Recommended Guidelines of the American Association of Endodontists

I. Management at Site of Injury
  1. Replant immediately, if possible. If contaminated, rinse with water before replanting.
  2. When immediate replantation is not possible, place tooth in the best transport medium available.



II. Transport Media

  1. Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (H.B.S.S.)
  2. Milk
  3. Saline
  4. Saliva (buccal vestibule)
  5. If none of the above is readily available, use water.



III. Management in the Dental Office

  1. Replantation of tooth
    1. If extra oral dry time is less than 2 hours, replant immediately.
    2. If extra oral dry time is greater than 2 hours, soak in a topical fluoride for 5 - 20 minutes, rinse with saline and replant.
    3. If tooth has been in any physiological storage media (such as H.B.S.S., milk, or saline), replant immediately.
  2. Management of the Root Surface
    1. Keep the tooth moist at all times.
    2. Do not handle the root surface (hold tooth by the crown).
    3. Do not scrape or brush the root surface or remove the tip of the root.
    4. If the root appears clean, replant as is after rinsing with saline.
    5. If the root surface is contaminated, rinse with H.B.S.S. or saline (use tap water if above are not available). If persistent debris remains on root surface, gently use cotton pliers to remove remaining debris and/or gently brush off debris with wet sponge.
  3. Management of the Socket
    1. Gently aspirate without entering the socket. If a clot is present, use light irrigation with saline.
    2. Do not curette the socket.
    3. Do not vent the socket.
    4. Do not make a surgical flap unless bony fragments prevent replantation.
    5. If the alveolar bone is collapsed and prevents replantation, carefully insert a blunt instrument into the socket to reposition the bone to its original position.
    6. After replantation, manually compress (if spread apart) facial and lingual bony plates.
  4. Management of Soft Tissues
    1. Tightly suture any soft tissue lacerations, particularly in the cervical region.
  5. Splinting (indicated in most cases)
    1. Use acid-etch/resin alone or with soft arch wire, or use orthodontic brackets with passive arch wire. Suture in place only if alternative splinting methods are unavailable. (Circumferential wire splints are contraindicated.)
    2. Splint should remain in place for 7-10 days; however, if tooth demonstrates excessive mobility, splint should be replaced until mobility is within acceptable limits.
    3. Bony fractures resulting in mobility usually require longer splinting periods (2-8 weeks).
    4. Home care during splinting period should encompass:
      1. No biting on splinted teeth
      2. Soft diet
      3. Maintenance of good oral hygiene



IV. Adjunctive Drug Therapy Considerations

  1. Systemic antibiotics
  2. Referral to physician for tetanus consultation within 48 hours
  3. Chlorhexidine rinses
  4. Analgesics



V. Endodontic Treatment

  1. Tooth with open apex (divergent apex) and less than 2 hours extra oral dry time:
    1. Replant in an attempt to revitalize the pulp.
    2. Recall patient every 3-4 weeks for evidence of pathosis.
    3. If pathosis is noted, thoroughly clean and fill the canal with calcium hydroxide (apexification procedure).
  2. Tooth with open apex (divergent apex) and greater than 2 hours extra oral dry time:
    1. Thoroughly clean and fill the canal with calcium hydroxide.
    2. Recall the patient in 6-8 weeks.
  3. Tooth with partially to completely closed apex and less than 2 hours extra oral dry time:
    1. Remove the pulp in 7-14 days.
    2. Medicate the canal with calcium hydroxide.
    3. Obturate canal with gutta percha and sealer after 7-14 days of calcium hydroxide.
  4. Tooth with partially to completely closed apex and greater than 2 hours extra oral dry time:
    1. Perform root canal therapy either intraorally or extra orally.
    2. If treated extra orally, avoid chemical or mechanical damage to root surface.



VI. Restoration of the Avulsed Tooth

  1. Recommended Temporary Restorations (placed prior to final obturation)
    1. Reinforced zinc oxide eugenol
    2. Acid etch/composite resin
  2. Recommended Permanent Restorations (placed immediately after final obturation)
    1. Dentin bonding agent
    2. Acid etch/composite resin



VII. Additional Considerations

  1. Avulsed primary teeth should not be replanted.
  2. Avulsed permanent teeth require follow-up evaluations for a minimum of 2-3 years to determine the outcome of therapy.
  3. Inflammatory resorption, replacement resorption, ankylosis and tooth submergence are potential complications when avulsed teeth are replanted.



Treatment of the Avulsed Permanent Tooth: Recommended Guidelines of the American Association of Endodontists are intended to aid the practitioner in the management and treatment of the accidentally avulsed tooth. Practitioners must use their own best professional judgment. The American Association of Endodontists neither expressly nor implicitly warrants any positive results associated with the application of these guidelines. Although it is impossible to guarantee permanent retention of a tooth that has been avulsed, timely treatment of the tooth in the proper manner can maximize the chances of success.

©1994 American Association of Endodontists

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