Paediatric Trauma in the Permanent Dentition Flashcards
During the MH assessment of the child, what specific things would set alarm bells off?
Bleeding disorders
Congenital heart defects
Immunosuppression
Rheumatic fever
Check tetanus immunisation status
What aspects of the trauma history would you want to know?
When did it happen?
What were you doing when it happened?
Do you have any other symptoms? Nausea? Amnesia? Headache?
Do you still have the tooth/fragment? Do you know where it is?
What aspects of E/O examination would you want to do in a child with dental trauma?
Haemorrhage
Subconjunctival Haemorrhage
CSF coming out nose
Bony step deformity
Lacerations
Mouth opening
What aspects of intra-oral examination would you want to explore?
Soft tissue- penetrating wounds, foreign bodies
- Palpate the soft tissues to feel any overlying lacerations.
Alveolar bone
Occlusion
Teeth
What is the paediatric trauma stamp?
Mobility
Colour
TTP
Sinus
Percussion
EPT
ECL
Radiograph
Also check occlusion- not part of the trauma stamp but it will influence treatment
- Ask the patient to bite together and ask them if it feels different.t
What would a duller or higher percussion note indicate?
Dull note- Root fracture
High note- ankylosis
How would you carry out a sensibility test of a traumatised tooth?
Cotton wool roll into the buccal sulcus
Dry the tooth with 3 in 1 or cotton wool roll.
Get patient to hold onto metal handle of the EPT machine, add the conductor to the probe and place it onto the tooth.
Tell patient to let go of the metal handle when they feel something on the tooth (feels like a tickle).
Same for the Ethyl Chloride
- spray the cotton wool pledget with ECL and place on tooth, ask patient to say if they feel something.
Always test adjacent teeth and opposing teeth as well.
How long after the injury should the tooth be sensibility tested?
2 years.
What factors influence the prognosis of a traumatised tooth?
Stage of root development
Type of injury
If PDL is damaged too
Time in between injury and treatment
Presence of infection
How would you manage an enamel fracture?
Account for the fragment.
Take a paralleling PA radiograph.
- May need supplemental radiographs if soft tissue injuries are present or if the fragment is not accounted for.
If fragment still present- bond back on.
If no fragment, smooth off edges or composite placed if a larger enamel fracture.
What is the recommended follow up for an enamel fracture?
6-8 weeks
1 year
How would you manage an enamel-dentine fracture?
Account for the fragment.
Take paralleling PA radiograph.
Lateral pre-maxilla to rule out any foreign objects embedded into the lip.
Trauma stamp.
Treatment- either bond the fragment back on- must be hydrated in water first for 20 mins before re-bonding.
or
Place composite bandage.
- If fracture is within 0.5mm of the pulp chamber- line with calcium hydroxide.
What is the follow up for an enamel-dentine fracture?
6-8 weeks
6 months
1 year
What would be reviewed at each review appointment?
Trauma stamp
Check radiographs for
- Root development- width of canal (want it to start to narrow) and length (increase in length)
Comparison with contralateral tooth
Internal and external inflammatory root resorption
Periapical pathology
What is the chance of pulpal necrosis 10 years post-injury for enamel fracture and enamel-dentine fracture?
Enamel- 0%
Enamel-dentine- 5%
What would be a favourable outcome following treatment of a traumatised tooth?
Continued root development
Thicker pulpal walls- dentine formation
Absence of PA pathology
Asymptomatic
Positive response to sensibility tests
What would be an unfavourable outcome following treatment of a traumatised tooth?
Symptomatic
Pulp necrosis and infection
Apical periodontitis
Lack of further root development
Breakdown of restoration
What clinical and radiographic features might suggest that a tooth is non-vital?
Clinical
- Negative sensibility tests
- Black/grey/brown colouration of tooth
- Sinus tract present
- Swelling
- TTP after asymptomatic period
Radiographic
- PA radiolucency
- Infection-related external root resorption
What factors influence treatment in an enamel-dentine-pulp fracture?
Size of exposure
Time since injury
Associated PSL injuries
What management options are there for an enamel-dentine-pulp fracture?
Pulp cap- exposure less than 1mm and less than 24 hours since injury
Cvek Pulpotomy- Exposure greater than 1mm or greater than 24 hours after injury.
Full coronal pulpotomy- only indicated if partial pulpotomy is started and the pulp is hyperaemia or necrotic.
Describe the procedure of a direct pulp cap?
A direct pulp cap is when a biocompatible material is placed over the pulp exposure prior to placement of a lining material and restoration.
LA (if required) and rubber dam applied
Clean area with water and then disinfect area with sodium hypochlorite
Apply calcium hydroxide or MTA to pulp exposure.
Restore with composite.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a direct pulp cap?
Advantages- easy, less traumatic for the child, no LA required.
Disadvantages- Lower success rate compared to Cvek pulpotomy- increased risk of loss of vitality and arrested tooth development.
Describe the procedure of a Cvek pulpotomy?
Partial pulpotomy involves removing 1-3mm of the coronal pulp located directly adjacent to the pulp exposure.
Give LA
Apply dental dam
Remove 1-3mm of coronal pulp using a high speed bur or excavator- copious irrigation.
Irrigate the wound surface with sterile saline and dry with cotton wool pellet.
If haemostasis achieved- apply non-setting calcium hydroxide and use a cotton wool pledget to apply pressure.
If haemostasis not achieved- carried out full coronal pulpotomy.
Restore tooth with GI and then composite.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a Cvek pulpotomy?
Advantages
- Good success rate in maintaining pulp vitality and allowing continuing maturation of the immature tooth.
- Sensibility testing can still monitor the tooth
- Likely to maintain aesthetics
- Preparation of the pulp canal space allows mechanical retention of pulpotomy agent.
Disadvantages
- Requires increased level of co-operation
- Technique sensitive.
Describe the procedure of a full coronal pulpotomy.
Begin with partial pulpotomy- if you cannot achieve haemostasis or the pulp is necrotic- commence to full coronal pulpotomy.
Removal full coronal pulp to the cervical area of the tooth.
Saline-soaked cotton wool pellet placed over the pulp- check haemostasis.
Non-settin calium hydroxide over the pulp.
GIC
Restore with composite.
What is the aim of a pulpotomy?
Keep vital pulp tissue within the canal to allow normal root growth both in length of the root and thickness of the dentine.
What follow up is required for an enamel-dentine-pulp fracture?
6-8 weeks
3 months
6 months
1 year
If a tooth is not vital in an immature incisor- what action is required?
Full pulpectomy.
What clinical problem is present in a non-vital tooth that is immature?
No apical stop to allow obturation with GP.
What management options exist for an immature tooth that is non-vital, in order to have an apical stop?
MTA/biodentine placed at apex of canal to create cement barrier.
Regenerative endodontic technique to encourage hard tissue formation at apex.
Describe the procedure of a pulpectomy in an open apex tooth?
LA given
Rubber dam applied
(pulp canal contents will have already been removed)
Haemorrhage control- LA/sterile water
Diagnostic radiograph for WL
Remove pulp canal contents to 2mm short of EWL.
Irrigate with chlorhexidine.
Dry canal, non-setting calcium hydroxide, CW in pulp chamber.
GI cement in access cavity and evaluate calcium hydroxide fill level with radiograph.
Leave the non-setting calcium hydroxide for no longer than 4-6 weeks.
Then go back in with the MTA plus and heated GP obturation.
What would the final coronal restoration be for a root treated traumatised tooth?
Bonded core and then composite restoration.
What would you do with a crown-root fracture with no pulp exposure in a permanent tooth?
Account for the fragment.
Fragment removal and restore
Ortho extrusion of apical portion and then post-crown.
Surgical extrusion
Decoronation (reserve bone for future implant
Extraction
Fragment removal and gingivectomy- indicated in crown-root fractures with palatal subgingival extension.