Asian Journal of Dental Sciences

Modified Groper’s Appliance (BI-Functional Groper’s) – Innovative Design for Management of Anterior and Posterior Teeth Loss

K. Sudheer Kumar *

Department of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry, SVS Institute of Dental Sciences, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India.

B. V. Thimma Reddy

Department of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry, SVS Institute of Dental Sciences, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India.

B. Uday Kumar Chowdary

Department of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry, SVS Institute of Dental Sciences, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India.

R. Hemanth Kumar

Department of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry, SVS Institute of Dental Sciences, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India.

J. Raghavendr Akumar

Department of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry, SVS Institute of Dental Sciences, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India.

E. Lilly Grace

Department of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry, SVS Institute of Dental Sciences, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

---

Abstract

One of the dentist’s greatest restorative challenges is the esthetic rehabilitation of a young toddler who has suffered multiple tooth loss subsequent to rampant early childhood caries (ECC) or extensive dental trauma. The condition has been characterized as first affecting the primary maxillary anterior teeth, followed by involvement of the primary molars.The extent of decay is almost always more severe in the maxillary incisors and frequently by the time the child is brought to the dentist, much of the anterior clinical crowns are lost. ECC is found especially in developing countries, which significantly affect the health and social development of the child. Such conditions require restorability or extraction of involved teeth based on clinical signs and symptoms. When extraction of primary incisors is necessary, many parents will seek an esthetic solution for the problem.

This case report discusses a case of esthetic rehabilitation in a 5yearold female child over a follow up period of 18 months.

Keywords: Early childhood caries, esthetics, space maintenance, groper’s appliance

---

---

---

References

Borum MK, Andreasen JO. Sequelae of trauma to primary maxillary incisors. Complications in the primary dentition. Endod Dent Traumatol. 1998;14: 31-44.

Laing E, Ashley P, Naini FB, Gill DS. Space maintenance. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry. 2009;19(3):155-62.

Wilson, CFG. Management of trauma to primary and developing teeth. Dental Clinics of North America. 1995;39: 133-167.

Jasmin JR, Groper JN. Fabrication of a more durable fixed anterior esthetic appliance. J Dent Child. 1984;51:124 7.

Kirzioglu Z, Erturk MS. Success of Reinforced Fiber Material Space Maintainers. J Dent Child. 2004;71: 158- 62.

Koroluk LD, Riekman GA. Parental perceptions of the effects of maxillary incisor extractions in children with nursing caries. J Dent Child. 1991;58: 233-36.

Shanmugaavel AK, Gurunathan D, Sundararajan L. Smile reconstruction for the preschoolers using GRASCE appliance – Two case reports. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016;10:ZD19 22.

Jabin Z, Dudeja P, Dudeja K. Management of bilateral dental agenesis with aesthetic rehabilitation by Groper’s appliance – A six year follow up. J Clin Diagn Res. 2021;14:01 3.

Seth MP, Rani ST, Merum K, Raju S. Fix smile for a while: An esthetic rehabilitation with Groper’s appliance – Two case reports. Indian J Dent Adv. 2018;10:119 21.

Aniyo R, Kaur G, Neha. Groper’s appliance: Fixed appliance for an anteriorteeth. Int Res J Med Sci. 2019;1: 52 4.

Ngan P, Wei SH. Management of space in the primary and mixed dentitions. In: Pediatric Dentistry: Total Patient Care. Philadelphia, PA: Lea and Febiger. 1988; 462 70.

Riekman GA, el Badrawy HE. Effect of premature loss of primary maxillary incisors on speech. Pediatr Dent. 1985;7: 119 22.

Gable TO, Kummer AW, Lee L, Creaghead NA, Moore LJ. Premature loss of the maxillary primary incisors: Effect on speech production. ASDC J Dent Child. 1995;62:173 9.