Surgical or Conservative Endodontic Treatment: A Presentation of Two Cases and 12-month Follow-up

Abstract

Most traumatic dental injuries among children and young adults involve the anterior teeth, and periapical pathologies are the most common findings in these injuries. Calcium hydroxide (Ca[OH]2) has the potential to maintain a sterile root canal and stimulate the healing of periapical pathology. This study describes the conservative endodontic management of chronic periapical infections due to trauma involving the anterior permanent teeth of two 16-year-old patients (male 1 and female 1) and the results at a 12-month follow-up. Conservative nonsurgical therapy was planned for both patients. Necrotic pulp exudates were removed, and the root canals were dressed with Ca(OH)2 paste up to the apices. The paste was changed every 3 weeks. Periapical healing was observed on control visits without surgery and continued in the 12-month review.