Evaluation of the effect of delayed management of traumatized permanent teeth

This investigation studied the complication that could arise from delayed management of traumatized permanent teeth. Patients reported to the primary care clinic at the College of Dentistry, King Saud University, seeking treatment of traumatized anterior teeth were evaluated. Esthetic consideration (64 patients) and pain, swelling, or discomforts (50 patients) were the main reasons the patients came to the clinic. Clinical and radiographic examinations, as well as history of the trauma, were recorded. It was found that most of the patients had a treatment delay exceeding 1 month. Initial pulp exposure resulted in 100% pulp necrosis. When a fracture involved both enamel and dentin, the frequency of pulp necrosis was 53%. External root resorption and pulp calcification were seen in few teeth. It was concluded that the figures for pulp necrosis could be misleading, because there might have been a bias when only patients with problems sought treatment. In addition, a trauma awareness educational program should be developed to encourage parents and the public to seek immediate dental treatment. Furthermore, a proper diagnostic test for pulp and periodontal complication should be done in patients with initially nontreated dental injuries.