Prepare for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Oral Boards. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations to ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

In a primary root fracture with a displaced coronal fragment, what management is indicated?

Displaced coronal fragment in a primary root fracture creates instability that must be controlled to prevent further movement and to protect the developing permanent tooth. The best approach is stabilization of the involved segments: splinting the tooth to adjacent teeth to immobilize the fracture allows the fragments to heal and preserves the tooth when feasible. If the tooth cannot be saved or the displacement is severe enough to risk the permanent successor, extraction becomes the appropriate option. Observation isn’t adequate because the fracture and displacement require immobilization to prevent progression, and simply rebonding won’t address the instability of a displaced coronal fragment. Therefore, splinting is preferred when feasible, with extraction as an alternative if the tooth is non-restorable or poses a threat to the developing permanent dentition.

Displaced coronal fragment in a primary root fracture creates instability that must be controlled to prevent further movement and to protect the developing permanent tooth. The best approach is stabilization of the involved segments: splinting the tooth to adjacent teeth to immobilize the fracture allows the fragments to heal and preserves the tooth when feasible. If the tooth cannot be saved or the displacement is severe enough to risk the permanent successor, extraction becomes the appropriate option. Observation isn’t adequate because the fracture and displacement require immobilization to prevent progression, and simply rebonding won’t address the instability of a displaced coronal fragment. Therefore, splinting is preferred when feasible, with extraction as an alternative if the tooth is non-restorable or poses a threat to the developing permanent dentition.