Abstract
Background
The success of reattaching fractured tooth crowns fragments, as a result of trauma, has improved as a result of the introduction of lasers in dental care. This case report documents a 4 year follow-up of a re-bonded tooth fragment on a maxilary first permanent incisor.Case report
An 8-year-old girl presented with a fractured maxillary might first permanent incisor (II) as a result of a severe trauma. The child's parents had preserved the tooth fragment in a glass of milk immediately after the injury.Treatment
An Er,Cr:YSGG Laser with a wavelength of 2,780 nm was used with 20Hz, 5 W (250 mJ), 90 % air, 80% water for etching of the enamel and 20 Hz, 3W (150 mJ), 65% air, 55% water for dentine etching with a G6 (600 micron, sapphire, 6mm long) tip. For conditioning the enamel and dentine no additional acid etching was used. Only a 2 step self-etched adhesive system Clearfil Protect® (Kuraray Medical, Japan) was applied. Then a flowable composite resin, Grandi Flow® (Voco, Cuxhaven, Germany) was applied in order to bind the broken fragment onto the tooth.Follow-up
The re-bonded tooth fragment has been retained in place and symptom free, as assessed by clinical examination, intraoral photographs and radiographs for a period of 4 years.Conclusion
Laser-assisted re-bonding of a tooth fragment was found to be successful.