Which statement describes a reason to use a space maintainer after premature tooth loss?

• A. Encourages drifting of adjacent teeth
• B. Maintains space for eruption of permanent successors
• C. Changes eruption sequence
• D. None of the above

Answer: (B)

When a primary tooth is lost early, the neighboring teeth tend to drift into the gap, which can shorten the arch and crowd the eruption path of the permanent tooth. A space maintainer acts as a placeholder to preserve that space until the permanent successor erupts, helping to maintain proper arch length and guide eruption. So, the reason to use a space maintainer is to maintain space for the eruption of permanent successors. It does not encourage drifting or alter the eruption sequence; those are not goals of space maintenance.