New approach for the treatment of vertical root fracture of teeth: A case report and review of literature

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Vertical root fracture (VRF) is one of the most common reasons for tooth extraction, although various methods have been applied for saving teeth with VRF.

CASE SUMMARY

This case report describes a woman who had a sinus tract on the labial gingiva of the left maxillary central incisor for past two months. Periodontal probing revealed an 8–10 mm deep, narrow, isolated pocket on the palatal side of the tooth. Clinical and radiographic examination confirmed a longitudinal root fracture. A new approach using a combination of resin and iRoot BP Plus through intentional replantation was used for the treatment of the tooth. At one-year follow-up, the tooth remained asymptomatic with normal periodontal probing depth, and radiographic images showed almost normal bone and periodontal structures around the root.

CONCLUSION

This new approach may be developed as an effective method for saving teeth with VRF.

Core Tip: This case report proposes a new approach for the treatment of teeth with vertical root fracture (VRF) using both resin and iRoot BP Plus through intentional replantation. This approach may be developed as an effective method to save teeth with VRF.

INTRODUCTION

Vertical root fracture (VRF) is a longitudinally oriented fracture of the root and can be classified as an incomplete or complete VRF based on the degree of separation of the fragments according to Leubke’s classification[1-4]. VRF is a serious complication with poor prognosis in endodontically treated teeth. The overall prevalence of VRF reported in retrospective studies is 3%–5%, but the prevalence of VRF in endodontically treated teeth is approximately 3.69%–25%[1,3]. Even if extraction is usually the first choice of management for teeth with VRF, various other methods to preserve the teeth have also been described in many case reports, such as using adhesive composite resin[4-6], CO₂ and Nd:YAG laser[7], mineral trioxide aggregates (MTAs)[8,9] and biodentine[10,11].

Adhesive composite resin is commonly used to bond fractured segments owing to their superior adhesive strength. Intentional replantation combined with bonding of fractured segments using adhesive composite resin has been reported as a successful treatment method for preserving teeth with VRF. Despite this, owing to the poor tissue attachment to the resin surface, deep and narrow periodontal pockets along the bonded fracture could easily recur.

iRoot BP Plus is a ready-to-use calcium silicate-based bioceramic material suitable for repairing various root canal perforations or resorptions because of its ability to induce tissue attachment and mineralization[12-15]. Based on its excellent biological features, iRoot BP Plus is an ideal material for repairing VRF. However, the bond strength between iRoot BP Plus and dentin is not as strong as that of the adhesive composite resin when holding the fractured segments in position[16].

Based on these concerns, in the present case combination of adhesive composite resin and iRoot BP Plus was used to repair a VRF through intentional replantation. This new approach may be developed as an effective method for saving teeth with VRF. This case report was prepared according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Case Reports in Endodontics (PRICE) 2020[17].

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

A 27-year-old Chinese woman was referred to our department for treatment of pustules on the labial gingiva of the maxillary anterior teeth.

History of present illness

The pustule occurred two months ago, and the patient reported that tooth #9 (left maxillary central incisor) had undergone root canal treatment (RCT) and full crown restoration several years ago.

History of past illness

The patient denied any relevant past medical history.

Personal and family history

No relevant personal and family history.

Physical examination

Intraoral examination revealed that tooth #9 was restored with a full crown and that there was a sinus tract on the labial gingival mucosa near the apical area of tooth #9 (Figure 1A). The tooth was sensitive to vertical percussion and did not respond to thermal testing. Periodontal probing revealed an 8–10 mm deep narrow isolated pocket on the palatal side of the tooth (Figure 1B).

Figure 1.

Preoperative images. A: Sinus on the labial gingival mucosa near the apical region of tooth #9; B: Deep narrow isolated pocket on the palatal aspect of tooth #9; C: A cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) cross-sectional image showing a fracture line (arrowhead) on the palatal aspect of tooth #9; D: A CBCT coronal-section image showing a fracture line (arrowhead) from the cervical region to the apex; E: A CBCT sagittal-section image showing a large region of bone destruction (arrowhead) in the palatal and apical areas of the root.

Laboratory examinations

The results of laboratory examinations were within normal range.

Imaging examinations

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) (J Morita Corporation, Kyoto, Japan) images confirmed that the tooth had undergone RCT, and a vertical fracture line on the palatal side of the root was identified from the cervical area to the apex (Figure 1C and D). Furthermore, there was a large area of bone destruction around the apical and palatal sides of the root (Figure 1E).

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

Based on clinical and CBCT examinations, the final diagnosis of tooth #9 was VRF.

TREATMENT

After communicating with the patient, the intentional replantation method was selected for the treatment of the tooth, and informed consent was obtained. However, the prognosis of this treatment was unpredictable at the moment. The timeline of the treatment and review of this case is summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.

The timeline for the treatments and reviews of this case

Treatment or review	Fracture treatment and intentional replantation	One-month review	Three months review	Six-months review	One-year review
Date	2020-09-17	2020-10-16	2020-12-16	2021-03-14	2021-09-15

After local anesthesia, tooth #9 was extracted carefully with dental forceps only touching the crown of the tooth, and then the root of the tooth was covered with wet gauze saturated with normal saline throughout the procedure. The vertical fracture line was observed under a dental microscope (Zumax Medical Co. Ltd., Suzhou, China) after granulation tissue was carefully removed using a curette (Figure 2A). The apical 3 mm of the root was excised (Figure 2B). A 3-mm retrograde canal cavity was prepared using an ultrasonic tip and filled with iRoot BP Plus (Innovative Bioceramix Inc., Vancouver, Canada) (Figure 2C). The vertical fracture line was then evenly enlarged to approximately 1.5 mm in width using a high-speed handpiece with a fissure bur along the fracture line (Figure 2D). To enhance fixation strength, two trapezoidal retention forms were prepared on both sides of the fracture line at the coronal 1/3 and apical 1/3 of the line. The width of the outer side of the trapezoidal retention form was approximately 3 mm and the width of the inner side was approximately 2 mm. The depth of the retention form was approximately 2 mm. After applying the bonding agent, a light-cure composite resin (Ketac Molar Easymix; 3M ESPE, St Paul, MN) was filled into the fracture line and retention form (Figure 2E). After the resin was cured, the surface resin was removed to a depth of approximately 1 mm using a fissure bur, and the rest of the resin surface was covered with iRoot BP Plus (Figure 2F). The tooth was then cleaned with normal saline and replanted into the root socket using gentle pressure (Figure 2G). The tooth was splinted to the adjacent teeth using a ligation wire. The occlusion was checked after replantation, and using occlusal adjustment, early contact in centric occlusion and lateral or protrusive movements were avoided. Posttreatment, oral hygiene instructions were provided to the patient.

Figure 2.

Operative images. A: A vertical root fracture line after the granulation tissue was removed; B: Excision of the 3-mm apex; C: Filling of the retrograde canal with iRoot BP Plus after retrograde canal preparation; D: Cleaning and enlargement of the fracture line; E: Filling of the fracture and trapezoidal retention forms (shown by dotted line) with resin; F: Covering of the resin surface with iRoot BP Plus; G: Replantation of the tooth.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

An immediate postoperative radiograph (Kavo Focus, Tuusula, Uusima, Finland) was obtained to confirm the correct position of tooth #9 (Figure 3A). The follow-up examinations were scheduled at one month, three months, six months, and one year after the treatment. At the one-month follow-up, the mobility of tooth #9 returned to the normal range and the ligation wire was removed. The radiograph showed slightly reduced apical radiolucency (Figure 3B). At three-month recall, the radiograph revealed that the periapical and periodontal radiolucency was significantly reduced (Figure 3C). At six-month follow-up, radiography and CBCT revealed significant bone regeneration around the root (Figure 3D-F). The tooth was asymptomatic, with a normal gingival appearance, periodontal probing depth, and mobility (Figure 3G and H). At the one-year follow-up, the tooth remained asymptomatic with normal gingival appearance, periodontal probing depth, and mobility (Figure 4A and B). The radiograph, together with the CBCT image, showed almost normal bone and periodontal structures around the root (Figure 4C-E), and the patient was satisfied with the treatment outcome.

Figure 3.

Postoperative images within six months. A: Immediate postoperative radiograph; B: One-month review radiograph; C: Three-month review radiograph; D: Six-month review radiograph; E and F: Cone beam computed tomography cross-sectional and sagittal-section images at the six-month review showing significant bone and periodontal regeneration (arrowhead) around the root; G: Labial view of tooth #9 at the six-month review; H: Palatal periodontal probing of tooth #9 at the six-month review showing normal periodontal probing depth.

Figure 4.

Postoperative images at one-year review. A: Labial view of tooth #9 at one-year review; B: Palatal periodontal probing of tooth #9 at one-year review showing normal periodontal probing depth; C-E: Radiograph and cone beam computed tomography cross-sectional and sagittal-section images at one-year review showing almost normal bone and periodontal structure (arrowhead) around the root.

DISCUSSION

Intentional replantation is regarded as the last option for the treatment of periodontitis, pulpitis, and post-traumatic cases, and is defined as the intentional removal of a tooth and replantation into original socket, and fixation in situ after evaluation and treatment[18]. This procedure allows the extracted tooth to be treated extraorally, and the infected tissue to be thoroughly removed under a microscope[6]. In the present case, the left maxillary central incisor was vertically fractured and a large amount of granulation tissue was found around the fracture line and apex. To remove the infected tissue and repair the fracture more accurately, an intentional replantation method was used for the treatment. After tooth extraction, both the root apex and fracture line were cleaned and treated.

Factors that may affect the prognosis of VRF treatment include the reattachment of periodontal tissue, alveolar bone regeneration, proper sealing of the fracture line, and prevention of refracture. The use of adhesive composite resin has been widely reported in the literature for the treatment of VRF[4-6,19-23]. The ideal bonding and repair material for VRF should have the following features to allow periodontal tissue attachment: sufficient fixation strength, short setting time, easy application, hydrophilicity, bacteriostaticity, and biocompatibility[24]. Recently, 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride/methyl methacrylate-tri-n-butylborane (4-META/MMA-TBB) resin, a self-cure adhesive resin cement, has been primarily used for splinting mobile teeth or treating fractured teeth with successful reconstruction outcomes[6,23]. In addition to the advantages of adhesive properties to dentin, Tanaka et al[24] reported that 4-META/MMATBB resin adheres to cementum by inducing the formation of hybridized cementum in the short term, which can provide a good seal for bonding vertically fractured roots. However, Sugaya et al[25] found no cementum-like hard tissue formation on the 4-META/MMA-TBB resin surface, and it was difficult to control polymerization of the material.

In contrast, the endodontic reparation cement ProRoot MTA[8,9] and Biodentine[10,11] have also been used for the treatment of VRF. These materials showed an effective seal against dentin and cementum and could promote biological repair and regeneration of periodontal tissue. Compared with MTA, Biodentine has a shorter setting time, is resistant to hydrolysis during setting, and releases more calcium and silicon, which is beneficial for the mineralization of bone and dentin[11]. Similarly, iRoot BP Plus is a hydrophilic calcium silicate-based bioceramic material. iRoot BP Plus has excellent mechanical properties, sealing ability, and antibacterial activity[15,26]. Moreover, iRoot BP Plus exhibits outstanding biological characteristics. Mahmood et al[27] reported high biocompatibility and desired repair of pulpal and periodontal tissues after iRoot BP Plus treatment of lateral perforations in the roots of rat incisors. Due to the biocompatibility of iRoot BP Plus and the satisfactory bonding strength of the adhesive composite resin, this study combined these two materials to repair vertical fractures. Furthermore, repeated stress overloading can result in fatigue failure of the tooth structure. Even normal functional stresses might result in VRF in case of tooth structure with reduced mechanical properties caused by aging, pulp necrosis, and endodontic therapy[28]. It is crucial to enhance the fixation strength of the vertical fracture line during the treatment of VRF to reduce the possibility of future refracture. However, even though composite resin has a stronger bonding strength than bioceramic materials[29], fixation strength is also closely related to the shape of the defect. Studies have confirmed that the retention form is necessary to improve fixation strength, and the design of the retention form could effectively increase the contact area and enhance the retention force of the repair materials[30]. Consequently, two trapezoidal retention forms were prepared on both sides of the fracture line to obtain a higher fixation strength and reduce the possibility of future refracture (Figure 5). After the fracture line and retention form were filled with resin, a thin layer of surface resin was evenly removed, and iRoot BP Plus was applied on top of it so that both, bonding strength and a pro-osteogenic surface could be achieved. In addition, occlusal adjustment was performed to facilitate the recovery of the replanted tooth.

Figure 5.

Schematic illustration of the fracture and retention form preparation. A: Original vertical root fracture line; B: Cleaning and enlargement of the fracture line; C: Preparation of the trapezoidal retention forms along the fracture; D: Side view of the filling of the fracture and retention forms using combination of resin and iRoot BP Plus.

The difference in the follow-up period may have influenced the judgment of the treatment results. Through a follow-up study of 1000 cases treated by endodontic surgery, Rud et al[31] reported that a standard follow-up should be at one year after the operation because most changes take place within the first year after the operation, and very few cases that are successful at the one-year recall shift to questionable or failed treatment outcomes in subsequent follow-ups[31]. Therefore, one-year follow-up in this case might be sufficient to demonstrate the primary treatment outcome, although a longer observation period is still necessary.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the new approach in this study successfully combined the resin and bioceramic material to repair VRF through a retention form on both sides of the fracture and the intentional replantation method. Additional clinical applications and longer observation times are necessary to further test the outcomes of this approach. This approach may provide a new treatment design for VRF.