DENTAL SPLINTS: TYPES AND TIME OF IMMOBILIZATION POST TOOTH AVULSION

Avulsion is defined as the complete displacement ofthe tooth out of its socket with disruption of the fibers ofperiodontal ligament, remaining some of them adheredto the cementum and the rest to the alveolar bone. Thiscondition is more frequent in young permanent teeth,because the root development is still incomplete. Splintsare used to immobilize traumatized teeth that suffereddamage in their structures of support, preventing theirconstant movement. The literature has shown that afterreplantation, it is necessary to use splints in order toimmobilize the teeth during the initial period, which isessential for the repair of periodontal ligament; the useof semi-rigid splint is more indicated than the rigid one,and long periods of splinting showed that substitutiveresorption or ankylosis is an expected complication. Thus,the aim of this review is to describe the different types ofsplints; their time of permanency, and its influence on theprocess of healing and reparation on the occurrence ofsubstitutive resorption or ankylosis. It is very important tokeep gathering knowledge about this content, since it hasbeen proved that the approaches and the protocols keepchanging over time.