Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
3144789 | Journal of Dental Sciences | 2009 | 6 Pages |
The purpose of this report was to present two cases of mandibular premolars with necrotic pulp and open apices treated with two different techniques. The first case was a 20-year-old female whose teeth 35 and 45 were diagnosed with pulpal necrosis and chronic apical periodontitis, possibly resulting from dens evaginatus. Traditional apexification with Ca(OH)2 was chosen; however, teeth 35 and 45 fractured after 2 and 9 months, respectively. The second case was an 11-year-old boy whose tooth 45 was diagnosed with necrotic pulp and a chronic apical abscess, possibly resulting from dens evaginatus. The mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) barrier technique was performed after short-term Ca(OH)2 dressing, and the remaining space of the canal was filled with light-cured composite resin. The tooth remained healthy and functional at 1-year follow-up. The apical barrier technique using MTA has the advantages of a reduced treatment time, lower chance of tooth fracture, and fewer visits to the dental office. This report demonstrates that the MTA barrier technique followed by light-cured composite resin filling can be a good alternative treatment to traditional apexification.