Abstract
Background:
Traumatic dental injuries are an important component of craniofacial and dentoalveolar trauma and may compromise oral function, facial aesthetics, alveolar support, and long-term tooth preservation, particularly in young patients. They can lead to disruption of pulpal blood supply, pulp necrosis, and periapical tissue damage; in immature permanent teeth with open apices and thin root walls, infection control must be balanced against preservation of further root development.
Methods:
Within the broader context of craniofacial trauma, this narrative review summarizes the indications, operative procedures, scaffold materials, clinical efficacy, influencing factors, imaging assessment, and multidisciplinary role of REPs as a tooth-preservation strategy for crown/root fractures, luxation injuries, and replanted avulsed teeth.
Results:
In traumatized immature permanent teeth, REPs achieved an overall success rate of approximately 80%, with symptom resolution, periapical healing, and continued root development in most cases, whereas outcomes were less favorable for avulsed and replanted teeth.
Conclusion:
In summary, REP may provide a biological-based dental preservation option for selected traumatized teeth, although standardized case selection, treatment plans, and long-term follow-up remain crucial.