Which of the following is listed as a possible sequela after traumatic dental injury?

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

Traumatic dental injuries can lead to ankylosis, a condition where the tooth root fuses directly to the surrounding alveolar bone after damage to the periodontal ligament. When the PDL is injured, its normal space is lost and bone gradually replaces the ligament, effectively binding the tooth to the bone. This results in limited or absent mobility and, in growing children, progressive infraocclusion because adjacent and opposing teeth continue to erupt while the ankylosed tooth does not. Radiographs show disappearance of the normal PDL space at the root interface. Ankylosis is a well-recognized post-traumatic sequela because it directly affects eruption, alignment, and long-term prognosis of both the treated tooth and the developing dentition.

While eruption delay can occur after trauma, and trauma can cause changes in mobility or color, ankylosis is the classic, specific sequela most consistently linked to traumatic injury in pediatric patients.