ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Stomatologica 2011 May;60(5):223-7

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Morbidity of teeth in the line of the fracture

Mangone G. M. ¹, Longo F. ², Friscia M. ³, Ferrara S. ³, Califano L. ³ ✉

¹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, A. Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy; ² Pascale National Cancer Research Istitute, Naples, Italy; ³ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Federico II University, Naples, Italy

AIM: Management of a jaw fracture in which a tooth lies in the fracture line is controversial. In the past, teeth were generally removed because they were thought to be the cause of infections or locus minoris resistentiae. To provide a better indication in the management of teeth in the fracture line and the relate complications we retrospectively reviewed the files particularly in relation to treatment options.
METHODS: From 1999 to 2009 a total of 478 patients with jaw fracture were observed at the Maxillofacial Department of the University “Federico II” of Naples.
RESULTS: In 63 cases the fracture involved the angle of the mandible and in 48 a tooth lay in the fracture line. Of the 48 teeth in the fracture line, 14 were removed for various causes. Surgical treatment consisted of fracture reduction and fixation by titanium plates and screws.
CONCLUSION:We suggest few guiding lines in the management of teeth in fracture lines that need to be extracted only in particular conditions. Finally there are few cases of later dental complications that can affect the teeth in the fracture line after the osseous healing process of the fractures. These cases require a follow-up of three-six months, and the treatment is the same commonly described in Literature for dental trauma.