and those made of a wire soldered to a band or a stainless-steel crown are most common. However, these fixed appliances do not retrieve neither normal function nor esthetics.
The current study was conducted to evaluate two CAD /CAM posterior fixed functional space maintainers made of different polymeric material in terms of clinical performance, gingival health and patient satisfaction
Patients were selected for the current study from those attending the outpatient clinic of pediatric and community dentistry department, Minia University dental hospital. Fifteen patients in each group were determined to obtain two balanced groups: group (1) using poly ether ether ketone (PEEK) space maintainer while group (2) using the PMMA.
from the recruited children according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 15 children were randomly selected and PEEK SM was randomly allocated to one side in an alternating manner and consequently the other side received PMMA SM.
After Space maintainer construction, the patients were instructed for oral health care. All patients were followed and space maintainers were evaluated at 3,6 and 12 months of follow up period ; for clinical performance (using the modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria for direct clinical evaluation of restoration), gingival health (gingival and plaque indices. Patients’ satisfaction regarding each type of space maintainer were recorded at the end of the follow up period, using a questionnaire of 5- point Likert scale.
The results revealed the followings:
1. Statistically significant increase in success for PEEK regarding anatomic contour, surface texture, and gross fracture versus PMMA at 3,6 and 12 months.
2. While, PMMA demonstrated statistically significant increase in success rate regarding color matching at 3 and 6 months and the difference was insignificant at 12 months period.
3. No statistically significant difference between both groups regarding gingival and plaque indices values at 3,6. While, at 12 months period PMMA grouped recorded higher mean values for both indices.
4. Within each group, also no statistically significant difference in gingival and plaque indices values through the follow up period, in PEEK group. While, PMMA group, showed significant increase in mean values of GI at the 12-month period and significant increase in mean values of PLI throughout the follow up periods.
5. Also, there was significant increase in patient satisfaction regarding all the items of the questionnaire (color, shape, feasibility to brush, ability to eat and overall scores) in PEEK compared to PMMA sides, Difference in parental satisfaction between the two types of SM was statistically significant.