MANAGEMENT OF UNILATERAL MANDIBULAR SPACE LOSS USING A MODIFIED GERBER SPACE REGAINER IN A 7-YEAR-OLD CHILD: A CASE REPORT

Premature loss of primary teeth during the mixed dentition period may result in mesial migration of adjacent teeth, leading to loss of arch length and space deficiency for the eruption of permanent successors. Space regaining appliances play an important role in interceptive orthodontics, and the Gerber space regainer is a commonly used fixed appliance for this purpose, though modifications may improve its clinical applicability and ease of use. A 7-year-old child presented with unilateral space loss in the mandibular arch following premature extraction of a primary molar. Clinical and radiographic examination revealed mesial drift of the permanent first molar with inadequate space for eruption of the succedaneous tooth. A modified Gerber space regainer was fabricated and cemented to achieve controlled distal movement of the permanent first molar and recovery of the lost space. At follow-up, the desired amount of space was regained within a short treatment period of 2 months, after which the appliance was adjusted to maintain the achieved result and facilitate normal eruption of the permanent successor. The appliance was well tolerated, showed good stability, and required minimal chairside adjustments, with no significant soft tissue irritation or complications observed.