A prospective study of factors affecting survival of replanted permanent incisors in children.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the factors associated with the onset of resorption in replanted avulsed permanent incisor teeth and to demonstrate their patterns of survival free of resorption.

SETTING

Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Belfast.

DESIGN

Prospective recording of the timing of the injury and of replantation, the storage media, the degree of root development and contamination, and the completion of root treatment. Clinical and radiographic reviews at 3-month intervals. Root resorption classified as replacement and inflammatory. Logistic regression and survival curves with freedom from resorption as outcomes.

RESULTS

In 50 avulsed incisors in children aged 6-16 years the best predictor of overall resorption was total time of dryness, and that for replacement resorption was total extra-oral time. The timing of detection of resorption varied from 102 days to 997 days.

CONCLUSION

Both total extra-oral time and time stored dry are important factors for the onset of resorption in replanted avulsed teeth in children.