Success Rates of Post-Trauma Pulp Therapy of Permanent Anterior Teeth: A Pilot Study

Purpose: To determine the success rate of pulp therapy of an anterior permanent tooth post traumatic injury. Methods: A retrospective chart audit of patients aged 5-16 years who had at least one anterior permanent tooth that experienced trauma and required pulpal therapy between January 1, 2016 and October 1, 2022 from the electronic health records (EHR) of a university-based pediatric dental clinic was analyzed. Data was collected regarding patient demographics, tooth type, stage of root maturity type of trauma, treatment completed, medicament used, adverse outcome post treatment, and need for retreatment. Logistic regression with binary outcome was used to assess success rate of pulp therapy based on treatment completed and root development. Results: A total of 169 children [Age-Mean (SD) = 9.34 (1.86)] were included. One hundred and seventy-five traumatized teeth required pulp therapy, where 66.66% classified with complete root development radiographically based on the Cveck classification. Out of the immature permanent teeth, 41% were treated with revascularization. Follow-up period ranged between 1 and 12 months (mean 2.6 months). At 12 months, 14/67 (38.3%) needed a retreatment. No significant differences were found for treatment success between the mature and immature permanent teeth as determined by the presence of adverse outcome including pain and sinus tract as a follow-up symptom or retreatment Conclusions: These results suggest that the success of pulp therapy post trauma is independent of root development status and treatment. Clinical studies with longer follow-up periods are required to better evaluate endodontic intervention post dental trauma.