Replantation of avulsed primary incisors: a critical review of a controversial treatment

Effect of wire diameter and extent of wire composite splint on the mobility of luxated and anchor primary teeth: A typodont study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The recommendations for splinting are well established for the injuries of permanent dentition; however, ambiguity still exists for the injuries in primary dentition. Hence, this study aimed to determine the most appropriate dimensions of stainless steel wire and its extent, for achieving the physiologic mobility in primary dentition.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study was designed as an in vitro experiment by using a typodont model of primary dentition. The baseline mobility of primary maxillary incisors was calibrated to the physiologic mobility of natural primary incisors by using a Teflon tape wrapped around the roots of resin teeth. Splinting was done using a stainless steel wire of 0.2 mm (Group I), 0.3 mm (Group II), and 0.4 mm (Group III). These groups were subdivided (a, b, and c) on the basis of the extent of the splint, and pre splint mobility (Pre-PV) and post-splint mobility (Post-PV) were tested by Periotest M. The splint effect was calculated by subtracting Post-PVs and Pre-PVs.

RESULTS

The normal values of mobility in healthy human volunteers ranged from 10.5 to 13. The overall splint effect was higher in Group III irrespective of the extent of the splint, whereas it was found to be the lowest in Group I (b and c). The splint effect increased with the extent of the splint in all the groups. Among all the groups, the splint effect on the anchor teeth was observed to increase with the extent of the splint and the diameter of the wire.

CONCLUSION

The mobility of the injured and anchor teeth splinted with 0.2-mm stainless steel wire was similar to the pre-splint and physiologic mobility. The most favorable extension was one tooth adjacent to the injured tooth on each side for both 0.2- and 0.3-mm wires.

Splint stiffness and extension effects on a simulated avulsed permanent incisor-A patient-specific finite element analysis

BACKGROUND/AIM

Splinting is an important procedure after avulsion. However, the role of splint stiffness and extension is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of splint stiffness and extensions on the mobility and stress on an injured tooth under physiological biting load.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three-dimensional (3D) finite element models were created from a cone beam computer tomogram of a patient with normal occlusion. An avulsion injury of the right central incisor was created with a 1000 N load application on the palatal of the injured tooth, causing increased socket width. Splints made from four materials were tested: 0.9 mm diameter wire-composite splint (WCS1), 0.4 mm diameter wire-composite splint (WCS2), 1.0 mm diameter nylon-composite splint (NCS), and a 2 mm high by 0.2 mm thick plastic strip composite splint (PSS). Three splint extensions (involving 6, 5, and 3 teeth) were evaluated. Mobility of the avulsed tooth and the maximum principal stress distributions in the adjacent teeth were calculated.

RESULTS

The injured incisor tooth mobility was not affected by the splint extensions. The NCS and PSS stabilized the avulsed incisor but allowed, respectively, 10 and 20 times more mobility under horizontal loading than the WCS1, which inhibited most mobility, while the WCS2 allowed double the mobility compared with WCS1. The NCS and PSS allowed more tooth mobility, mainly in the extrusion direction. Splints were 2-3 times more effective in limiting mobility under intrusive loads than extrusive loads. High levels of stress were found at the base of the composite attachments in the adjacent incisors.

CONCLUSION

Splinting an avulsed tooth to one or two teeth bilaterally using a nylon splint or a plastic strip is appropriate for tooth stabilization and should be recommended over the 0.4mm wire-composite splint, while the 0.9 mm orthodontic wire is too rigid and not recommended.

Complications following replantation of primary teeth: a case report

Abstract Introduction: the avulsion of primary teeth is a disturbing and unexpected event. Description: this report describes the clinical case of a three-year-old child who suffered an avulsion and replantation of the primary upper central incisors at the site of the injury. The guardians sought treatment for the child at the Federal University of Minas Gerais after the replantation. Four months later, the child suffered a new trauma and the replanted teeth presented advanced mobility, root resorption and fistula. The clinical conduct was extraction and rehabilitation with a fixed esthetic maintainer. Discussion: the literature describes two treatment options for avulsion of primary incisors: replantation and non-replantation. According to a recent systematic review, the difficulty in obtaining a consensus regarding the best clinical conduct is due, in part, to the scarcity of publications that present not only follow-ups with clinical success, but also with failures. The outcomes of replantation can be influenced by several factors. The time elapsed between replantation and splinting, and the new episode of trauma, negatively influenced the prognosis in the present case, leading to failure. Replantation of primary incisors is not yet evidence-based treatment. Therefore, this option must be chosen with caution and in ideal situations. It requires constant clinical and radiographic monitoring for evaluation of outcomes.

Italian guidelines for the prevention and management of dental trauma in children

Dental trauma is a frequent occurrence in children and adolescent and a correct diagnosis and treatment are essential for a favourable long-term prognosis. The present Guidelines aim to formulate evidence-based recommendations to assist dentists, paediatricians, surgeons, teachers, school and sport staff, parents in the prevention and first aid of dental trauma in children and to provide a careful assessment of the medico-legal implications, reviewing the first draft of the guidelines published in 2012. A multidisciplinary panel on the behalf of the Italian Ministry of Health and in collaboration with the WHO Collaborating Centre for Epidemiology and Community Dentistry of Milan, developed this document. The following four queries were postulated: 1) Which kind of precautions the health personnel, parents, sports and educational personnel must activate in order to prevent the dental trauma damage? 2) How an orofacial trauma in paediatric patients should be managed either in the Emergency Care Unit and/or in private dental office? 3) What criteria should be adopted by a dentist private practitioner to fill in a certificate in cases of dental and/or tempomandibular joint trauma occurring in children and adolescents? 4) What are the elements that should lead clinicians to suspect a non-accidental dental trauma? A systematic review and analysis of the scientific literature published in English, Italian and French from 2007 to 2017 regarding dental trauma in children and adolescents aged 0-18 years was performed, and about 100 papers were analysed and included. The following four domains were analysed and discussed: Dental Trauma Prevention Strategies and Health Education, First aid in orofacial and dental trauma, Certificate of the dental trauma, Oral and dental signs of child abuse and neglect. Twenty-eight recommendations were draw up and codified by the panel according to the Methodological handbook, produced by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, in order to guide physicians in the prevention and first aid of dental trauma in children and adolescents. In addition, a careful assessment of the medico-legal implications is reported in this document.

Replantation of avulsed primary teeth: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

There is little evidence regarding the risks and benefits of replantation of avulsed primary teeth.

AIM

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature on the replantation of avulsed primary teeth, analysing the risks and benefits to help guide dentists regarding the best clinical decision-making in such cases.

DESIGN

The Medline/Pubmed, LILACS, and SciELO databases were searched for articles published in English, Portuguese, German or Spanish on the replantation of avulsed primary teeth in dental journals dating from the inception of the databases through to May 2013.

RESULTS

Among the 891 papers identified in the search, nineteen fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All 19 studies were case reports involving a total of 41 replanted primary teeth. No negative consequences to either the primary tooth or permanent successor were observed in 15 cases. Among the other 26 cases, there were negative consequences to only the replanted primary tooth in 16 cases, only the permanent successor in three cases and both the replanted primary tooth and permanent successor in seven cases.

CONCLUSION

There is a lack of high-quality studies that can help guide clinicians regarding the best approach in cases of primary tooth avulsion.