Interdisciplinary treatment including forced extrusion and reintrusion of a traumatized mandibular incisor for a patient with Class II Division 1 skeletal open bite

Abstract

A woman with Class II Division 1 long-face syndrome characteristics had a history of facial trauma, dentoalveolar fracture of her mandibular anterior teeth, and temporomandibular joint pain. The pretreatment apical radiograph showed a large area of external root resorption of the mesial surface of the mandibular left central incisor. To arrest the external root resorption, the mandibular left central incisor was extruded. During extrusion, sequential apical radiographs were taken. As the tooth moved away from the site of osteoclastic activity, resorption ceased, and repair took place on the root surface. At this time, the mandibular left central incisor was intruded, the mesial defect self-repaired, the tooth remained vital, and the periodontial ligament was intact. The biologic bases for this cessation of resorption and the repair of the tooth's surface are presented.