INTRODUCTION: The high prevalence of individuals with dental trauma prior to orthodontic treatment justifies the precautions that should be followed before and during treatment, considering all possible effects of orthodontic movement on traumatized teeth. Among the major traumatic dental injuries, avulsion with subsequent tooth reimplantation entails a higher than average risk of complications, such as pulp necrosis, root resorption and ankylosis. Therefore, it gives orthodontists several reasons for concern. OBJECTIVE: This case report sought to analyze the implications of tooth reimplantation after traumatic avulsion in patients requiring orthodontic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Tooth movement of a reimplanted tooth after traumatic avulsion is viable provided no signs of abnormality are present. Ankylosed teeth, however, are not amenable to orthodontic movement but should be preserved as space maintainers until root resorption is completed, provided that the teeth do not present with severe infraocclusion. Should an ankylosed tooth be in severe infraocclusion, crown amputation and root burial are indicated as a means to preserve the alveolar bone in the region, since resorption will occur by replacement of the buried root, as was the case in this report.
Tooth movement; Dental ankylosis; Dental trauma
