Does a small dental appliance rewire how kids chew?
NCT ID NCT07828158
First seen Sep 18, 2026 · Last updated Sep 18, 2026
Summary
Researchers at Marmara University are observing how a band-and-loop space maintainer affects chewing in children aged 6 to 10 who lose a primary molar early. The appliance is placed as part of routine care, not for the study. Before placement and four weeks after, children chew standardized gum and researchers record which side they prefer and how well the gum mixes colors. The study aims to see whether the appliance changes chewing patterns or performance.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- band-and-loop space maintainer
- What this could lead to
- If the appliance changes chewing patterns, dentists could better predict how children adapt after early tooth loss and adjust care to protect jaw growth and nutrition.
- What could go wrong
- This small observational study cannot prove the appliance causes any change, and chewing habits may shift on their own as children grow. Results may not apply to children with different dental conditions.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 102 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Sep 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Children aged 6-10 years attending the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Marmara University Faculty of Dentistry who have premature loss of a primary molar and a clinical indication for a unilateral fixed band-and-loop space maintainer. Eligible children will be recruited prospectively from patients scheduled to receive space maintainer treatment as part of routine clinical care.
- Ages
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6 to 10 years
- Sex
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Anyone
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Children aged 6-10 years. Premature loss or extraction of a primary molar in the maxilla or mandible with a clinical indication for a unilateral fixed band-and-loop space maintainer. The abutment tooth for the space maintainer is vital and either sound or appropriately restored. Complete dentition on the contralateral side of the arch to allow reliable assessment of chewing function. No systemic condition affecting chewing function. Written informed consent provided by a parent or legal guardian; children aged 9 years and older also provide written assent. Exclusion Criteria:Severe developmental delay, severe behavioral problems, or neuromuscular disorders that may directly affect chewing function, muscle activity, or treatment cooperation. Temporomandibular joint disorder. Current orthodontic treatment. Anterior or posterior crossbite, open bite, or other skeletal/dental malocclusions that may affect chewing function. Additional missing teeth in the contralateral arch, including hypodontia. Craniofacial anomalies, including cleft lip/palate syndromes. Systemic conditions requiring special medical precautions or antibiotic prophylaxis during routine dental treatment. -
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Marmara University
Istanbul, Maltepe, Turkey (Türkiye)
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