The use of MTA/blood mixture to induce hard tissue healing in a root fractured maxillary central incisor. Case report and treatment considerations

Abstract

To report the use of MTA/blood mixture for the induction of hard tissue healing of multiple horizontal root fractures in a maxillary incisor. An 18-year-old male patient was referred after suffering trauma to the anterior maxilla. Radiographic evaluation revealed multiple horizontal fractures in the middle and cervical third of his maxillary right central incisor. Clinical evaluation revealed third grade mobility of the coronal segment. The patient's accompanying radiographs revealed that root canal treatment of all segments had been previously initiated and both segments had been rendered pulpless. The coronal segment was repositioned and stabilized. A bi-antibiotic mixture, containing equal parts of ciprofloxacin and metronidazole, was used for the disinfection of the root canal segments. A blood clot was induced from the periapical area and MTA powder was mixed with the blood creating a bioceramic mixture covering all the fractures. Thick MTA was placed as a coronal barrier and the tooth was restored. Recall examination after 24months revealed healing of the horizontal fractures. The MTA mixed with the blood lost its radio-opacity over time. Tooth mobility returned to normal limits. A low range of 5-25% of all horizontally root fractured cases develop pulp necrosis, confined in the coronal segment, leaving the apical segment with vital tissue. In the unfortunate situation that the pulp of both segments becomes necrotic or the entire pulp tissue is removed, the use of MTA/blood mixture may be beneficial for the induction of hard tissue healing. MTA when mixed with blood seems to lose its radio-opacity over time.