Severe trauma in young permanent tooth: a case report

Trauma severo em dente permanente jovem: relato de caso

ABSTRACT

Dentoalveolar trauma is a severe traumatic injury involving alveolar bone and dental structures. Like any trauma, it can leave irreparable sequelae and even cause tooth loss. The aim of this study is to report on the case of a dentoalveolar trauma in a 10-year-old male patient and the treatment performed with 12-month follow-up. The child had lateral luxation and displacement of teeth 11 and 21 in labial direction after a fall from his own height. The patient was examined at a hospital, received medication and was referred to a dental clinic. At the dental office, the teeth were repositioned, as well as received endodontic treatment and dental reanatomization. Two months after the trauma, root resorption was observed externally, which remained stable for 12 months. It was concluded that post-trauma treatment should be immediate and that follow-up sessions should be done carefully to minimize sequelae and to receive better prognosis.

Indexing terms
Dentition; permanent; Pediatric dentistry; Tooth injuries

RESUMO

Traumatismo dentoalveolar é uma lesão traumática grave envolvendo osso alveolar e estruturas dentárias. Como qualquer trauma, pode deixar sequelas irreparáveis e até causar perda dentária. O objetivo deste estudo é relatar o caso de um trauma dentoalveolar em um paciente de 10 anos e o tratamento realizado com 12 meses de acompanhamento. A criança apresentou luxação lateral e deslocamento dos dentes 11 e 21 na direção labial após uma queda da própria altura. O paciente foi examinado em um hospital, recebeu medicação e foi encaminhado a uma clínica odontológica. No consultório odontológico, os dentes foram reposicionados, posteriormente, tratados endodônticamente e realizado a reanatomização dentária. Dois meses após o trauma, a reabsorção radicular foi observada externamente, permanecendo estável por 12 meses. Concluiu-se que o tratamento pós-trauma deve ser imediato e que as sessões de acompanhamento devem ser realizadas com cuidado, a fim de minimizar sequelas e obter melhor prognóstico.

Termos de indexação
Dentição permanente; Odontopediatria; Traumatismos dentários

INTRODUCTION

Dentoalveolar trauma is a severe traumatic injury involving the alveolar process and dental structures [¹-²]. Like any trauma, it can leave irreparable sequelae and even cause tooth loss [³]. Dental treatment of a patient with dentoalveolar trauma should begin with the exclusion of possible head trauma, immunization verification and search for details of the accident [²].

There is a guideline for each dental injury, and the follow-up procedures vary according to the time required for healing injured structures [¹]. Prevalence studies indicate that male schoolchildren are affected more and that cases of dental trauma are more frequent during school holidays [³,⁴]. The anterior teeth, mainly the central incisors, are the most involved [⁵].

Proper diagnosis, treatment planning and follow-up are important to ensure a favourable outcome. When the treatment is performed quicker, the prognosis is better because the chance of resorptions and other sequels post-trauma is lower. The aim of this study is to report a clinical case of severe dental trauma in a 10-year-old male patient with 1-year follow-up whose care was immediate.

Case Report

A 10-year-old male patient had dentoalveolar trauma after a fall from his own height in a water park. He went to the dental office 2 hours after the trauma, as referred by the hospital, where he received medication (analgesic). The child had lateral luxation and displacement of teeth 11 and 21 in labial direction, as well as enamel-dentin-pulp fracture in both teeth. There was not a fracture in the alveolar bone.

The anamnesis revealed that the patient did not feel pain, had no systemic impairment and had the immunization updated. With his collaboration, the region was cleaned with 2% chlorhexidine, bone and dental fragments were removed and suture of the soft tissues with silk thread was performed. The teeth were then repositioned into their original location and stabilized using a semi-rigid splint with orthodontic wire. Both the parents and the patient were advised regarding meticulous oral hygiene, rinsing with alcohol free chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% for 2 weeks and administration of systemic antibiotic.

In the next day, a panoramic radiograph was performed that revealed adequate dental repositioning. Two weeks later, good tissue healing was observed, and the suture was removed. The splint was removed after 4 weeks. Eight weeks after trauma, endodontic treatment of teeth 11 and 21 was performed with calcium hydroxide. It is possible to observe radiographically external radicular resorption in both teeth, possibly caused by large tooth dislocation because of trauma and delayed endodontic treatment.

The reanatomization was performed after 6 months of trauma with a fiberglass pin and composite resin. The final restoration satisfactorily restored the aesthetic and dental function.

After 1-year follow-up, a periapical radiography was taken, and stability of the external root resorption was verified. The restoration was clinically adequate.

Figure 1
Clinical aspect of the anterior region immediately after the trauma.

Figure 2
Clinical aspect of the anterior region after suture and semi-rigid splint.

Figure 3
Panoramic radiography one day after treatment.

Figure 4
Radiographic aspect of endodontic treatment performed 8 weeks after trauma.

Figure 5
Final result after aesthetic restoration.

Figure 6
Radiographic aspect of endodontic treatment 1-year after trauma.

Discussion

The main causes of dentoalveolar trauma are violence, traffic accidents and sports practice [⁶]. Traumatic dental injuries comprise 5% of all injuries and are in the second place of demand for dental care (dental caries is the first one) [⁵].

Enamel-dentin-pulp-fracture treatment should be performed within 3 hours to achieve a success rate of 72-100% [⁷]. In this case report, the endodontic treatment was performed 8 weeks after trauma, which may be an explanation for external root resorption. In addition, the involved teeth had complete root formation, and the literature indicates that teeth with open apex have a higher success rate [⁷].

In the case of luxation injuries, the tooth must be repositioned digitally into its original location [⁸]. In general, if there is no hard tissue fracture, a semi-rigid splint is indicated for 2-3 weeks [⁷], without occlusal interferences; otherwise, a rigid splint is indicated for 2 months. Some authors recommend a flexible splint for 4 weeks, specifically in cases of lateral luxation [⁹,¹⁰].

Several splint materials are used, among them nylon wire, metallic wire and orthodontic brackets with passive arcs [¹]. One can also use buccal arches or bars [¹¹]. For better periodontal healing and less risk of ankyloses or external root resorption, a flexible splint is used. In this case report, a semi-rigid splint with orthodontic wire was used. Although it has been used for the recommended time (e.g., 4 weeks), the splint’s material may have contributed to external root resorption.

Finally, fractured anterior teeth with unfavourable aesthetics may negatively affect self-esteem and interpersonal relationships, especially the upper central incisors, which are the teeth most affected by trauma and those most visible in the smile [¹²-¹⁴]. It is important that these dental elements be reconstructed, as they avoid changes in speech, chewing and psychological problems, thus providing healthier development for the child [¹⁵].

Conclusion

It was concluded that the proposed treatment for dental trauma reported here was satisfactory. As a sequela of trauma, external root resorption was observed, which remained stable after 1-year follow-up.

How to cite this article

• Omena ALCS, Ferreira IA, Ramagem CL, Moreira KMS, Floriano I, Imparato JC. Severe trauma in young permanent tooth: a case report. RGO, Rev Gaúch Odontol. 2020;68:e20200007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1981-86372020000073667

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  13 Mar 2020
• Date of issue
  2020

History

• Received
  25 Sept 2018
• Reviewed
  31 Mar 2019
• Accepted
  04 Apr 2019