Assessment of Saudi parent's awareness towards space maintainers at Alkharj city: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Premature extraction or loss of a tooth due in primary dentition may lead to malocclusion in permanent dentition. Space maintainers are very important to children in mixed and primary dentition for preventing problems of malocclusion. The utilization of space maintainers depends on parental knowledge and awareness about space maintainers. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the of Saudi parent's awareness toward space maintainers in Alkharj city. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was planned among Saudi parents who visited the College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University. Questions related to space maintainers awareness, use, source of information, and utilization of space maintainers were asked. RESULTS: Around 312 (82.1%) parents were not aware of space maintainers and did not receive any information about the same. About 166 (43.7%) parents did not have any personal experience of a child's missing deciduous teeth. Only 115 (30.26%) respondents received some information about space maintainers. The majority of parents 298 (78.4%) were unaware whether space maintainers aid in the eruption of permanent teeth. Similarly, 73.7% did not know when to use space maintainers. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of space maintainers among Saudi parents is very less. Dental professionals hence need to create awareness of interceptive orthodontics rather than curative approaches, to achieve better oral health outcomes.