ABSTRACT
Objective of this study to was to evaluate the effect of the zirconia band and loop space maintainers on the salivary level of lactobacillus and streptococcus mutans. Materials & Methods: This study was carried out on fifty selected Egyptian children indicated to space maintainer, the study sample was divided randomly into two equal groups according to the type of space maintainer, Group A: Twenty-five children have received metal bands and loops space maintainers. Group B: Twenty-five children have received zirconia bands and loops space maintainers. A fresh unstimulated whole saliva sample was collected from each patient before the insertion of the space maintainer, after 2 weeks and three months after its insertion. The mean and standard deviation values were calculated for each viable counts of antibacterial activity, then transformed into their log10 values. Results: It was found that Both Zirconia space maintainer and band and loop space maintainer increase bacterial count insignificantly. Conclusion: zirconia space maintainer can be used as an alternative to a conventional band and loop space maintainer.