Autogenous bonding of tooth fragment retained in lower lip after trauma

Abstract

In cases of trauma, dental fragments occasionally penetrate into the soft-tissues and may cause severe complications, if neglected. Clinical and radiographic examinations can provide a diagnosis and help in the surgical removal of any dental fragment embedded in soft-tissue. This case report concerns an 8-year-old boy who was diagnosed with a fragment of a fractured permanent central incisor crown located in the lower lip. The patient was seen initially at a general hospital, where the dental fragment went unnoticed. After 2 days, the patient was seen at the pediatric dentistry clinic, where a fragment embedded in the lower lip, causing a large swelling, was diagnosed. The fragment was removed surgically and bonded to the fractured tooth. A mouth guard was prescribed for sports. The importance of soft-tissue exploration even post-trauma was highlighted in this paper.

Tooth fragment embedded in the lower lip for 10 months following dentoalveolar trauma: A case report with literature review

“…[ 1 – 23 ] Among these, in most of the reported cases (16 out of 24 case reports), the lower lip was the most common site for the embedded incisor fragment. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 9 , 11 – 17 , 19 , 20 , 22 , 23 ] However, Kalra et al ,[ 10 ] Cubukcu et al ,[ 18 ] and Agarwal et al [ 2 ] reported cases with tooth fragments embedded in the upper lip. McDonnell and McKiernan (in 1986)[ 7 ] and Hill et al [ 6 ] published case reports of tooth fragments embedded in the tongue.…”

“…A literature search revealed 6 cases with reattachment procedures using the tooth retrieved from the soft tissues in addition to the long-term results. [ 1 , 3 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 19 ]…”