Factors related to treatment and outcomes of avulsed teeth

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to examine factors associated with avulsion injury and to specify the association between these factors and the treatment, as well as the outcomes of avulsed permanent incisors in children. Materials and methods: The sample consisted of 51 children with 62 avulsed permanent incisors, whose injuries had been managed in the period 1998-2006. The study was prospective, recording the history of the accident, concomitant injuries, age, gender, apical maturity of the root, replantation rate, storage media, extra-alveolar duration, endodontic treatment, compliance and recall appointments response. Factors were analysed in relation to postoperative outcomes, classified as functional healing (FH), infection-related (inflammatory) resorption (IRR) and replacement resorption (RR). Results: The average age of patients was 10.7 years (range 7-19). In 16/51 patients, tooth avulsion was caused by a road traffic accident. Avulsion was accompanied by concomitant injuries in all cases. Thirty of 62 avulsed teeth were not replanted and 32 incisors were replanted after dry storage. Time until replantation ranged between 15 min and 9 h (median 60 min). The observation period ranged from 1 to 6 years (median 2 years). FH was observed in 5/32, IRR in 20/32 and RR in 7/32 incisors. Ten teeth were extracted during 5-years of observation. Immature incisors exhibited significantly more complications compared with mature teeth (P = 0.04). Storage media and extra-alveolar duration did not significantly affect the survival of replanted teeth (P = 0.253, P = 0.350). Teeth in which endodontic treatment was in temporary phase exhibited significantly more complications in comparison with teeth with completed endodontic treatment (P = 0.0l6). Conclusion: The combination of delayed replantation and unphysiological storage is followed by low survival. Incisors with open apices exhibited lower survival compared with incisors with closed apices. Replanted incisors that required prolonged treatment with calcium hydroxide exhibited more complications compared with incisors with completed root canal treatment.