Horizontal root fracture in a maxillary central incisor: a case report.

An 80-year-old patient fell while jogging, hitting his face on the concrete trail and causing a horizontal root fracture of his maxillary right central incisor. The fracture separated the root into 2 halves about 0.60-0.84 mm apart, resulting in extrusion of the incisal half. The patient had severe lip swelling and facial injury but no tooth pain. Various options for care were evaluated, but, other than reducing the extrusion, placing local antibiotics, and prescribing periodontal medication, the dentist did not provide or recommend further treatment. At the most recent recall, 8 years after the accident, the root exhibited good bone repair, there was no evidence of abscess, and the patient reported no discomfort. This report aims to remind clinicians that no or minimal treatment may be the best option in certain cases.