SURVIVAL OF AVULSED PERMANENT MAXILLARY INCISORS IN CHILDREN FOLLOWING DELAYED REPLANTATION

The purpose of this study was to identify the variables that significa ntly influenced the survival of incisors replanted after extended extr aalveolar duration at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada, between June 1988 and December 1993. Survival analysis was used to id entify variables that significantly influence the retention of replant ed incisor teeth. Survival was defined as the time that elapsed betwee n the replantation of an avulsed incisor and the time it was finally l ost. Information on 9 variables was collected for 38 patients (25 male s; 13 females) and 52 replanted permanent maxillary incisors. The mean extraalveolar duration for the sample was 123 min. The mean follow-up interval was 942 days (range: 364-2126 days). Incisors replanted with open apices had a significantly decreased survival compared with teet h with mature apices (P=0.04; relative risk 4.2). There was also a sig nificant association between increased survival and obturation of the root canal with gutta-percha and sealer (P=0.006; relative risk 10.0). A trend towards improved survival of replanted incisors was found for children older than 11 years old ar. the time of replantation (P=0.09 ; relative risk 2.8). These results are consistent with previous studi es and may assist clinicians and parents in the decision-making proces s associated with the management of avulsed teeth in children.