Traumatized primary anterior teeth: Prognosis related to calcific reactions in the pulp cavity

Abstract

The frequency of a complicating pulp necrosis and the process of the physiologic root resorption were studied in traumatized primary teeth exhibiting partial or total pulp obliteration. The material comprised 88 incisors in 72 children aged 0.7–5.7 years (mean 2.9 years) at the time of injury. Trauma had resulted either in subluxation (25 teeth), or luxation (13 teeth), whereas the type of injury was unknown in 50 teeth. All cases were observed until eruption of the permanent incisors. Forty-four teeth initially displayed a reversible greyish color. The ultimate finding observed in all teeth was, however, varying degrees of yellow discoloration. Periapical pathologic findings indicative of pulp necrosis were observed in 9 teeth, from 1.6–4 years (mean 3 years) after the time of injury. Extraction was performed immediately, and none of the successional teeth showed developmental disturbances. The process of root resorption was classified as normal in all primary teeth. Subsequent eruption of the permanent successors occurred without any registered complications.