Vital Pulp Therapy of an Immature Traumatized Permanent Tooth with External Inflammatory Root Resorption, a Case Report

External inflammatory root resorption is a serious complication of a dental trauma, which leads to progressive loss of the tooth structure and destruction of periodontal tissues. Therefore, it represents a challenge in endodontic practice especially in cases of young children with incomplete root development. Vital pulp therapy (VPT) is an appropriate technique in the management of immature permanent teeth with partial pulp necrosis. This case report describes the outcome of a successful VPT in an immature traumatized permanent tooth with concurrent associated partial necrosis and external root resorption limited to the coronal part of the root in a 7-year-old boy. The tooth was treated according to the protocol suggested by American Association of Endodontics (AAE), consisted of disinfecting the root canal system beyond the resorptive lesion. Afterwards, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) was packed into the coronal portion of the canal and the tooth was restored with composite resin. The radiographic follow-up at 3 months showed arrest of root resorption followed by re-establishment of the periodontal space at 6 and 12 months in the absence of clinical symptoms. The satisfactory outcome of this case suggests that this conservative approach can heal a partially necrotic pulp and create a favorable environment for continued root development, and arrest of the resorptive process.