A functional splint for traumatized teeth

Abstract

There are a variety of techniques for repositioning and stabilizing traumatically luxated or avulsed teeth. Such techniques include wire ligatures and arch bars, 14 quick-curing resins, 25 orthodontic bands with ligatures and acrylic resin, 3'<v acrylic resin incisal splints, 8 wire enforced with acrylic resin, 9 direct-bonding cement and wire, 1~ and orthodontic brackets with arch wire. ~t2 Advances in dental technology and materials have facilitated splint fabrication. One advance has been the effective attachment of resin to enamel surfaces pretreated with phosphoric acid. This has led to the acid-etched resin splint. The purpose of this article is to present a splinting technique for traumatically luxated or avulsed teeth that uses monofilament nylon line and acid-etched resin. The splint stabilizes the traumatized tooth and at the same time allows physiologic movement. The splint is easy to apply, atraumatic, relatively esthetic, hygienic, durable, comfortable, and easy to remove. The only apparent drawback to the splint is that it cannot be used to span edentulous spaces.