Table 5:

Advantages and Disadvantages of conventional band and loop space maintainers

Advantages  It can be customized or modified according to individual needs  It has a good median survival rate  It is useful in uncooperative patients who will not wear removable appliances  The succedaneous teeth are well-guided to their positions  The jaw growth is not hampered  It is economical to construct Disadvantages  These space maintainers are easily adjustable, but they are nonfunctional in nature  Dissolution of cement can lead to the dislodgement of the appliance  Failure of soldering leads to breakage of appliances in some cases  Decay on the sideline band also leads to the appliance being failed  The fabrication of the dental chair is time-consuming for the dentist and the patient  It requires at least two appointments  It may be difficult to fabricate in uncooperative children or children with a gag reflex  They are also technique-sensitive during different stages of the fabrication procedure, such as band displacement during cast pouring  These might interfere with the eruption of adjacent teeth