Management of subluxation injury in a thumb-sucking child: a case report

This case report presents use of a custom trauma splint that was fabricated to prevent excessive thumb-sucking trauma to a previously-subluxated permanent incisor. A 10-year-old boy was referred to the clinic 10 days after falling in the schoolyard that resulted in a trauma to his maxillary left central incisor. The extent of clinical mobility stipulated fabrication of a custom trauma splint that would prevent further trauma to the incisor caused by excessive pressure of the thumb. A light-cured resin composite splint, covering the incisal edges of the central incisors and labial surfaces of the lateral incisors was made, and approximately 1-mm composite within the impressions of central incisors were trimmed off. The splint was bonded to the neighboring lateral incisors with flowable resin composite and root canal therapy was initiated on the subluxated incisor. After one week, the patient stopped his sucking habit completely. The treatment not only allowed for complete healing of the subluxated incisor without being exposed to further trauma, but also for spontaneous eruption of the tooth and closure of the existing open-bite.