Permanent teeth with horizontal root fractures after dental trauma. A retrospective study

The purpose of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the post-traumatic healing of the pulp and periodontium of 32 permanent teeth with horizontal root fractures. Twenty-nine patients, 8-48 years old, who presented at our department with a root fracture between January 2001 and April 2007, participated in the study. Root-fractured teeth with a loosened or dislocated coronal fragment were repositioned and splinted for 14-49 days (average: 34 days). In cases of severe dislocation of the coronal fragment, prophylactic endodontic treatment was performed. Follow-up examinations were conducted routinely after 1,2,3,6, and 12 months. For this study, follow-up took place for up to 7 years post trauma. Of 32 root-fractured teeth, 29 (91%) survived. 10 teeth (31%) exhibited pulpal healing; 13 teeth (41%) were prophylactically endodontically treated within 2 weeks of injury. At the fracture line, interposition of calcified tissue was evident in 6 teeth (19%), and interposition of granulation tissue was observed in 8 teeth (25%). The prognosis of the root-fractured teeth was good, and one-third of the teeth with root fractures possessed a vital pulp at the final examination.