Resumo

RODRIGUEZ ROMERO, Iliana B; DIEZ BETANCOURT, Jaime; QUINTERO, Elena  e  CESPEDES ISASI, René. THE SPACE MANTAINER: A PREVENTIVE TECHNIQUE WITHIN THE REACH OF THE GENERAL COMPREHENSIVE STOMATOLOGIST. Rev Cubana Estomatol [online]. 2005, vol.42, n.1. ISSN 0034-7507.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 150 patients aged 6-9 from "Angel Hernández Chirino" school service in the municipality of Guanabacoa, during the school course 2000-2001, aimed at identifying the main affectations of the second temporal molars and the peventive actions the general comprehensive stomatologist may take. It was observed that 40 % of the patients of the cases had fillings, 29.3 % had extractions, 25.3 % presented extensive caries, 3.4 % had oligodontia, and 2 % losses due to trauma. It was significant that 53.5 % had already received secondary attention due to loss of space. 46.4 % were applied a space-maintainer by the general comprehensive stomatologist at the primary health care level. It was observed a predominance of those made by the acrylic technique. It was concluded that the treatment applied by the general comprehensive stomatologist at this level is fundamental, since this technique should be used when loss of temporal tooth occurs in order to avoid that this patient seeks care at the secondary level.

Palavras-chave : Space maintenance [methods]; primary health care level; school odontology service.