Traumatic Impaction

The effects of traumatic injury on the teeth are varied and can be as minor as a transitory pulp hyperaemia, or a more serious fracture of the crown of the tooth or of its root, or avulsion of the entire tooth. Acute traumatic intrusion (intrusive luxation) may find its resolution in one of three ways: spontaneous re-eruption, manipulative/surgical repositioning and splinting, and orthodontic reduction. There are significant factors to be considered when entering into a course of orthodontic treatment of intruded teeth and particular care must be exercised when using fixed appliances in this situation. The use of a self-supporting arch method with individual eyelet attachments is to be preferred over the use of a regular fixed orthodontic appliance. Experienced orthodontists will often have an important role to play as an integral member of the multi-disciplinary dental trauma team-particularly so in the early stages of the emergency treatment in cases of acute traumatic impaction.