title: Nonconventional Therapeutic Protocol for Type III Dens Invaginatus.
abstract: This study discusses a nonconventional therapeutic protocol for type III dens invaginatus. This condition is a disorder of dental development, caused by the invagination of enamel into coronal and/or radicular dentin structure. This promotes several structural alterations within the dental organ, which offers challenges and difficulties to perform the endodontic treatment when needed. This article reports a clinical case where a conservative approach was adopted to preserve the invagi-nated tooth, and endodontic treatment was performed in the main necrotic canal. Following 21 years of observation, a complete root formation could be seen, with dental pulp preservation of the pulpotomized tooth. Considering the reported difficulties for the treatment of dens invaginatus, conservative measures, such as pulpotomy to preserve the remaining dental pulp may be an excellent alternative to allow less invasive procedures, thus avoiding endodontic surgery. This study discusses a nonconventional therapeutic protocol for type III dens invaginatus. A conservative approach adopted preserved the invaginated tooth, and root canal treatment was performed in the main necrotic canal. Following 21 years of observation, there was complete root formation, with dental pulp preservation of the pulpotomized tooth.
authors.affiliation: Dental School, Unit of Endodontology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Kunert
authors.affiliation: Dental School, Unit of Endodontology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Itaborai R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Kunert
authors.affiliation: Dental School, Unit of Endodontology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Ap
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: de Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: Dental School, Unit of Endodontology, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, e-mail: fbarletta@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Fernando B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Barletta
authors.affiliation: Dental School, Unit of Endodontology, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Estrela
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003719:Dens in Dente / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000379:methods; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000379:methods; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Case report; Dens invaginatus; Maxillary central incisor; Periapical lesion Pulpotomy.