Long-term followup of traumatized incisors treated by partial pulpotomy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term success of partial pulpotomy in traumatized permanent incisors. Seven years before this examination, 63 teeth that had been treated by partial pulpotomy six months to four years earlier were examined. At that stage, four teeth had pulp necrosis. The remaining 59 cases were recalled for re-examination. Of these, 40 were available for assessment 7.5 to 11 years after the partial pulpotomy treatment. Thirty-five of these teeth were successful, while the remaining five had root canal fillings, and three of them were restored by post and crowns. Of these, two were root treated in consequence of new trauma, and the other two for esthetic purposes. The fifth tooth has probably been root treated for similar reasons, as the patient reported not having had any pain or problem with the tooth. The high frequency of long-term success justifies recommending partial pulpotomy as the treatment of choice for traumatic pulp exposures in crown-fractured permanent incisors.