Management of Non-Vital Immature Teeth: A Case Report
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Introduction

In children, immature teeth ie teeth with incompletely formed roots or root apex, are commonly seen in children. In such teeth, endodontic treatment if required, has to be done in stages. Single sitting RCT is avoided and treatment takes a typically longer time. It is important that parents of the child are thus counselled in this fashion.

  • Name: Shagun
  • Nick name: Shagun
  • Age/Gender: 8 yrs/female
  • Place of birth: Gajraula
  • Address: Gajraula
  • Parent’s occupation: Father is a teacher
  • Religion: Hindu
  • Family income: INR 60,000/month

Case Report

An 8 year old female patient reported to the clinic, with the chief complaint of on and off pain in upper right and lower left back tooth region since 20 days.

8 year old child patient

Patient was completely asymptomatic 20 days back then she experienced pain in upper right and lower left back tooth region which was spontaneous in origin, intermittent type and patient required medicines in order to relieve the pain.

Nothing relevant was reported in pre-natal, natal and post natal history.

On extra oral examination, no abnormality was detected in hairline, skin, eyes, nose, ears, lips, nails, lymph nodes and TMJ.

On intra oral examination, a grossly decayed lesion was seen in 16. Deep carious lesions were seen in 26 and 74 and incipient carious lesion was seen in 75. Vestibular tenderness was seen with 74 and vertical percussion elicited pain. The dentition was mixed dentition, with a Class I molar and canine relationship. The overjet and overbite could not be predicted as 11 and 21 are in the erupting stage. No abnormality was detected on soft tissue examination.

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Intraoral examination – Teeth in occlusion
Grossly carious 16 and deeply carious 26
Deeply carious 74, incipient caries in 75
Canine & Molar relationship
  • Deep dental caries irt 26, 74Teeth present-mixed dentition
  • DMFT score – 2
  • DMFT score – 2
  • DMFS score – 4
  • DMFS score – 3
  • Stains/Calculus – +/+
  • Grossly decayed irt 16
  • Deep dental caries irt 26, 74
  • Vertical T.O.P. +Ve irt 74
  • Vestibular tenderness present irt 74
  • Initial caries irt 75
  • Molar relationship – Angle’s Class I molar relation bilaterally
  • Canine relationship – Class I canine relation bilaterally
  • Overjet and Overbite – cannot be predicted as 11 and 21 are in the erupting stage

Provisional diagnosis was chronic irreversible pulpitis in 16, chronic periapical abscess in 74, and dental caries in 26 and 75. The diagnosis were confirmed with radiographs. The radiograph revealed a radiolucency involving pulp and incomplete root formation in 16.

Radiographs taken

Investigation:

  • Intra oral periapical radiograph irt 16,26, 74 and 75
  • Radiograph revealed radiolucency involving pulp and incomplete root formation irt 16
  • Final Diagnosis
  • Chronic irreversible pulpitis irt 16
  • Chronic periapical abscess irt 74
  • Dental caries irt 26, 75

Treatment Plan

For the emergency phase, an extraction was performed for 74. Amoxicillin (250 mg B.D. for 3 days) and Ibuprofen (200 mg, S.O.S.) were prescribed.

For the preparatory phase, oral prophylaxis was performed and oral hygiene instructions were given.

For the corrective phase, revascularisation/apexogenesis was done, followed by cementation of stainless steel crown for 16. Caries excavation and review was done in 26 followed by stainless steel crown. A GIC restoration was placed in 75. A band and loop space maintainer was given for the extracted 74. The patient was kept on periodic recall and follow up every 3 months.

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From left clockwise – A. Pre op. view 26, B Caries excavation & review C. Stainless steel crown at 6 month followup, D. At 12 month followup
Band & loop space maintainer in 74. A. Post op. view, B. 6 month followup, C. 12 Month followup

Corrective phase: Revascularisation

Corrective Phase – Revascularisation in 16

First, local anaesthesia was administered followed by access opening of pulp chamber in 16. After copious irrigation and filling, the canal was dried and triple antibiotic paste was placed into the canal till CEJ. The patient was scheduled for appointment after 3- 4 weeks.

Corrective Phase – Revascularisation in 16

At next appointment the the triple antibiotic paste was rinsed and a sterile K file was placed beyond the apex to induce bleeding. A clot was allowed to form at CEJ. The pulp chamber was sealed with MTA and the tooth was temporarily sealed with a Glass ionomer sealant. Root maturation was radiographically followed up for a period of 12 months.

A. Pre op view 16 B. Post op view 16
Post op view – Stainless steel crowns and space maintainer in place

Discussion

Management of nonvital young permanent teeth present the clinician with numerous restorative and endodontic challenges. Traditionally, the most popular method for managing such teeth has been by apexification using calcium hydroxide. More recently, the use of MTA to create an apical barrier, followed by placement of a bonded core within the canal to strengthen the weakened roots has been the standard of care for non-vital teeth with open apices.

Even though both these approaches have been used successfully over the years, both modalities have few important, well documented drawbacks, one of which is the lack of continued root development. This has led clinicians and researchers to search for alternate strategies to promote continued root development even in young permanent teeth which have lost pulp vitality.

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One such strategy is the pulp revascularisation approach. Early attempts yielded inconsistent results and histologic examinations failed to demonstrate the regeneration of pulp-dentin complex.

Recent improvements in dental materials and better understanding of the regenerative potential of pulp has led to interest in pulp regeneration techniques, with various groups publishing case reports describing regenerative endodontic procedures carried out on non-vital young permanent teeth.

The promising outcome from these reports has caused a paradigm shift in the approach to management of immature teeth. Now there is greater emphasis on conservative, biologically based methods that allow regeneration of a functional pulp-dentin complex.

Conclusion

Apical barrier formation with MTA is an alternative approach to apexification as it gives instant results and does not require long term follow ups for the formation of biologic barrier – but the treatment depends on the economic status of patient.

Pulp revascularisation represents a recent and promising therapy for immature teeth, recommended as an alternative to apexification in cases of endodontic treatment of irreversible pulpitis and pulp necrosis, whether or not associated with periapical lesion.

It is a technically simple treatment with advantageous outcomes like thickness of the dentin wall width and apical closure, avoiding weakening of the tooth.

This case report was on management of non vital immature teeth. To read about management of vital immature teeth, you may click here.

References

  1. Chandran V, Chacko V, Sivadas G. Management of a Nonvital Young Permanent Tooth by Pulp Revascularization International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, September-December 2014; 7(3):213-216
  2. Camp JH. Diagnosis dilemmas in vital pulp therapy: treatment for the toothache is changing, especially in young immature teeth. J Endod 2008; 34(7S):s6-s12
  3. Ostby NB, Hjortdal O. Tissue formation in the root canal follo-wing pulp removal Scand. J Dent Res 1971; 79(5):333-349
  4. Hargreaves KM, Giesler T, Henry M, Wang Y. Regenerative potential of the young permanent tooth: what does the future hold? J Endod 2008; 34(7S):s51-s56
  5. Banchs F, Trope M. Revascularization of immature permanent teeth with apical periodontitis new treatment protocol. J Endod 2004; 30(4):196-200

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