title: The maintenance of pulp health 17 years after root fracture in a maxillary incisor illustrating the diagnostic benefits of cone bean computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the maintenance of pulp health in a tooth with a fractured root without any complications or endodontic treatment and the advantage of cone bean computed tomography (CBCT) compared with traditional radiographs in the diagnosis of root fractures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The horizontal fracture of a maxillary central incisor is described that was an incidental finding on a routine radiographic examination 17 years after trauma. The tooth was asymptomatic. Intra-oral radiography revealed a complicated multiple root fracture with separation of the root fragments, which was not confirmed by CBCT. This case report illustrates spontaneous healing of root fracture and the reparative potential in the area of root fracture including preservation of pulp health and also demonstrates that CBCT is a more reliable imaging technique than conventional radiographs regarding root fracture diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dental pulp is characterized by the ability to heal spontaneously in cases of root fracture. CBCT has advantages in diagnosing root fractures over intra-oral radiographs. CBCT should be employed with caution due to its increased radiation dose compared with periapical radiography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Makowiecki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Witek
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pol
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buczkowska-Radlińska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000293:injuries*; D008437:Maxilla; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: cone bean computed tomography; pulp vitality; root fracture