Repair of incomplete vertical root fractures in endodontically treated teeth--in vivo trials

An in vivo clinical study was performed to evaluate the healing of a new approach to the repair of incomplete vertical root fractures. The two-stage surgical procedure incorporated ultrasonic fracture cleaning, bonding of the fracture repair with silver glass-ionomer cement, placement of a bone graft material, and application of guided-tissue regeneration. Of the six roots in the study, five failed within 2 to 11 months. One root continued to be symptom-free, without periodontal pocket formation for 1 yr, but then failed because of extension of the incomplete root fracture to the lingual of the root.