Endodontic therapy of traumatised teeth in children

One of the most difficult problems met with in endodontic therapy for children is the traumatized anterior tooth whose root is still incomplete. In cases where the pulp is vital, treatment by pulp capping or pulpotomy is directed to preserving the vitality of the radicular pulp to ensure completion of root formation. Calcium hydroxide remains the material of choice in both forms of treatment. Once root formation is complete, removal of the pulp residue and filling of the root canal may be performed as a preliminary to restoration by means of a post retained crown. Where the pulp is non vital, attempts to fill the funnel shaped apical part of the canal, whether from a coronal approach or by open operation for retrograde filling, have proved unsatisfactory. Many workers have shown however that a number of root filling materials and root dressings are capable of inducing either continued root growth or a closure of the apical region by a calcific scar. A detailed survey of 34 teeth treated by this method has been made and the important principles which appear to influence the success of the technique are enumerated.