PULP VITALITY PRESERVATION AFTER TRAUMATIC DENTAL INJURIES TO PERMANENT TEETH OČUVANJE VITALITETA PULPE NAKON TRAUME STALNIH ZUBA

Summary Introduction. The pulp vitality preservation after a trauma to permanent teeth is of great importance since dental injuries are common. The aim of our study was to investigate the pulp vitali- ty preservation after tooth injuries. Material and Methods. A retrospective analysis of records of patients with a trauma was performed. The sample consisted of all patients who had been referred to the Department of Dentistry of Vojvodina for a trau- ma to permanent teeth during the period 2005-2010. We recorded the type of injury, treatment, state of vitality during the first visit and subsequent check-ups. Results. The study included 162 chil- dren and adolescents aged 6-18 years having a trauma to 314 per- manent teeth. The most frequent type of injuries in permanent teeth was fractures (54.5%), whereas luxation was a less com- mon trauma (45.5%). Though different kinds of traumas have different optimal time for treatment, a period of 24 hours was taken as optimal; hence, 189 teeth were treated in optimal time and 55 complications occurred in them; while 105 complications occurred in 114 teeth which were treated 24 hours after the trau- ma. A year after the trauma the pulp vitality was preserved in 88 teeth (32%), pulp necrosis and other complications developed in 160 teeth (68%). Conclusion. The therapy of pulp vitality preser- vation in injured teeth was found successful in 32% and unsuc- cessful in 68% of cases at check-ups over one year.