Endodontic Healing of Horizontal Root Fractures: A Case Report

Traumatic injuries of teeth are more frequently observed in the maxillary anterior region. Root fractures in permanent teeth are quite uncommon with frequency between 0.5% and 7% among all cases of dental trauma. Horizontal root fracture are most commanly seen in the middle third, followed by apical, and coronal third. Treatment choices vary depending on pulp vitality and root development stage. When pulp remains vital spontaneous healing can be observed but if pulp looses its vitality endodontic treatment is indicated. This case report describes horizontal root fracture of the maxillar right central incisor of a 10 year-old boy and its healing after root canal treatment. On clinical examination both of maxillar central incisors were slightly mobile and the gingival tissues around the teeth were severaly injured and edematous. Teeth were splinted for 3 weeks after the traumatic injury and endodontic treatment was applied at the and of this period due to the loss of vitality of both teeth. Root apex of left central incisor was open and the tooth was treated with apexification using Ca(OH)2 for 10 months. The coronal part of the right central incisor was also treated by using Ca(OH)2 for 8 months and the apical part remaind vital.