Transient apical breakdown following tooth luxation

Abstract

Transient apical breakdown is a sequelae of certain dental traumatic injuries where the injured tissues undergo a spontaneous process of repair with no permanent damage to the pulp. Misdiagnosis of this condition may result in unnecessary endodontic treatment. Presented is a case of transient apical breakdown following a subluxation injury of a maxillary central incisor in a 15-year-old girl. Four months after injury, coronal discoloration, periapical radiolucency as well as negative pulp responses to cold and electric tests were still recorded. Subsequently, the tooth spontaneously regained its original shade and the pulp responded normally to pulp sensitivity tests. Methods for early diagnosis of transient apical breakdown are discussed.