Regenerative Strategies for Traumatic Dental Injuries in Craniofacial Trauma: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND

Traumatic dental injuries are an important component of craniofacial and dentoalveolar trauma and may compromise oral function, facial aesthetics, alveolar support, and long-term tooth preservation, particularly in young patients. They can lead to disruption of pulpal blood supply, pulp necrosis, and periapical tissue damage; in immature permanent teeth with open apices and thin root walls, infection control must be balanced against preservation of further root development.

METHODS

Within the broader context of craniofacial trauma, this narrative review summarizes the indications, operative procedures, scaffold materials, clinical efficacy, influencing factors, imaging assessment, and multidisciplinary role of REPs as a tooth-preservation strategy for crown/root fractures, luxation injuries, and replanted avulsed teeth.

RESULTS

In traumatized immature permanent teeth, REPs achieved an overall success rate of approximately 80%, with symptom resolution, periapical healing, and continued root development in most cases, whereas outcomes were less favorable for avulsed and replanted teeth.

CONCLUSION

In summary, REP may provide a biological-based dental preservation option for selected traumatized teeth, although standardized case selection, treatment plans, and long-term follow-up remain crucial.