Factors affecting outcomes of traumatically extruded permanent teeth in children

The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of residual extrusion, pulpal necrosis, and resorption for extruded permanent teeth and to establish the effect of presentation and treatment factors.

Seventy-two traumatically extruded permanent incisors were studied at the Departments of Paediatric Dentistry in Belfast, Newcastle upon Tyne, and Glasgow. The mean age of the patients was 10.1 years (range=6 to 18 years). Clinical and radiographic outcomes were analyzed and related to presenting and treatment factors.

The initial degree of extrusion was moderate for 46 teeth (64%), and the median delay prior to repositioning was 3 hours (range=1 to 168 hours). Pulp necrosis occurred in 31 teeth (43%), residual extrusion was present in 16 teeth (23%), and inflammatory resorption occurred in 11 teeth (15%). Residual extrusion was significantly associated with a delay in repositioning the tooth, pulpal necrosis was significantly more common in teeth with closed apices and in severely extruded teeth, and inflammatory resorption was more common after pulpal necrosis.

Residual extrusion could be minimized by earlier presentation and repositioning. The risk of pulpal necrosis is greatest for severely extruded teeth and for those with closed apices.