Healing and long-term prognosis of root-fractured permanent teeth: a retrospective longitudinal study.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate permanent teeth with post-traumatic transversal root fractures, for their initial healing modality, the effect of candidate predictors and their long-term prognosis. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective longitudinal clinical study was conducted to evaluate records from patients bearing transversal root fractures in permanent teeth in order to radiographically assess short-term healing and non-healing events in the fracture line, their prognostic factors and their relationship with long term outcomes. The inter-fragmentary tissues were classified as healing: hard tissue (HT), connective tissue (CT) or connective tissue and bone (CT + B) and non-healing: interposition of granulation tissue (GT). A competing risk survival analysis was conducted to estimate the hazards of healing and non-healing events in the short-term and the effect of demographic, clinical, and treatment variables was assessed using the subdistribution regression model (Fine & Gray). RESULTS: Radiographic findings showed 61.4% of healing in the short-term being strongly influenced by the presence and type of concomitant injuries to the coronal fragment. Teeth with concomitant crown fractures (sHR 24.38, 95% CI [3.16-188.3], p = 0.0022), luxations with dislocations (sHR 10.58, 95% CI [1.37-81.9], p = 0.0240) and subluxations (HR 9.66, 95% CI [1.14-81.7], p = 0.0370) were more likely to present non-healing of root fractures in the short-term. The healing rate in the long-term was of 75.9%, most of them with interposition of bone and connective tissue. Kappa statistics demonstrated an overall agreement of 67.1% between short and long-term healing patterns, in special HT and CT + Bone modalities. CONCLUSION: Healing at the fracture site was the most frequent outcome, both in the short-term and in the long-term. Short-term healing modality was strongly influenced by the presence and type of concomitant injuries to the crown fragment, being the worst prognosis observed in root-fractured teeth with concomitant crown fractures, followed by concomitant luxations with dislocation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Post-traumatic transversal root fractures have a positive prognosis supporting therefore, a more conservative approach for these teeth before considering more radical treatments.

A retrospective cohort study of pulp prognosis in luxated permanent teeth: a competing risk analysis.

AIM: The present retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate luxated permanent teeth for pulp prognosis and risk factors. METHODOLOGY: Case records and radiographs of 224 patients, involving 427 luxated permanent teeth, referred for treatment at the Dental Trauma Center-School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, (DTC-SD-UFMG) from 2014 to 2022, were assessed for pulp prognosis classified as vitality, necrosis and pulp canal obliteration (PCO). A competing risk survival analysis estimated the hazards of the three outcomes, and the effect of demographic, clinical and treatment variables was tested using a cause specific Cox regression model. RESULTS: Pulp vitality was found in163 teeth (38.2%), pulp necrosis in 120 teeth (28.1%) and 55 teeth (12.9%) developed PCO. Pulp vitality decreased in the presence of concomitant crown fractures (HR 0.38 95% CI [0.2-0.8] p = 0.006). The risk of pulp necrosis (HR 0.62 95% CI [0.4-0.96] p = 0.03) was lower in cases with open apices but increased with concomitant crown fractures (HR 4.0 95% CI [2.6-6.1] p = 0.001) and intrusions (HR 2.3 95% CI [1.2-4.1] p = 0.007). Lateral or extrusive luxations (HR 3.0 95% CI [1.3-6.9] p = 0.001) and open apices (HR 2.4 95% CI [1.2-4.7] p = 0.01) showed higher rates of PCO. CONCLUSION: Type of luxation, the diameter of the apical foramen, and the presence of concomitant crown fractures were main determinants of pulp prognosis after luxation injuries in permanent teeth. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pulp prognosis after tooth luxation is dependent on the presence and direction of tooth displacement together with infection control. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in emergency dental services: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis regarding the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in emergency dental services. METHODS: Seven electronic and two grey literature databases were searched, up to December 2021, for studies that reported the TDI prevalence among dental emergencies. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for prevalence studies, and The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach were used to assess the risk of bias and quality of evidence respectively. The R software was used to perform a proportion meta-analysis on a random-effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence and respective 95% CI. RESULTS: From a total of 1476 studies identified after excluding duplicates, 38 met the inclusion criteria, and another five were identified through hand searching, summing 43 included observational studies with a total sample of 209099 individuals searching for emergency dental care. The overall pooled prevalence of TDI was 15.4% (95% CI: 11%-21%, I² = 100%). Paediatric dental emergency services and age group from 0 to 21 years presented the highest prevalence, 29% (95% CI: 22%-38%, I² = 99.5%) and 24% (95% CI: 15%-35%, I² = 98%) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The overall pooled prevalence of TDI in emergency dental services was 15.4%, and 24% in the age group under 21 years. Considering the impact of prompt and correct emergency care in the long-term prognosis of TDI, such knowledge is relevant to organize emergency healthcare and support public policies in this area.

Prognóstico pulpar após lesões por luxação em dentes permanentes: uma análise de riscos competitivos / A retrospective cohort study of pulp prognosis in luxated permanent teeth: a competing risk analysis

As lesões por luxação representam o grupo de lesões traumáticas dento-alveolares (LTDA) caracterizadas pelo dano simultâneo ao feixe vásculo-nervoso periapical e estruturas de sustentação dentária, em diferentes graus de complexidade, dependendo da força e direção do impacto. A patogenia das alterações pulpares decorrentes das luxações é resultado da extensão da lesão do feixe vásculo-nervoso apical e de sua capacidade de reparo, que determinam os seguintes desfechos para a polpa: manutenção da vitalidade pulpar, manutenção da vitalidade pulpar com obliteração da cavidade pulpar (OCP) ou a necrose pulpar. Entretanto, o processo de reparo pulpar pode envolver fenômenos intermediários cujos sinais e sintomas se modificam ao longo do período de acompanhamento até um diagnóstico definitivo. Sendo assim, do ponto de vista clinico, o tempo até a observação destas respostas, bem como seus fatores determinantes, representa uma informação tão importante quanto o próprio desfecho, pois tem influência direta na tomada de decisão sobre as condutas clinicas mais adequadas. A presente pesquisa consistiu num estudo clínico longitudinal retrospectivo com o objetivo de avaliar o prognóstico pulpar de dentes permanentes portadores de lesões por luxação, seu padrão cronológico e fatores determinantes, entre os pacientes atendidos na Clínica de Traumatismos Dentários da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais no período de 2014 a 2022. Foram analisados prontuários de 224 pacientes com 427 dentes permanentes portadores de luxações, acompanhados por um período mediano de 1,4 anos (variação de 11 dias a 6,9 anos). O padrão de resposta pulpar foi classificado como manutenção da vitalidade pulpar, OCP e necrose pulpar através da avaliação clínica e radiográfica. Uma análise de sobrevivência utilizando-se o modelo de riscos competitivos foi realizada e curvas de função de incidência acumulada (FIA) foram construídas para se avaliar as taxas de cada um dos desfechos pulpares utilizando-se o estimador de Aalen-Johansen. O efeito de variáveis independentes, incluindo sexo, idade do paciente no momento do trauma, estágio de desenvolvimento radicular, grupo dentário, tipo de luxação, presença de fratura coronária concomitante e prescrição de antibioticoterapia sistêmica (ATS), foi avaliado utilizando-se um modelo multivariado de Cox causa-específico. Os dados foram analisados no programa estatístico R (versão 4.0.4, Viena, Áustria, 2021). Os resultados demonstraram manutenção da vitalidade pulpar em 38,2% da amostra (163 dentes), necrose pulpar em 28,1% (120 dentes) e OCP em 12,9% da amostra (55 dentes). O tempo mediano para o diagnóstico de necrose pulpar foi de 3 meses, enquanto o tempo para vitalidade pulpar foi de 8 meses e para OCP foi de 16 meses A probabilidade de manutenção de vitalidade pulpar diminuiu significativamente com a ocorrência de fraturas coronárias de esmalte e dentina concomitantes (HR 0,38 IC 95% [0,2 ­ 0,8] p = 0,006). A taxa de necrose pulpar foi significativamente menor em dentes com forame apical amplo (HR 0,62 IC 95% [0,4 ­ 0,96] p = 0,03) mas aumentou significativamente em dentes com luxações associadas às fraturas coronárias (HR 4,0 IC 95% [2,6 - 6,1] p = 0,001) e em dentes portadores de luxações intrusivas (HR 2,3 IC 95% [1,2 - 4,1] p = 0,007). Dentes portadores de luxações laterais ou extrusivas (HR 3,0 IC 95% [1,3 ­ 6,9] p = 0,001) ou com forame amplo (HR 2,4 IC 95% [1,2 ­ 4,7] p=0.01) apresentaram as maiores taxas de OCP.

Luxation injuries are a group of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) that involve damage to both the pulp and periodontium, with different degrees of complexity. Pulp damage results from injury to the apical neuro-vascular bundle and, depending on the repair potential, may result in the following outcomes: maintenance of pulp vitality, maintenance of pulp vitality with pulp canal obliteration (PCO) or pulp necrosis. However, the pulp healing process may involve intermediate and reversible phenomena whose signs and symptoms mimic pulp necrosis, rendering the timing of these events critical for decision-making during the follow-up period. The present study consisted in a retrospective cohort to evaluate the pulpal prognosis of luxated permanent teeth, its chronological pattern and predictive factors, among patients treated at the Dental Trauma Clinic of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, from 2014 to 2021. Records of 224 patients with 427 permanent teeth with luxations, followed up for a median period of 1.4 years (ranging from 11 days to 6.9 years) were analysed. Pulp outcomes - maintenance of pulp vitality, PCO and pulp necrosis were defined trough clinical and radiographic evaluation. A competing risk survival analysis was performed and cumulative incidence function (CIF) curves were build using the Aalen-Johansen estimator to assess the rates of each of the pulp outcomes during the follow-up period. The effect of independent variables including patient's gender and age at the time of trauma, tooth group and stage of root development, type of luxation, concomitant injuries, systemic antibiotic therapy (SAT) prescription, was evaluated using a cause-specific Cox regression model. Data were analysed in the R statistical program (version 4.0.4, Vienna, Austria, 2021). The results showed maintenance of pulp vitality in 38.2% of the sample (163 teeth), pulp necrosis in 28.1% (120 teeth) and OCP in 12.9% of the sample (55 teeth). The median time for the diagnosis of pulp necrosis was 3 months, while the time for pulp vitality was 8 months and for PCO was 16 months. The hazards of pulp vitality significantly decreased with the occurrence of concomitant coronal fractures (HR 0 .38 95% CI [0.2 ­ 0.8] p = 0.006). The hazards of pulp necrosis was significantly lower in teeth with a wide apical foramen (HR 0.62 95% CI [0.4 ­ 0.96] p = 0.03) but increased significantly in teeth with luxations associated with crown fractures (HR 4.0 CI 95% [2.6 - 6.1] p = 0.001) and in teeth with intrusive displacement (HR 2.3 CI 95% [1.2 - 4.1] p = 0.007). Teeth with lateral or extrusive luxations (HR 3.0 CI 95% [1.3 ­ 6.9] p = 0.001) or with a wide foramen (HR 2.4 CI 95% [1.2 ­ 4.7] p =0.01) showed the highest rates of PCO.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in replanted teeth with external root resorption: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in replanted permanent teeth with external root resorption (ERR). DESIGN: The present cross-sectional study included 42 patients with replanted permanent teeth, presenting with progressive forms of ERR, and referred for extraction according to the rehabilitation treatment plan or due to root fractures. The control group consisted of 12 healthy premolars, from 5 patients with good periodontal health and no radiographic evidence of root resorption, referred for extraction for orthodontic reasons. Root fragments were processed soon after extraction, and the supernatant was collected to measure matrix metalloproteinase 2/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2/TIMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase 9/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-9/TIMP-2) complexes through a double-ligand enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Case groups with external inflammatory root resorption (EIRR) or external replacement root resorption (ERRR) showed significantly higher levels of MMP-2/TIMP-2 and MMP-9/TIMP-2 complexes than the control group. Additionally, comparisons between the case groups demonstrated that the MMP-2/TIMP-2 complex also had significantly higher levels in the ERRR group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that MMP-2 and MMP-9 participate in the pathobiology of both types of ERR. In addition, the higher levels of MMP-2/TIMP-2 complex in the ERRR group support common modulation mechanisms with physiological bone turnover.

Pulp healing in immature replanted permanent teeth: A competing risk analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Tooth displacement during avulsion causes total rupture of the pulp's neurovascular supply. Revascularization and pulp healing may occur in immature teeth, which gives rise to the recommendation that root canal treatment may not be required. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors for the pulp's response after replantation of young permanent teeth. METHODS: Records from 117 patients with 133 replanted permanent immature teeth were reviewed, and pulp outcomes were classified as healing (hard tissue deposition on the dentinal walls followed by narrowing of the pulp lumen or ingrowth of bone-like tissue inside the pulp canal) or non-healing (pulp necrosis with infection). The effect of clinical and demographic co-variates on the hazards of both outcomes was assessed performing a competing risk model. RESULTS: Pulp necrosis with infection was diagnosed in 78.2% of the teeth, and healing was observed in 12.8% of the teeth. A total of 12 teeth (9.0%) were censored due to prophylactic removal of the pulp or severe external root resorption caused by eruption of adjacent canines. The cs-Cox model demonstrated that the hazards of pulp healing increased in teeth with extra-alveolar periods <15 min (csHR: 7.83, 95% CI 1.76-34.80, p = .01), while the hazards of pulp necrosis with infection decreased (csHR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.10-0.92, p = .04). Teeth replanted with Moorrees' stages 4 and 5 of root development had higher hazards of pulp necrosis with infection than teeth with stage 2 of root development (csHR: 2.23, 95% CI 1.11-4.50, p = .03; csHR: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.40-5.95; p = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Pulp healing rarely occurred after replantation of young permanent teeth being associated with short extra-alveolar periods <15 min. Early stages of root development decreased the hazards of pulp necrosis with infection.

Survival of Replanted Permanent Teeth after Traumatic Avulsion.

INTRODUCTION: Tooth replantation is the treatment of choice for avulsion, even though its long-term prognosis shows great variability and few studies have adopted survival analysis to evaluate the fate of such teeth. The present study aimed to evaluate both the survival rate of replanted permanent teeth after traumatic avulsion as well as its clinical and demographic determinants. METHODS: Records from 576 patients treated at the Dental Trauma Clinic at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were analyzed to collect clinical and radiographic data. Kaplan-Meier curves and a multivariate Cox regression model were used to estimate the probability of replanted teeth remaining functional in the mouth and to determine prognostic factors. RESULTS: The post-replantation survival rate was 50% after 5.5 years. Immature teeth presented an increase of 51.3% in the loss rate (P = .002). Each additional year in the patient's age at the time of trauma, up to the limit of 16 years, reduced the loss rate of replanted teeth by 15% (P < .001). The storage of the avulsed teeth in milk decreased the loss rate of replanted teeth by 56.4% (P = .015) when compared with those kept dry. CONCLUSIONS: The overall survival rate after replantation of permanent teeeth was 50% after 5.5 years. Advanced stages of root development, together with the increase in the patient's age at the moment of trauma, up to the limit of 16 years, were good prognostic factors for tooth survival. The storage of avulsed teeth in milk was also associated with enhanced tooth survival after replantation.

Análise de sobrevivência de dentes permanentes reimplantados após avulsão traumática / Survival analysis of replanted permanent teeth after traumatic avulsion

A avulsão é uma lesão traumática dento alveolar que consiste no completo deslocamento do dente do seu alvéolo, com a ruptura imediata de todas as fibras do ligamento periodontal e do feixe vásculo-nervoso na altura do forame apical. O reimplante dentário é o tratamento de escolha para a avulsão, mas seu prognóstico é imprevisível. A literatura clínica disponível sobre reimplantes dentários apresenta grande variação e subjetividade no que se refere à metodologia utilizada na avaliação do desempenho clínico e no tempo de acompanhamento dos reimplantes dentários, o que compromete a comparação dos resultados. A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar o prognóstico de dentes permanentes reimplantados após avulsão empregando-se a análise de sobrevivência para avaliação do tempo de permanência destes dentes na cavidade bucal, bem como seus fatores prognósticos. A partir da análise dos prontuários de pacientes atendidos na CTD-FO-UFMG entre 1994 e 2018 foram coletados dados clínicos e radiográficos relativos ao manejo do elemento avulsionado, tratamento emergencial e sequencial; e o tempo de permanência na cavidade bucal e os fatores prognósticos da sobrevivência foram avaliados. A amostra consistiu de 576 dentes permanentes reimplantados após avulsão, acompanhados por um período mediano de 2,7 anos (variação de 6 dias a 19,9 anos). Um total de 141 (24,4%) dentes reimplantados foram perdidos/extraídos ao final do período de acompanhamento. O estimador de Sobrevivência de Kaplan Meier com o teste de Logrank e o modelo multivariado de regressão de Cox foram utilizados para ilustrar a curva de sobrevivência dos dentes reimplantados e para comparar o efeito de fatores demográficos e clínicos no tempo de permanência dos dentes permanentes reimplantados. Foi observada uma taxa de sobrevivência de 50% dos dentes reimplantados após um período de 5,5 anos. O tempo mediano de permanência para dentes com rizogênese completa foi de 5,5 anos e de 4,2 anos para rizogênese incompleta, o que representou um aumento de 51,3% (p=0,002) na taxa de perda. O aumento de um ano da idade do paciente no momento do trauma, até o limite de 16 anos, diminuiu em aproximadamente 15 % a taxa de perda de dentes reimplantados (p<0,001). O armazenamento do dente avulsionado em leite diminuiu em 56,4% (p=0,015) a taxa de perda dos dentes reimplantados. O grau de desenvolvimento radicular, o aumento da idade do paciente e o meio de armazenamento do dente foram fatores prognósticos significativos da taxa de sobrevivência de dentes permanentes reimplantados após avulsão.

Avulsion implies complete displacement of the tooth of its socket, with the immediate rupture of periodontal ligament fibers and of the neurovascular apical bundle. Tooth replantation is the treatment of choice for avulsion, but its prognosis is still unpredictable. The literature on this type of treatment presents great variation and subjectivity regarding the outcomes evaluated compromising the comparison of the results and overall conclusions. The present study aimed to evaluate the survival of permanent replanted teeth after avulsion as well as its determinants. Records from patients treated at CTD-FO-UFMG between 1994 and 2018 were analyzed to collect clinical and radiographic data regarding the management of the avulsed element, emergency and sequential treatment, and time elapsed from replantation until tooth loss/extraction. The sample consisted of 576 permanent teeth followed-up for a median period of 2.7 years (range from 6 days to 19.9 years). By the end of the follow-up period, a total of 141 (24.4%) replanted teeth were lost/extracted The Kaplan Meier Survival estimator with the Logrank test, together with a Cox regression model were used to estimate the survival curve of replanted teeth and to compare the effect of demographic and clinical factors on survival of replanted teeth. A survival rate of 50% was observed after a period of 5.5 years. The median survival period for immature teeth was 4.2 years and for teeth with complete root development was 5.5 years what represented an increase of 51.3% (p = 0.002) in the loss rate. The increase of one-year in the patient's age at the time of trauma, up to the age of 16 years, reduced the rate of loss of replanted teeth by approximately 15% (p <0.001). The storage of the avulsed tooth in milk decreased the rate of loss of replanted teeth by 56.4% (p = 0.015). The stage of root development, the increase of the patient's age at the time of trauma, up to the limit of 16 years and the tooth storage medium were significant prognostic factors of the survival rate of permanent teeth replanted after traumatic avulsion.

Identifying missing people: the contribution of forensic dentistry and DNA / Identificação de desaparecidos: a contribuição da perícia em odontologia forense e do exame de DNA

Introduction: Human identification is considered one of the major steps concerning missing people. The Forensic Anthropology Sector of Legal Medical Institutes identifies corpses. Forensic dentistry and DNA tests stand out among the existing standard tests. Objective: This article aimed to evaluate human identification effectiveness through forensic dental examination performed in the forensic anthropology sector in a Forensic Medical Institute, comparing them with DNA analyses. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study using secondary data available in the department´s database, from 2008 to 2014, concerning identification procedures using forensic dentistry and DNA techniques. Result: The analysis of the examinations eligible to this study (241) showed that DNA analysis was the method used for identification in 79.3% of the cases and forensic dental examinations were used in 20.7% of the cases. As for the type of biological material used during these examinations, unidentified corpses corresponded to 131 cases (53.9%), skeleton structures corresponded to 109 cases (44.9%) and there were 3 cases of body segments (1.2%). When analyzing the time spent to complete the tests, dental examinations were faster than DNA tests. The time spent for forensic dental examination does not depend on the type of dental documentation evaluated. Conclusion: The analysis of the results in this study showed that human identification through forensic dentistry is effective, rapid and less costly, contributing to greater agility in solving issues related to locating missing people.

Introdução: A identificação humana é uma das principais etapas referentes às questões relacionadas à pessoa desaparecida. Objetivo: O presente estudo visou avaliar a efetividade da identificação humana pelas perícias odontolegais realizadas no Serviço de Antropologia Forense de Belo Horizonte-Minas Gerais, comparando-as com as realizadas por DNA. Metodologia: Estudo transversal, utilizando dados secundários registrados no arquivo do Setor de Antropologia Forense, considerando o período de 2008 a 2014, referente às perícias de identificação odontolegais e DNA. Resultado: Analisando-se apenas as perícias de interesse deste estudo (241), a análise de DNA foi o método utilizado para identificação em 79,3% dos casos e exame odontolegal, 20,7%. Quanto ao tipo de material biológico encaminhado para análise, os cadáveres desconhecidos totalizaram 131 (53,9%), as ossadas 109 (44,9%) e segmentos corporais 3 (1,2%). A análise do tempo efetivamente despendido para a conclusão dos exames mostrou que os realizados pela Odontologia foram mais rápidos que os de DNA. No exame odontolegal, o tempo gasto independe do tipo de documentação odontológica avaliada. Conclusão: A análise dos resultados do presente estudo mostrou que a identificação humana pela técnica odontolegal é eficaz, mais ágil e menos onerosa, contribuindo para uma maior celeridade na resolução de questões envolvidas na localização de pessoas desaparecidas.