Regenerative Treatment of Traumatized Immature Permanent Incisors With Pulp Necrosis: A Prospective Randomized Multicenter Study

Endodontic management of traumatized immature permanent teeth with pulp necrosis is both a clinical challenge for the dental practitioners and a public health care problem. Even though there are feasible treatment procedures (such as apexification with calcium hydroxide and with Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA), the long-term survival of these teeth is questionable because none of these techniques can provide continuation of root formation and thickening of the dentin walls. As a result, the immature tooth is weak and prone to fracture.

Recently, regenerative endodontic procedures have gained much attention as biologically based treatment alternative to the techniques described above, but the scientific evidence is insufficient. These procedures aim to remove necrotic and damaged tissues and replace those with healthy functioning pulp-dentin complex.

We plan to invite 120 patients to participate in this study. The inclusion criteria will be children between the ages of 7-19 years with traumatized permanent incisors with immature roots and open apices and pulp necrosis. Patients will be recruited from specialist clinics in Stockholm, Västerbotten and Norrbotten. The patients will be treated by specialists in endodontics and pediatric dentistry with regenerative endodontics. During a 5-year follow-up period the most important outcomes are continuous root development and healing of pulp necrosis. Severe traumatic dental injuries leading to severe complication that could result in early tooth loss can have a severe impact on oral health related quality of life. Therefore, regenerative endodontics can have beneficial effect treating these teeth.