Apexification or regeneration? A case report of a short mineral trioxide aggregate apical plug: 8-year follow-up

Abstract

The management of an immature permanent tooth protocol aims to eliminate pulpal pathology, disinfection, and if possible, redevelopment of the root. The paper aimed to present a case report that a successful survival history of a seemingly inadequate mineral trioxide aggregate plug and its 8-year follow-up. In the presented case, all treatment goals such as the elimination of clinical symptoms/signs of infection, apical periodontitis healing, healthy lamina dura, and further root maturation were achieved; however, a formation was observed in an 8-year recall similar to regeneration-associated intracanal calcification. There was no way to clinically understand how the healing process occurred in the area histologically, but the follow-up showed that the relevant tooth met the healing criteria.

Keywords

• apexification
• apical plug
• endodontics
• mineral trioxide aggregate
• regenerative endodontics