The Effect of Removable Space Maintainer Use on Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children aged 8-10 years using removable space maintainers (RSMs) and to compare their outcomes with caries-free healthy peers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 51 children who had been using RSMs for at least six months and 51 systemically healthy and caries-free children as controls. All participants were aged 8-10 years. Demographic data were recorded, and the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ8-10) was administered. The regular use of RSM was determined based on statements from both children and parents. Group comparisons of CPQ8-10 scores were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the independent samples t-test, with the level of significance set at P 0.05. RESULTS: Children using RSMs had significantly higher total CPQ8-10 scores (26.88 ± 11.94) compared to the control group (12.24 ± 7.31) (P 0.001). Additionally, RSM users demonstrated significantly higher scores in all subscales, including oral symptoms, functional limitations, emotional well-being, and social well-being (P 0.05), showing poorer OHRQoL. No significant differences were observed between regular and irregular RSM users in any CPQ8-10 domain (P > 0.05). Gender and age did not significantly affect total CPQ8-10 scores. CONCLUSION: The use of RSMs was associated with lower oral-health-related quality of life among children aged 8-10 years when compared with caries-free peers. RSM use could have exerted a deleterious effect on functional limitations, emotional and social well-being. Clinicians may need to consider psychosocial adaptation in addition to clinical indications when planning treatment with RSMs and provide supportive, child-centred approaches during follow-up.