CONTINUED ROOT DEVELOPMENT AFTER AVULSION OF IMMATURE TEETH

Lee, Ju-Eun; Kim, Young-Jin; Kim, Hyun-Jung; Nam, Soon-Hyeun

Journal of the Korean Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 2013;40(2):127-132.
Published online May 31, 2013.

CONTINUED ROOT DEVELOPMENT AFTER AVULSION OF IMMATURE TEETH

Ju-Eun Lee, Young-Jin Kim, Hyun-Jung Kim, Soon-Hyeun Nam

Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University

미성숙 영구치의 탈구성 외상 이후 계속된 치근 성장

이주은, 김영진, 김현정, 남순현

경북대학교 치의학전문대학원 소아치과학교실

Correspondence: Soon-Hyeun Nam, Tel: 053-426-6608, Email: shnam@knu.ac.kr

Received: 10 January 2013 • Accepted: 14 May 2013

Abstract

Traumatic injuries to immature permanent teeth are common and the results can be destructive. Although Hertwig's epithelial root sheath is usually sensitive to trauma, it may resist damage from trauma thereby retaining its vitality and continuing to calcify a root under favorable conditions. This case report describes two cases of trauma to immature permanent incisors. The first case presents an avulsed maxillary central incisor which has been replanted. The other case shows completely avulsed mandibular central incisors which have not been replanted. However, both cases subsequently show continued growing roots separated from the main roots. This report highlights the ability of the immature pulp tissue to continue to form dentin and the robustness of Hertwig's epithelial root sheath to initiate root development despite a traumatic injury.

Key Words: Separated root, Immature teeth, Tooth avulsion, Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath