Orthodontic movement of a maxillary central incisor with a horizontal root fracture treated using an intra-radicular fibre splint

Abstract

This paper reports the case of a 15-year-old boy with a horizontal root fracture in the left maxillary central incisor along with class II division 1 malocclusion for whom a fixed orthodontic treatment was planned. The fracture was present at the junction of apical and middle-third as a result of trauma 2 years back. No splinting was carried out at that time and the tooth was found to be vital, asymptomatic and showed a type-1 repair pattern. An intentional root canal treatment was carried out for placement of an intra-radicular fiber splint, nearly 3 mm beyond the fracture line. Orthodontic treatment was initiated after a month; to which the fractured and splinted tooth responded successfully. This report highlights the successful use of an intra-radicular splint for horizontally fractured tooth requiring orthodontic treatment.

Conservative Management of the Horizontal Root Fracture in the Middle Third using Fiber Post as an Intraradicular Splint

“…[2] Traumatic injuries are more prone to occur in maxillary central incisors (approximately 68%) probably due to their position in the dental arch. The next in line is the maxillary lateral incisors (27%), followed by mandibular incisors (5%), [3] affecting the age group between 11 and 20 years old and male patients [4] as a result of trauma associated with automobile accidents, sports injuries, and fights. [5] Root fracture divides the root into coronal and apical fragments as it results from an impact force on the top of the root and frontal forces affect the compression zone labially and lingually/palatally.…”