Introduction: Space maintainer is an interceptive device, commonly used after premature loss of a deciduous tooth; its use allows the respect of eruption sequences and space management for a favorable permanent dentition development.

The aim of our work is to compare the clinical efficacy of conventional unilateral fixed, stainless steel space maintainers and composite bonded space maintainers in terms of space loss, presence of caries, gingival health, success and failure.

Methods: The data bases consulted were PUBMED, The Cochrane Library, SCIENCE DIRECT, and EBSCO HOST DATABASES. Our review was limited to articles in English and French, dated from 2010 onwards, and including all comparative studies, prospective and retrospective, randomized and non-randomized clinical trials. Opinion articles, single case reports, and systematic reviews were excluded.

Results: Among 249 articles, six met our inclusion criteria: four were randomized clinical trials and two were comparative studies

The included studies compared the outcome and clinical performances of the two types of space maintainers with an up to 12 months follow-up.

Conclusion: Bonded space maintainers are considered as an alternative treatment to conventional space maintainers.