{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,25]],"date-time":"2026-08-25T19:33:36Z","timestamp":1787686416258,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":7,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,29]],"date-time":"2025-07-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1753747200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Reports"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Primary teeth play a crucial role in a child\u2019s development, particularly in maintaining space for permanent teeth. The premature loss of a primary tooth can lead to orthodontic issues, making the use of space maintainers essential to ensure proper growth and development of permanent teeth. To preserve space, the fabrication of a space maintainer is necessary. Since conventional space maintainers do not restore masticatory function, this study presents an innovative solution for space preservation following the extraction of the first primary molar through the design of the functional space maintainer KOS&amp;MET (Key Orthodontic System and Materials Enhanced Therapy). The space maintainer was designed using the 3Shape Dental Designer 2023 version software tool and manufactured via additive 3D printing, utilizing a metal alloy with high resistance to masticatory forces. The crown is supported by the primary canine, while an intraoral window is created to monitor the eruption of the successor tooth. This design does not interfere with occlusion and enables bilateral chewing. Masticatory performance was assessed using two-color chewing gum, and the results showed improvement after cementing the space maintainer. This innovative approach not only preserves space for permanent teeth but also enhances masticatory function, contributing to the proper growth and development of the jaws and teeth.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/reports8030125","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,29]],"date-time":"2025-07-29T08:00:41Z","timestamp":1753776041000},"page":"125","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["A Personalized 3D-Printed CAD\/CAM Functional Space Maintainer Following the Premature Loss of a Primary First Molar in a Five-Year-Old Child"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"8","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0767-8423","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rasa","family":"Mladenovic","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department for Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia"},{"name":"Dental Medicine Clinic Dentokids, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andrija","family":"Nedeljkovic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department for Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ljiljana","family":"Vujacic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department for Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marko","family":"Stevanovic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department for Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8318-8245","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vladan","family":"Djordjevic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department for Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4381-8270","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Srbislav","family":"Pajic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department for Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kristina","family":"Mladenovic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Clinical Center of Kragujevac, 3400 Kragujevac, Serbia"},{"name":"Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1007\/s40368-015-0183-y","article-title":"Clinical success and longevity of band and loop compared to crown and loop space maintainers","volume":"16","author":"Qudeimat","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur. Arch. Paediatr. Dent."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"136","article-title":"The effect of tooth loss on body balance control among community-dwelling elderly persons","volume":"22","author":"Yoshida","year":"2009","journal-title":"Int. J. Prosthodont."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"e24630","article-title":"Prosthetic rehabilitation and its effect on head posture","volume":"14","author":"Augustine","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Saber, A.M., Altoukhi, D.H., Horaib, M.F., El-Housseiny, A.A., Alamoudi, N.M., and Sabbagh, H.J. (2018). Consequences of early extraction of compromised first permanent molar: A systematic review. BMC Oral Health, 18.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-018-0516-4"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.bdj.2018.650","article-title":"Space maintainers in the primary and mixed dentition\u2014A clinical guide","volume":"225","author":"Watt","year":"2018","journal-title":"Br. Dent. J."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.17796\/1053-4625-45.3.1","article-title":"3D Printed band and loop space maintainer: A digital game changer in preventive orthodontics","volume":"45","author":"Khanna","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Clin. Pediatr. Dent."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Eggimann, A.K., Badura, L., Zehnder, R., Koemeda, M., Buser, R., and Schimmel, M. (2024). A Comparison of Oral Function in Older In- and Outpatients: An Observational Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. 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