Complexity of factors affecting treatment and prognosis of avulsed teeth

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate some important factors associated with tooth avulsion, type of the treatment, possibilities of replantation, and onset of complications after replantation. The sample consisted of 39 patients suffering avulsion of 50 permanent incisors, whose treatment had been undertaken during the period 1998-2005 at Clinic of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, and Pediatric Dentistry Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, Belgrade. The study design was prospective, recording history of the accident, data concerning the act of replantation, postoperative treatment of replanted teeth and onset of complications. Observation period ranged from 6 months to 5 years. Traffic accident was the cause of tooth avulsion in 24% cases. Prevalence of avulsion was 7.7%. Average age of patients was 10.7 years. 26 of 50 avulsed teeth could not be replanted. Only 5 replanted teeth were held under wet conditions. The time until replantation ranged between 15 minutes and 9 hours. In one case revascularisation occurred. Timing of detection of complications varied from 3 months to 2 years. Complications had been noticed in 70.8%, and 4 teeth had been extracted. Contemporary treatment of an avulsed tooth is under strong influence of factors that cannot be predicted and that seriously compromise the outcome of replanted teeth.