Effect of inciso-cervical position of wire-composite splint on the mobility of an avulsed permanent tooth: A cadaveric model study

Abstract

Introduction: The wire composite splint as a general rule is placed on the middle third of labial surface of the tooth. This is due to ease of application, better isolation, and fewer chances of contamination. However, these assumptions are opinion-based, with no scientific evidence to support them. In addition, to best of our knowledge no research has been carried out to evaluate the effect of position of wire splints on the mobility of the affected tooth and anchor teeth. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the cervico-incisal position of splinting wire on the mobility of a replanted tooth and anchor teeth in a cadaveric model. Methodology: Three cadavers (one female, 45 years old and two males, each 40 years old) were included in the study. periotest S was used to assess physiologic-tooth-mobility in three cadavers at baseline and after 'extraction-replantation-wire-composite' splinting-protocol. Results: Greatest splint effect for horizontal-mobility was found to be 9.33 ± 0.57 for Cadaver-I (incisal-third), whereas it was highest (3.66 ± 2.51) for vertical-mobility in Cadaver-II (cervical third). Conclusion: Middle third position of wire composite splint have lowest splint effect on both horizontal and vertical mobility of replanted teeth, thus rendering the most favorable position for the establishment of physiologic mobility.