Pulp and periodontal healing after replantation of a maxillary immature incisor: a 13-year follow-up.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Traumatic tooth avulsions occur most often in 7 to 9 year-old children. Replantation is considered the treatment of choice and follow-up is required in order to prevent possible complications. CASE REPORT A case of replantation of a maxillary immature incisor in a 9.2-year-old male is reported. Tooth 21 was stored in saliva, in the child's mouth, and it was replanted within 45 min following a bicycle accident. A flexible splint was applied from tooth 11 to tooth 63, and it was removed after 4 weeks. Pulp canal obliteration was diagnosed at the 6 months check-up visit. Pulp sensibility was positive after 3 months and absent after 5 years. During the follow-up the tooth completed its development and always presented a physiological mobility and a probing depth <3 mm. Only a minimal discoloration of the crown was observed. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of emergency care at the scene of dental trauma is resolutory for treatment outcome.