Late reposition of a lateral luxated maxillary incisor with an immature apex: case report

Abstract

Here we describe an unusual trauma case. A recently erupted permanent upper-right incisor sustained a lateral luxation when a 5-year-old girl on a playground climbing net dropped off, catching the right upper incisor in the net. The tooth was laterally luxated in vestibular direction, and no other signs of injury occurred. A dental practitioner could not reposition the bony locked tooth. Four days later, the girl came to our clinic, and we performed an incomplete repositioning of the tooth and made a flexible splint. Controls were made at 1, 6, and 12 weeks and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months later. The 24-month follow-up clinical examination revealed the patient to be asymptomatic and the tooth to be completely functional, and the recall radiograph showed further apical root growth. The implications of a late incomplete reposition of laterally luxated permanent teeth with immature apices are discussed.